Introvert Session IPA, Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont

Style: American IPA

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle

ABV: 4.8 percent

Malt score (1–10): 4

Hop score (1–10): 7

Reviewed: September 2015

The days are getting shorter, the nights are chillier, and the trees are dropping their leaves. But that also means that our beloved Broncos are embarking upon another season in their quest for a third Vince Lombardi Trophy. It’s time to start thinking about what beer you are going to stock for game day. Bud Light might be the official beer of the NFL, but we Coloradans have better choices among our myriad of local craft beers.

Left Hand Brewing Co. might just have the perfect adult beverage to sip on Sundays. Their Introvert Session IPA is designed for a day of drinking with your friends. Its lower alcohol content means you can quaff a few of them without worrying about being too tipsy by the fourth quarter. The brewers’ description of the beer is that it’s “opinionated and hopped-up.” Yep, that’s pretty close to the mark. When you crack the crown on a bottle of this brew, you are immediately welcomed with the strong aromas of fresh fruits and pine. As it should—there are six different hop varieties used to brew it.

The balance between the sweetness of the malts up front to the pleasant bitterness of the hops finish is excellent. Each sip I had only made me enjoy the subtleties of this beer even more. At its core, it’s really a well-crafted, sessionable beer that will be the perfect companion to Sunday afternoon spent with friends, watching Peyton fling another long one towards the end zone. And if the game happens to go into overtime, it will be all right; we will be in shape to remember it.

The Ideal Drinker: Anyone looking for an all-day beer.