Before you load up your garage fridge for this Sunday’s Super Bowl game, consider this term: the session beer.
The what?
It’s an easy enough concept to grasp. You’ll be sitting in your man (or woman) cave for hours on end watching America’s two best pro football teams pummel each other for the XLIXth time. Plenty of empty calories to wash down. Plenty of friends to entertain. And remember, it’s Sunday, for Pete’s sake. A little moderation is called for, even on this day of national excess.
That’s why you want a session beer – something that’s lighter, lower in alcohol, easier to nurse along over an afternoon without any consequences more dire than a few trips to the bathroom.
First, though, let’s examine the term. Where did it come from? According to The Beer Advocate, it was invented by our pals across the pond:
“A ‘session’ referred to one of the two allowable drinking periods in England that were imposed on shell production workers during World War I. Typically the licensed sessions were 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m., and apparently continued up until the Liquor Licensing Act of 1988 was introduced. Workers would find a beer that they could adequately quaff within these restrictive four-hour ‘sessions’ that were laid down by the government. (Workers could drink) without getting legless and returning to work or (getting) arrested for being drunk and disorderly.”
OK, let’s set aside any questions about the wisdom of downing beers for hours in the middle of a workday, especially if you’re manufacturing high explosives. The practice makes sense for Super Bowl watching, right?
In this country, any beer that contains no more than 5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) would qualify. The average ABV for American beers is currently about 5.9 percent, and many craft beers, especially the heavier ones, are much stronger than that. Most session beer fans also insist that it should be balanced – neither too malty nor too hoppy – and deliver a clean finish with no lingering aftertaste. That combination of factors gives you a brewski that you can drink steadily over several hours without getting tipsy, overly bloated or tired of the taste – in other words, a session beer.
Five percent vs. 5.9 percent might not seem like much, but over the course of an afternoon, that difference can add up. The Beer Advocate weighs in again: “As you approach the 6 percent mark, we’ve found that beer drinkers feel the impact of this extra 1 percent quite easily over the course of a drinking session. While body chemistry varies greatly from person to person, 5 percent ABV seems to be optimal for everyone. Remember: The point of a session beer is imbibing socially without getting loaded.”
Low-alcohol beer doesn’t have to be bland. Here are a few good ones to consider:
Abita Amber Lager: A Munich-style lager brewed with crystal malt and Perle hops with a smooth, malty, subtly caramely taste. 4.5 percent ABV. ($8.97 for a six-pack at Hi Time Wine Cellars)
Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale: Deschutes Brewery’s most popular beer, Mirror Pond Pale Ale exudes a hop aroma and hop-forward flavor, but there’s a slightly sweet maltiness to the midpalate taste. 5 percent ABV. ($159.99 for a half-barrel keg at Hi-Time Wine Cellars)
Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale: This New Jersey craft beer has an earthy, spicy hop taste. It’s made with imported Styrian Goldings hops, which deliver an impressive, creamy head. 4.6 percent ABV. ($5 for a six-pack at Total Wine & More)
Pike Naughty Nellie Golden Ale: A Seattle beer made with soft grains. It delivers a hoppy, flowery nose and a sweet, malty taste, with a finish that’s crisp and clean. 4.7 percent ABV. ($4.99 for a 22-ounce bottle at Total Wine & More)
Session Premium Lager: From Oregon’s Full Sail Brewery. Light gold in color. Lots of fruity notes, including apricot and peach. Finishes with notes of citrus and hops. 5.1 percent ABV. ($12.99 for a 12-pack at BevMo)
Contact the writer: 714-796-7979 or phodgins@ocregister.com
