Esquire: Why the "Session" Beer Trend Makes Zero Sense

I'm not so sure, 'bout that. Some folks here -enjoy- being trolled. Hey, it beats being "bored while at work", right?

 

I would say that is a red herring as one is a label and nothing more whe the other has a strict requirement attached. Nothing about a RIS says it must be brewed in Russia or by a Russian, whereas a session beer does have a firm ABV requirement attached. I've told you several times now that I take no issue with many of the accepted definitions and I believe that lower ABV beers can have great taste. I am strictly speaking of intent and I have also added that many of the best session beers are unaffected by this as they likely fall into the category by happenstance. On the other side of that coin there are brewers actively targeting the session market to make a quick buck. This does not mean they won't succeed in making decent beer, only thy they are limited right out the gate due to am end requirement that is not there for most styles. I rely don't know how else to explain this, we are on the same page for many of the points here.

 

If you've never been that is exactly the beauty of drinking in England. Nothing better to me than cask ale in a British pub. 3.5-4.5% ABV and chock full of flavor. Our brewers have not figured it out for the most part. I have had a few tasty low ABV beers made by U.S. brewers but for the most part we miss the boat in this area.

 

As I stated, just because a few American brewers try to shoehorn a beer into the category does not mean that is the norm.

If you look up the definition of any category or style, there are parameters. If a brewer sets out to brew an ale, that is an end requirement. If they want to brew an IPA, there are style guidelines. And yes, a Russian Imperial Stout has requirements.

 

And as I stated earlier I think that titles for beers are merely pattern recognition techniques used for easy identification which is okay. But there is a flexibility within most styles now that allow for experimentation and if my beer were to jump from one category to another because I made it taste better I would say "so what." And make it taste as good as I can.

It all depends on te definition you what to go by here and if you think it only has to do with ABV then so be it, but many disagree as does the definition on this site. Perhaps we need a new category created or find a co consensus on the term, I am more interested in tracking the intent and the results of that.

 

The "Tastes Better" IPA? Brewers could clearly -- and without any potential confusion -- differentiate their products from an All Day IPA and Tastes OK IPA....

 

Well some have said the term IPA Lite would be applicable, but I'm sure there are other options available too. We may just have to wait until one side of the semantic argument wins out and becomes the norm. The zeitgeist will march on....

 

I would hate to place any constraints on brewers' marketing terminology. They might not come up with the best possible sales pitch....

 

Well that is the power of the consumer in this instance since the sales pitch deals directly with trying to convince you that their product is worthwhile. I suppose intent is again in play here as breweries have different approaches to selling product. Some want the best taste, others want clever marketing to carry them, and others still will just make whatever sells at a cheap rate.

 

And some want Great Taste and Less Filling. That beer certainly convinced consumers!

 

Brother Jack is indeed one of the most well-recognized users of this site!

There is presently -at least one- American-style I.P.A. in the U.S. market which is marketed as a "Light" I.P.A.:
http://www.wachusettbrew.com/light_ipa.html

 

He is our resident Cheers!-leader.

 

Not just that. He is BA's only Superhero -- CAPMan~!

 

Agreed! It will be interesting to see what definition wins out in the "session" category. It won't be forced on anyone but just a gradual use increase on one side of the spectrum or other. What is really intriguing is that I feel this site will have a huge degree of influence on how this plays out, so if people truly dislike the definition contained here it may be worth creating a poll and post requesting a change.

 

Seeing as how USDA and TTB cannot -or at least at the present time is not legally required to- do very much insofar as requiring such labeling and naming conventions on any domestic Craft or Large Scale brewery, it might be something which is adhered to in a voluntary fashion which will be derived from continuing consumer preference, especially vis-a-vis Brewers Association (the closest thing that the U.S.A. has to CAMRA, and arguably a much more powerful body.)

 

Very well put, and a great reminder that I need to learn more about the Brewers Association! Thanks for that.

 

Sprecher Brewing (of Sprecher Root Beer fame) introduced a brand called "Micro-Light" about ten years ago and it is still being made. I don't see it outside of Wisconsin, but it is a nice, full-flavored and low-calorie (119 calories) ale that I found to be a very nice option to light adjunct lagers. I've had low-calorie and full-flavored ales from other American "Craft" brewers aside from this one, so I know that they have the ability to brew to this gravity and still offer full-flavored and presumably highly-hopped beers.

I do agree that the words "Light" and "Diet" tend to be qualifiers which many Craft Beer hobbyists (as well as red-blooded American males in general... ) will do their best to avoid, owing to being self-conscious up to a point. I mean, "Lite" from Miller has a proven record as a 'manly' beer (football commercial going back into the days or Arena Rock) , but a Craft beer marketed as "light" would strike many Appletini-swilling Cougars as a turn off. Am I right?

 

First author says anything that is considered "session able" is 4% abv or less yet the page has BL listed in the photo as 4.2%. Seems insignificant but the author seems intent on accuracy.
Second why must we label these beers? Go back before the craft beer movement. Were those adjunct lagers called session beers? The term does not identify a style: ie you can have IPA that I "session able"
And while I'm at it what's he def of a session? If its a period of time what is it? I can have a drinking session and have 2 beers in an hour six? I can sit down and play the drums for a half hour and have 2 beers. Did I have a music session or a drinking session. IMO this is just way of creating a new market segment . shandys , sessions etc. Its just beer.

 

Isn't session beer a title? It might not be a defined style, but is is still just a title allowing experimentation. If the beer tastes better outside of the parameters, then the option is there to simply up the ABV and not call it "session". How would this be any different than a brewer setting out to brew an IPA and deciding it would taste better if they increased the malt bill and made an imperial IPA instead?

By your argument, there would be one beer that tastes better than every other beer and all brewers would be moving ever closer to this target.

 

Whether ABV, style, fermentation time, etc, don't you think most brewers have a target in mind before they start developing a new beer?