Planning your next "session"

I'm more of a "What strikes me in the moment" type of guy, but I feel you. I also like changing it up (why I love mix a 6's), but I never plan with like abv or anything cause as long as I'm not driving fuck it haha

 

Planning order is especially necessary in bottle shares where you're sampling several different styles, so the same really applies for a session like you describe. Some people go from light to dark, etc. I personally think low to high IBUs while grouping styles is the best way to go. Generally, barrel aged at the end for me regardless of IBU. I've found that nothing wrecks your pallet like a booze bomb.

But yeah, the best sessions or shares are typically planned with those things in mind.

 

I am kind of the same way, but being retired it is not just the weekends. Like you, I prefer not to drink the same beer in a session especially not the same one in a row.

 

I usually have some sort of plan in regards to when,what type,food pairing and abv. It's what makes us beer nerds

 

When I have a beer, I usually just grab whatever looks good from the 12 or so assorted beers I keep in the fridge. I replenish at random from my cellar.

 

For me the concept of Session beer is to have more than one of the same.

 

I never plan what I am going to drink in advance.

 

My planning comes in when I'm shopping. My usual goal is to have a stockpile of beers that I could have several of, plus changes of pace for in between. So keeping a variety on hand of hoppy, malty, roasty, pale, sour, wild, big, small... all comes in handy.

But when I'm enjoying beers at night I'll just let my mood take me and go from there.

 

I rarely session anymore. If I do I usually start lower in hops and work my way to hoppiest.

 

Yesterday I had an opportunity to buy a 15/16/17 vertical of regular BCBS for $50, but passed on it since it is a bit pricey and since I have plenty of BCBS. Got thinking though, that that would be quite the bodacious solo vertical session - would be the equivalent of about thirteen 4.2% 12oz "Buds". Whoa - that's a session

 

The difference being you'll only have to piss a couple times with bcbs.

 

I usually plan out the first 3-4 beers. After that I avoid drinking anything that's too good. Feels like I'm wasting it at that point.

 

I don't plan out my drinking other than purchasing beer for the week. If I have big beers on hand, 8% and up, I'll usually have that first and then drop in ABV after.

 

I like to switch back and forth between stouts and ipas. Normally I start with an ipa unless it's an imperial. I like a refreshing ipa, then a boozy stout to get my beer sweet tooth fix. There's no worong way to drink beer though as long as you enjoy it.

 

I plan what I am going to drink and food pairings based on what I have bought for that week. I do not like to drink all of my new beer in one day. I do plan when I am going to serve more than one style of beer throughout the course of an evening. For instance, I might start with a premium lager and then give you a saison at the table and a stout for dessert.