North Island Beer to Release May-June Seasonal "SESSION I.P.A." on May 1
North Island Beer (Ebetsu, Hokkaido) will release its May-June seasonal beer, "SESSION I.P.A.," on May 1, 2026. This easy-drinking IPA has an alcohol content of 4%, and Mosaic, Simcoe, and Idaho 7 hops support an aroma suited to early summer.
Hop BroIt's here: North Island Beer's May-June seasonal limited release is coming out on May 1, 2026. It's called 'SESSION I.P.A.,' and it's a perfect beer for early summer.
MugiWhat! SESSION I.P.A. sounds strong, so what does "session" even mean!?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part. With ABV 4%, it's light, but it still keeps that IPA-like hop character, in other words, it's designed so you can keep drinking it for a while.
MugiWhat? Light but hoppy? So even though it's focused on drinkability, it still has a point to make?
Hop BroExactly. And the hops they use are Mosaic, Simcoe, and Idaho 7, which is a combination that tends to bring out tropical fruit and citrus-like aromas.
MugiHuh! But do hops really make that much of a difference? I still only have a vague sense of hop personality.
Hop BroI get that. For example, Mosaic is bright and floral, Simcoe has a pine-like character, and Idaho 7 adds fruitiness too, so it feels like the layers of aroma stack on top of each other.
MugiWow, it already sounds delicious just from the description! And it says IBU 35, but does that mean it won't be too bitter?
Hop BroYeah, it's bitter, but not at an overwhelming level. North Island Beer brews with the Beer is Art philosophy, so they're good at making a beer with a balance that doesn't tire you out.
MugiAnd orders start at 10:00 a.m. on May 1, with shipments starting sequentially on May 2, right? It's so perfectly timed for the start of early summer that it makes me want to drink it!
Hop BroThis is definitely one I'd want to drink while feeling even the air of Ebetsu. It has a light feel but a satisfying finish, so both you and I would be the type who can't stop at just one glass.
MugiExactly! Let's chill it first and test whether it's the kind that makes you want to drink as many glasses as possible!
North Island Beer (Ebetsu, Hokkaido) will release "SESSION I.P.A." on May 1, 2026 as its May-June seasonal beer. With a low alcohol content but plenty of IPA-like hop bitterness and flavor, it is a beer designed with drinkability in mind.
Specifications
- Style: SESSION I.P.A.
- ABV: 4%
- IBU: 35
- Hops: Mosaic, Simcoe, Idaho 7
- JAN: 4580181913093
- Product code (bottle): NIB-SB-SIPA
In the official Instagram description, it is introduced as a beer that pursues a balance between drinkability and satisfaction for the warmer season ahead. It is said to be designed with a light body and a refreshing drinkability that makes you want to keep reaching for another glass, while aromas reminiscent of tropical fruit and citrus spread across the palate.
Sales for general customers will begin taking orders on the official online store at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, and shipments will begin sequentially from Saturday, May 2. For wholesale customers, bottle and keg product information is also available, with kegs offered in 10 L and 15.5 L sizes.
North Island Beer is a brewery founded by a brewer who trained in Canada. Based on the idea of "Beer is Art," it brews limited beers and seasonal beers in addition to its five standard offerings. For this brewery, which has continued to produce Weizen made with wheat from Ebetsu and limited brews that make use of local ingredients, this SESSION I.P.A. also seems like a work that reflects the season.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroIt's here: North Island Beer's May-June seasonal limited release is coming out on May 1, 2026. It's called 'SESSION I.P.A.,' and it's a perfect beer for early summer.
MugiWhat! SESSION I.P.A. sounds strong, so what does "session" even mean!?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part. With ABV 4%, it's light, but it still keeps that IPA-like hop character, in other words, it's designed so you can keep drinking it for a while.
MugiWhat? Light but hoppy? So even though it's focused on drinkability, it still has a point to make?
Hop BroExactly. And the hops they use are Mosaic, Simcoe, and Idaho 7, which is a combination that tends to bring out tropical fruit and citrus-like aromas.
MugiHuh! But do hops really make that much of a difference? I still only have a vague sense of hop personality.
Hop BroI get that. For example, Mosaic is bright and floral, Simcoe has a pine-like character, and Idaho 7 adds fruitiness too, so it feels like the layers of aroma stack on top of each other.
MugiWow, it already sounds delicious just from the description! And it says IBU 35, but does that mean it won't be too bitter?
Hop BroYeah, it's bitter, but not at an overwhelming level. North Island Beer brews with the Beer is Art philosophy, so they're good at making a beer with a balance that doesn't tire you out.
MugiAnd orders start at 10:00 a.m. on May 1, with shipments starting sequentially on May 2, right? It's so perfectly timed for the start of early summer that it makes me want to drink it!
Hop BroThis is definitely one I'd want to drink while feeling even the air of Ebetsu. It has a light feel but a satisfying finish, so both you and I would be the type who can't stop at just one glass.
MugiExactly! Let's chill it first and test whether it's the kind that makes you want to drink as many glasses as possible!
