Lakes Brew Co NE Session IPA is a beer based in Kendal, in the Lake District. I purchased this apart of the gift set I bought which included the schooner glass. When I travel I love to check out local spots and breweries and this was one on my radar. So for this review of this NE Session IPA, I will cover the history, the pour, the taste and aroma, and finally, my verdict. Cheers
A brewery formed by former colleagues
Lakes Brew Co is a craft brewery based in Kendal, in the Lake District. The brewery was founded by Matt Clarke, Michelle Gay, Steve Ricketts and Paul Sheldon. They came to form the Lakes Brew Co due to being made redundant by Hawkshead Brewery.
In 2021, the first brew by the Lakes Brew co was born. This brewed in the Mintsfeet Industrial Estate which is 16hl brew kit alongside their own canning lineup. Sustainability and quality are important to them: they emphasise freshness, consistency, and controlling their production from brewing right through to canning. Their branding is performed by Scratch Creative which utilise the Lake District’s beautiful landscape.
The Lakes Brew Co NE Session IPA is one of the brewery’s core beers. Hop forward but with an ABV of 4.7%, this is hopped with Ekuanot, Mosaic Cryo, Citra, El dorado and Amarillo hops. It is also brewed with oats and wheat aimed to boost mouthfeel. This has been recognised by judges across the beer scene by winning SIBA National Overall Champion of Bottle/Can Competition 2022 and SIBA Regional Gold winner of Bottle/Can Premium Pale Ale Competition 2021. The Session NEIPA is vegan friendly, unfiltered and unfined.
A hazy golden pour
Lakes Brew Co Ne Session IPA presents a golden yellow hazy colour which is exactly how you would expect the hazy IPA. It settles which has a thick, creamy head which lingers well after the first sip. There is a light lacing down the glass. This is considerably lively beer which appears fresh and vibrant.
A juicy taste and aroma
Aroma
The aroma of Lakes Brew Co’s NE Session IPA bursts out of the glass with bright tropical fruit notes. Expect an immediate hit of mango, pineapple, and passion fruit, supported by softer layers of citrus zest and peach. There’s a gentle sweetness from the malt and a faint herbal edge from the hop blend, but the overall impression is juicy, fresh, and vibrant. The hop aroma is expressive without being overpowering, fitting perfectly with the beer’s sessionable character.
Taste
On the palate, this beer delivers a flavour profile that’s tropical, soft, and incredibly drinkable. The first sip brings forward mango, ripe melon, and stone fruit, followed by lighter notes of tangerine and grapefruit. The use of oats and wheat gives the beer a smooth, pillowy texture that balances the hop punch beautifully.
Bitterness is kept low and rounded, allowing the juicy hop flavours to shine without harshness. The finish is clean, slightly sweet, and refreshing, encouraging another sip exactly what you want from a session-strength NEIPA.
Time for my verdict
Overall, a great drinker this one. Full of fruity juiciness which you would hope to experience when drinking a NEIPA. The thing I like about this one is that it tastes like it should be a little bit stronger than 4.7% which makes having it sessionable is great. Lakes Brew Co appears to me to be a cracking brewery and I look forward to trying more in the future. I rate this a solid 4.25 out of 5.
Where did I purchase this beer?
I bought this directly from the Lakes Brew Co website and collected it from the brewery itself. Top notch customer service and so far they have themselves a new fan.
Thanks for reading this review. If you enjoyed this review you will love my previous review on Lakes Brew Co West Coast IPA. Cheers
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