These days, “Session IPAs” seem to be all the rage. There’s just one problem: for my part, Session IPA is logged into the same category as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Columbus Ohio. I don’t believe in any of them. Well, let me walk that back a bit. I’ve had some great beers from Columbus, so I guess I believe in it. The others? Not so much.
I’ve harped on this again and again, almost ad infinitum. So sue me if you’re sick of hearing this, but I have yet to see a “Session IPA” yet that is either really an IPA or really a session beer. Along comes a local version, Red Brick Hop Circle from Atlanta’s Red Brick Brewery, and I’m going to be a little more lenient. Not because they’re local, mind you, but because they don’t call this a “Session IPA”.
Instead, Red Brick calls Hop Circle and “India Style Session Ale”. OK, I’ll accept India style as referring to the hoppiness of the brew. Then too, the addition of wheat malt makes this one different from the pack as well. Still, this isn’t a true session ale at 4.21% ABV. Truth be told, it is closer to the session mark of 4% and under than most so-called “Session IPAs”, but it remains over the limit.
As with all the other “Session IPAs” that I’ve tried, though, just because I don’t like the name does not mean that I can’t enjoy the beer. I do enjoy Red Brick Hop Circle very much. From the brewery website:
Some claim that our Hop Circle India Session Ale is of extraterrestrial origin. This easy-drinking wheat beer packs a big hoppy punch without overwhelming bitterness, creating an out-of-this-world drinking experience, which begs the question if this is a truly alien encounter. Despite its terra firm origins, drinking more than one may inspire you to search for lights in the night sky, take to the front lawn to mow your own enigma, and ponder the eternal question, "What were those guys drinking?"
Red Brick Hop Circle is about average in price at $8.99 a six-pack. It has 35.7 IBUs and is hopped with a veritable smorgasbord of hop varieties: Nugget, Citra, El Dorado, Crystal, and Calypso. My bottle has no freshness date, but this one to drink soon after purchase, folks.
Red Brick Hop Circle India Style Session Ale pours to a cloudy orange color with a thick fomay head formation and an appetizing grapefruit and orange juice nose. A fine layer of Brussels lace forms on the sides of my glass and follows the liquid all the way to the bottom. Light malt and crisp tart wheat up front are quickly followed by oodles of hops, resiny, grapefruity, orange juicey hops. A long minty bitter buzz at the last rounds this one out nicely.
I think the wheat malt gives Red Brick Hop Circle more character. Overall, very tasty, an excellent American Pale Ale with the tartness of wheat and a very pungent grapefruit hoppiness. A delicious refreshing beer perfect for those warm Georgia springs and summers.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft