Session Beers: Give me your reccs

[Resipsa]

Seems these days I'm drinking on two ends of the spectrum, either really big beers (GI BCS, SN Bigfoot, etc), or really small beers (Stone Levitation, etc)

I'm looking for some new sessions to try, open to all suggestions but am really looking for beers that meet the true definition (4.5% or so) because I'm looking for stuff I can have a few of and not get hammered.

And stuff that's available fresh year round is nice too, as opposed to seasonals like DFH Festina Peche.

I'm asking here rather than BA because these threads there go south in a hurry, LOL

CA Beerarati, lay your wisdom on me.:noon:noon

[Martel]

How 'bout Fuller's London Pride? Sort of an under the radar beer here. Brooklyn Pennant Pale Ale, perhaps?

Cheers,
G

[hammondc]

For session beers, I usually go with something a little less expensive. I typically only drink craft brew, but for a session, they are usually too expensive or too high in ABV. Newcastle is always on hand as well as a Kolsch style beer of some sort. Stella Artois or Busweiser/Michelob are my go to lager styles. Sam Adams is my Ale.

Other options- typically more expensive.
Bells Oarsman
Bells Lager
Bells Pale
DFH Pale Ale

[mosesbotbol]

I am big fan of this style of beer, but it's a rare breed in the USA.

Hawkshead Bitter is an awesome session beer.

[Resipsa]

I am big fan of this style of beer, but it's a rare breed in the USA.
Hawkshead Bitter is an awesome session beer.
Ain't that the truth.

I was looking at the site for the Great British Beer Festival this morning, their version of the Great American Beer Fest, and was a little shocked to see that almost ALL of the entries were below 5% ABV !!! I'd like to go to this some year, you could drink all day and not fall down:noon:noon

[replicant_argent]

Gotta put a plug in for my local favorite, Summit EPA, very drinkable, slightly higher than 4.5, but quite sessionable, goes well with a very wide range of foods, and has a fantastic finish that is distinct, but isn't like getting punched in the mouth constantly.
It just tagged a silver at the GABF, English style pale ale category.
http://www.aperfectpint.net/blog.php/?tag=summit-brewing-company
http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/winners/

[awsmith4]

My new favorite session beer is Terrapin Golden Ale. Its local for me so therefore easy to find but if Terrapin is available near you its worth trying.

Guinness is another, it has less alcohol and less calories than a Budweiser and as many heavy beers as I drink I find it rather light. Another along those lines would be Victory Donnybrook Stout.

Another would be New Belgium's Fat Tire...yes, yes I know NB makes better beer but this one has a good flavor, lower abv, and I can drink many in a row without becoming smashed or full.

[Beklage]

Its Widmer Broken Halo for me, havent been drinking alot of beer lately though :D

[BeerAdvocate]

BLVD SingleWide IPA or Sam Adams Oktoberfest(right now)

[kaisersozei]

To be true to the style, I'd have to recommend sticking with the English bitters. My preference would be for the ESB style--even though it's a bit higher ABV--but I think you'll find the selection to be more readily available. Fuller's is probably my favorite, but I'll also pick up Redhook ESB from time to time.

This is probably the easiest and least expensive style for homebrew, as well. If it wasn't so expensive to ship, we could work out a deal.... ;)

[Lumpold]

Ain't that the truth.

I was looking at the site for the Great British Beer Festival this morning, their version of the Great American Beer Fest, and was a little shocked to see that almost ALL of the entries were below 5% ABV !!! I'd like to go to this some year, you could drink all day and not fall down:noon:noon

You should come to the Reading Beer and Cider Festival... we got a hog roast and everything!

How 'bout Fuller's London Pride? Sort of an under the radar beer here. Brooklyn Pennant Pale Ale, perhaps?

Cheers,
G

If Fuller's is available, that's a good choice... a lot of our session ales over here are even less, and run 3.7%-4.2%. Brakspear's bitter is a good session ale, runs at the lower end, 3.7% I think, if you can get that go for it. Courage Director's is a bit higher (4.8%) but is good if you can find it too.

[BlackDog]

Goose Island Honker's Ale. Great beer, great flavor, 4.2% abv.

[Jbailey]

A few lower ABV I've tried Vic.

Three Floyds Gorch Fock (ABV 4.5)
Three Floyds Gumballhead (ABV 5.5)
New Glarus Moon Man (ABV 5.0)
New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red (ABV 4.0)
New Glarus Raspberry Tart (ABV 4.0)

Dogfish Head Pangaea (ABV 7.0 A little more but still tasty)


A few I haven't had but might fit your bill.
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (5.4)
Ithaca Beer Company Brute (ABV 6.5)

[icehog3]

Goose Island Honker's Ale. Great beer, great flavor, 4.2% abv.

Three Floyds Gumballhead (ABV 5.5)


Definitely on my list. :tu

[Martel]

...Dogfish Head Pangaea (ABV 7.0 A little more but still tasty)

I had quite a bit of this at the Dogfish brewpub in Rehoboth Beach a couple weeks ago... not sure I'd call it a session beer, but it sure is terrific.

Cheers,
G

[Bill86]

Three Floyds Robert the Bruce

I LOVE this beer and knocking out 2-3 isn't very hard (6.5%)

That's about all I can say for session beers, most of what I drink is 9%+. I would say Dogfish head 90 minute IPA even though it's 9%. Same with Midas touch. Even Oaked or regular Arrogant Bastard Ale isn't bad at 7.2%.

[mosesbotbol]

Guinness is another, it has less alcohol and less calories than a Budweiser and as many heavy beers as I drink I find it rather light.

My default draft beer. -(P

[warren G.]

Down here, we drink Abita Amber like water. I think they're great session beers.

[Resipsa]

Thanks guys, lots of good stuff to try so far!

[ChicagoWhiteSox]

Goose Island Honker's Ale. Great beer, great flavor, 4.2% abv.

Yeah this beer is a staple.

[Lumpold]

Vic, I totally forgot... if you can find Timothy Taylor's Landlord, I think you'll dig that, 4.1%ABV Strong Pale Ale... see if you can get some!

[ChicagoWhiteSox]

I was about to make a new thread, so bump to this one.

Anyone else have any good session beer recommendations?

[MikeyC]

I'm a little surprised to see people listing stouts and high acohol beers in this thread. Seems contradictory to what a session beer is defined as but I guess one man's high alcohol is another man's everyday beverage.

Back on topic . . . I really like Sam Adams Noble Pils. Really light in body, but not light on flavor. Nice and hoppy from them brewing it with 5 different types of european hops. If you drink a lot of american craft beer that uses american hops, drinking something with european hops can be a nice change of pace. ABV is 4.9% so not terribly high. A few reviews I've read on this beer have called it one of the best pilsners in the world.

[ChicagoWhiteSox]

I'm a little surprised to see people listing stouts and high acohol beers in this thread. Seems contradictory to what a session beer is defined as but I guess one man's high alcohol is another man's everyday beverage.

Back on topic . . . I really like Sam Adams Noble Pils. Really light in body, but not light on flavor. Nice and hoppy from them brewing it with 5 different types of european hops. If you drink a lot of american craft beer that uses american hops, drinking something with european hops can be a nice change of pace. ABV is 4.9% so not terribly high. A few reviews I've read on this beer have called it one of the best pilsners in the world.

Noble Pils is a pretty good SA offering.

[BeerAdvocate]

Goose Island Honkers Ale

[Frodo]

Guinnes?

[mosesbotbol]

I'm a little surprised to see people listing stouts and high acohol beers in this thread. Seems contradictory to what a session beer is defined as but I guess one man's high alcohol is another man's everyday beverage.

Guinness is hardly strong and about is close to session beer as us yanks will find easily. My favorite regular tap beer by a long shot.

[smitdavi]

I've got some Magic Hat 9 (5.1% ABV) on tap in the garage. Pretty smooth drinking beer.

[Lumpold]

Guinness is hardly strong and about is close to session beer as us yanks will find easily. My favorite regular tap beer by a long shot.

Guinness might not be high ABV, but it certainly is heavy, and wouldn't sit well over a session, IMO, where you would be drinking many pints.

[mosesbotbol]

Guinness might not be high ABV, but it certainly is heavy, and wouldn't sit well over a session, IMO, where you would be drinking many pints.

On our side of the pond, it's not heavy at all.

[Lumpold]

Fair enough, not tried it in the US, so I'll take your word.

[BeerAdvocate]

Lagunitas Pale Ale is my new current session beer

[Resipsa]

Lagunitas Pale Ale is my new current session beer

I've give it a shot, I luvs me some of the other Lagunitas. Hairy Eye Ball, Brown Shugga, Gnarleywine, umummumum.!

One of the most reasonably priced, tasty making breweries going right now.

[Blindjimme]

Deschutes Mirror Pond. 5%, crisp and tasty, nice blend of malt and hops. A go to for me on a long afternoon or a few ( more than a couple? ) after work. :tu

[MikeyC]

Guinness is hardly strong and about is close to session beer as us yanks will find easily. My favorite regular tap beer by a long shot.

Guinness is definitely not a strong beer, but all that nitrogen they use to push it through the tap lines really fills me up.