Session Beer

I thought my next blog should be about the type of beer I drink, which is (or has over the last 7 years or so) essentially been what is known as "session beer". I would define session beer as anything below 4.2% (up to 4.5% at a push) ABV.

The reason this is the "type" of beer I've drunk has been partly out of neccessity. The thing is I like going out and drinking beer, and that means drinking new beers and as many of them as I can fit into a "session", without feeling ill. Don't get me wrong I don't pile it down as fast as I can, but I do like to stay out for the duration and remain compus mentis. I want to remember stuff and generally enjoy myself. Through trial and messy error I discovered (not that it's a secret) that the best way to enjoy a 'sesh' fully is to stick below 4.2% ABV.

I've got to be honest here, I don't like getting drunk. Don't get me wrong I love the warm bonhomie and banter involved with drinking and getting "on my way" but as soon as I start to feel a bit 'spinny', I hate it. A journey home in a taxi doing 30mph (that feels like 230mph) is not a good end to the night in my book. Obviously different people have different tolerances but as far as I'm concerned a decent day "session" involves me ,wherever practical, obeying what I call "the 4% rule" (catchy eh?), I've bored loads of my friends with this particular theory over the years but I still maintain there's some merit in obeying the 4% rule, I do sneak in a stronger beer from time to time, maybe at the end of the night but generally if I'm going out and about, especially if a rail trip is involved, this is what I try to do. There's nothing worse that having the "whirlypits" an hour away from home on a hot train with no seat.

I must admit to being a little intimidated by the beers being mentioned by the twitterers Ive started following recently (9% this, 13% that) as these are traditionally not my domain. Up until recently my beer experience has been spent in the pubs of Huddersfield drinking 'session beers'.

After a concious decision (spurred by the influence of reading beer blogs/twitter feeds) to expand my beer horizons, I have been getting into more 'world beers' (courtesy of the excellent Beer Ritz in Headingly, Leeds) and my eyes have been opened wide open. I had spent some time in my late teens drinking weird belgian stuff from a long gone beer shop in Lockwood, Hudds and I was aware of the American "Hops race". Indeed I've drunk Sierra Nevada and Brooklyn Lager wherever I've found them in the last few years, but until very recently Ive probably avoided stronger "out there beer" as my experience has not been in this type of beer. In fact I wouldn't have even associated these beers with what I've been drinking which is strange when you think about it. I suspect the controversial "sparkler" has a part to play in this but thats worth a blog of its own.

I've generally been solidly a UK ale drinker when out and about over the last 7 years, and more recently I've tried to drink decent UK bottled beer when at home (which let's face it is fairly hard, its easy to get bored with the selection generally available, which is why I started myBrewerytap).

Anyway I digress, here are my top 10 session (ie. under 4.5%) beers of the last few years, I realise they are all light summer style beers but these are what I've been mainly drinking in the last few years. I do also love Milds and Porters and will blog on them seperately in future.

1. Marble "Pint" 3.9% - awesome, just awesome.
2. Pictish "Atlas" 4.0% - (I think) it was at the Kelham Island Tavern January 09 and was utterly brilliant, but really any Pictich beer they're generally fantastic, Brewers Gold is very available round here so I take it for granted but its also fantastic imo.
3. Darkstar "Hophead" 3.8% - no intro needed
4. Hawkshead "Lakeland Gold" 4.4% - fantastic, I visit the lakes a lot and always look forward to pints of this.
5. Mallinsons - (take your pick, most recently "Gator" but they're all great. Bottles hopefully available on mBt soon.
6. Brewsters"Decadence" 4.4% - only had this recently but its amazing, like Marble pint.
7. Church End "Goats Milk" 3.8% - lovely thick creamy mouth feel. Hopefully available on mBt soon.
8. Riverhead "Leggars Light" 3.6% - incredible flavour at just 3.6% you could literally drink it all day.
9. Goose Eye "Chinook" - fantastic single hopped beer.
10. Elland Brewery - "Gary Mitchell Best" - another "not like you think a best bitter is at all" beer. I can't find any info on it online but I drink it at the Barge and Barrel Elland and its delicious. See also their "Best Bitter" another not anything like the name implies.

This list could basically go on and on, I haven't included any Yorkshire Dales, Saltaire, Roosters, Howard Town, Bradfield, Acorn, Salamander etc..etc.. all breweries which I go for by default and could have substituted into the list.

Anyway there we go, I've got a lot of respect for brewers who can provide exceptional flavour at low ABV, seems to me that alcohol tastes nice in itself (or no one would drink Vodka right?).

Brewers who can find flavour and balance at a low (sub 4.5%) ABV are my heroes, and these "session" beers are clearly more saleable as you can keep on drinking them all day long!

Cheers...