Session beers

Noting that Roger's last two LEO columns have either focused on or mentioned session beers, I'd like to get opinions on people's favorite session beers available by the bottle. Roger did a good job of covering the local options, so I'm more interested in the bottled stuff from afar. I'm hoping to move a few friends off of domestic swill, and, honestly, I could use low-alcohol go-to options when the studying creeps toward midnight and later. I'm biased toward the high-alcohol, high-hops goodness, so this is fairly new territory for me. Not really interested in lists 20 suggestions deep - how about a top 3 or 5?

Noting that Roger's last two LEO columns have either focused on or mentioned session beers, I'd like to get opinions on people's favorite session beers available by the bottle. Roger did a good job of covering the local options, so I'm more interested in the bottled stuff from afar. I'm hoping to move a few friends off of domestic swill, and, honestly, I could use low-alcohol go-to options when the studying creeps toward midnight and later. I'm biased toward the high-alcohol, high-hops goodness, so this is fairly new territory for me. Not really interested in lists 20 suggestions deep - how about a top 3 or 5?

Bottled Session Beer is an oxymoron. The lower gravity and more delicate flavors do not travel well in the bottle, specially from "afar". I have in the past sampled some excellent British session beers that were only in good condition because someone hand carried them here from England. I'm sure there are a few out there now but only purchase from a reputable, high volume retailer so some freshness is insured.

Never buy beer from strangers, support your local brewery

Stone Levitation Ale
Stone Pale Ale
Goose Island Honker's Ale
Flying Dog Tire Bite
BBC Nut Brown Ale
Fuller's ESB

Session beer ? Hell It's ALL session beer.

My favs would be:

Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Honkers Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Summit Extra Pale Ale (not readily available locally)

Session beer ? Hell It's ALL session beer.

My favs would be:

Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Honkers Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Summit Extra Pale Ale (not readily available locally)

http://beeradvocate.com/articles/653

session beer
n.

Any beer that contains no higher than 5 percent ABV, featuring a balance between malt and hop characters (ingredients) and, typically, a clean finish - a combination of which creates a beer with high drinkability. The purpose of a session beer is to allow a beer drinker to have multiple beers, within a reasonable time period or session, without overwhelming the senses or reaching inappropriate levels of intoxication. (Yes, you can drink and enjoy beer without getting drunk.)

I get inappropriate in a hurry if I'm drinking Bell's Two Hearted.

Session beer ? Hell It's ALL session beer.

My favs would be:

Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Honkers Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Summit Extra Pale Ale (not readily available locally)

http://beeradvocate.com/articles/653

session beer
n.

Any beer that contains no higher than 5 percent ABV, featuring a balance between malt and hop characters (ingredients) and, typically, a clean finish - a combination of which creates a beer with high drinkability. The purpose of a session beer is to allow a beer drinker to have multiple beers, within a reasonable time period or session, without overwhelming the senses or reaching inappropriate levels of intoxication. (Yes, you can drink and enjoy beer without getting drunk.)

I get inappropriate in a hurry if I'm drinking Bell's Two Hearted.

Dude...I don't even need beer to get inappropriate...but if we're gonna put rules on it I guess we could always just water it down with a little tap water

[Robin Garr]

I get inappropriate in a hurry if I'm drinking Bell's Two Hearted.

What's the ABV? We've been using that as our "house beer" lately, and Mary likes it as much as I do. She's not large and usually doesn't drink too much, but I haven't noticed her staggering around after having her share ...

What's the ABV? We've been using that as our "house beer" lately, and Mary likes it as much as I do. She's not large and usually doesn't drink too much, but I haven't noticed her staggering around after having her share ...

7% I think. Not a session beer, but still delicious!

I honestly don't think I drink very much beer that is under 5%. Bell's Oberon is a little above I think, and I consider that a pretty good session beer.

I think I'm going to have to agree with David that session beer doesn't travel very well. If I want a session beer, I'll usually just go to NABC.

What's the ABV? We've been using that as our "house beer" lately, and Mary likes it as much as I do. She's not large and usually doesn't drink too much, but I haven't noticed her staggering around after having her share ...

7% I think. Not a session beer, but still delicious!

7% is correct. I checked it on their site.

It could be a session beer, just a very short session.

I get inappropriate in a hurry if I'm drinking Bell's Two Hearted.

What's the ABV? We've been using that as our "house beer" lately, and Mary likes it as much as I do. She's not large and usually doesn't drink too much, but I haven't noticed her staggering around after having her share ...

Robin,

Well the label on the bottle in front of me (as opposed to a frontal lobotomy) sez it's 7.0%. Two Hearted is definitely a session beer...the sessions are just a little shorter.

ESB's and Mild Ales make up most of the available session beers available in a bottle (or can)

Some off the top of my head include:

Greene King Abbot Ale - comes in a 16oz can, which helps it hold up a lot better than bottled beers from overseas. It's right at 5% ABV, with a slight hoppiness and great English malts.

Three Floyds Pride and Joy - An American version of the mild ale. Light citrusy hops, we run through this so quickly that it is always fresh. Right around 4.8%

Stone Levitation - An amber ale with a nice blend of malts and hops. Another one that you should be able to find fresh do to its fast turnover. 4.4% or so

Newcastle is my "go to" session beer (especially when facing limited options)

Easy to drink session beers for the beer novice (that i suggest frequently to our guests)

Victory - Prima Pils
BBC Amber
Hoegaarden

Noting that Roger's last two LEO columns have either focused on or mentioned session beers, I'd like to get opinions on people's favorite session beers available by the bottle. Roger did a good job of covering the local options, so I'm more interested in the bottled stuff from afar. I'm hoping to move a few friends off of domestic swill, and, honestly, I could use low-alcohol go-to options when the studying creeps toward midnight and later. I'm biased toward the high-alcohol, high-hops goodness, so this is fairly new territory for me. Not really interested in lists 20 suggestions deep - how about a top 3 or 5?

Bottled Session Beer is an oxymoron. The lower gravity and more delicate flavors do not travel well in the bottle, specially from "afar". I have in the past sampled some excellent British session beers that were only in good condition because someone hand carried them here from England. I'm sure there are a few out there now but only purchase from a reputable, high volume retailer so some freshness is insured.

Never buy beer from strangers, support your local brewery

David,

Good information to know (especially for an amateur). Makes sense. Thanks for sharing.

I'd give the nod to Stone Levitation Ale for the American craft style session beer. It is way more flavorful than 4.4% should conceivably warrant.