Session IPA compresses IPA's hop character into a lower-ABV package, usually 4-5%, so the beer can be had more than one or two at a sitting without the strength of a standard IPA. It aims to keep the citrus and pine hop aroma of a full-strength IPA while cutting the malt bill way back, which also thins out the body compared to its parent style. The tradeoff is a lighter mouthfeel and less intensity than American IPA or West Coast IPA -- it's built for drinkability first, hop showcase second.