Looking for low fg readily available winter beer(s)

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by machiya, Dec 30, 2018.

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  1. machiya

    machiya Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2013 Oregon

    I've been diabetic for over 50 years, have found some drinkable beers that have low residual sugar, and none are what I want to drink in the winter. (Sorry, I don't consider IPA attractive in the dark and cold season.) I'm in Portland, winter is not quite here yet, and I'm down to my last 2 Upheaval IPAs. I want to find a low fg porter to stick my fridge with.

    Goses are great in summery weather - lots of water, low fg, low carb. Is there an equivalent dark, roasty beer for the season of cold and dark?
     
    #1 machiya, Dec 30, 2018
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  2. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you like Gose, why not have some Lambic during the cold season? It may not be dark and roasty, but still makes for great wintertime drinking in my opinion.

    Otherwise there's always SN Porter, I guess? I don't know about FG, but the ABV is relatively low at 5.6%.
     
    #2 Snowcrash000, Dec 30, 2018
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  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    From the Sierra Nevada website:

    Alcohol Content 5.6% by volume

    Beginning gravity 13.8° plato

    Ending Gravity 3.5° plato

    Bitterness Units 32

    https://sierranevada.com/beer/year-round/porter

    A final gravity of 3.5 °P (specific gravity of 1.014) is not low from my perspective.

    There is also the consideration that Sierra Nevada infrequently brews their Porter (and Stout as well) so availability is an issue.

    @machiya, Porters typically have high(er) final gravity since this style benefits from having a ‘chewy’ body. I homebrew a Robust Porter and my target final gravity (which I achieve) for this beer is 1.032. It is nice and ‘chewy’. What are your thoughts on the Saison beer style? Those beers are typically very dry with a low FG. The Saison I brewed earlier this year ended up at 1.002.

    Also, a properly brewed Brut IPA should have a low FG. The new Brut IPA that is recently out from Sierra Nevada:

    Overview

    Alcohol Content 6.2% by volume

    Beginning gravity 12.5° plato

    Ending Gravity 0.5° plato

    Bitterness Units 25

    https://sierranevada.com/beer/seasonal/brut-ipa

    Cheers!

    @SierraTerence
     
    #3 JackHorzempa, Dec 30, 2018
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  4. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Saison was the first thing that came to my mind as well. There are definitely dark versions out there but I can't think of one that I've had off the top of my head. I know Fantome makes some. They may not exactly fit the dark and roasty character that the OP is looking for, but many are brewed with spices which can be nice this time of year.
     
    #4 Jacobier10, Dec 30, 2018
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  5. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    #5 PapaGoose03, Dec 31, 2018
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  6. machiya

    machiya Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2013 Oregon

    #6 machiya, Dec 31, 2018
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  7. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    It can't hurt, especially if it might be a while since you've had it. Other Dry Irish Stouts may give you a different experience. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/styles/162/ Click on the ABV column header to see which ones that are accessible to you might have a low abv.
     
    #7 PapaGoose03, Dec 31, 2018
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  8. machiya

    machiya Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2013 Oregon

    Saison is a wide-open style these days, seems very loosely defined, and a lot of them both taste sweet and have fg beyond what I think I can tolerate. The real issue is that I classify them as warmer-season beers. If I'm drinking saisons in December, I might as well continue to drink Upheaval - it's almost guaranteed to be cheaper.
     
    #8 machiya, Dec 31, 2018
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  9. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was going to suggest Guinness Draught too. Perhaps you should try Murphy's though.
     
    #9 zid, Dec 31, 2018
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  10. bleakies

    bleakies Maven (1,355) Apr 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    #10 bleakies, Dec 31, 2018
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  11. dbl_delta

    dbl_delta Grand Pooh-Bah (4,001) Sep 22, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #11 dbl_delta, Jan 10, 2019
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  12. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Maybe repost in the NW forum. There are plenty of regionally available dark lagers, small porters and stouts, and various other treats available both draft and packaged.
     
    #12 BBThunderbolt, Jan 10, 2019
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