Favorite session beers?

Bitter American. Sometimes I even drink it out of the can on a hot, yardwork sort of day.

 

This was going to be my suggestion.

 

do you need to ask, only 4.4% though. since session is <4% it doesn't count, but i have a hard time finding something that low. so this will suffice

 

Pale 31. Love that beer.

 

Bruery Hottenroth. Gotta love a berliner weisse.

 

SN Kellerwies. Not a true session brew, but not too far off.

 

Easy.

Stone Levitation Ale.
Or Notch Saison if I'm out of Levitation.

Beer of the Gods aint too bad either to session..

 

So assuming you're going to a BYOB get together or spending a Sunday at a bud's house watching football and you want to bring a six pack of something you can sit and drink throughout the day, what do you choose? What are your top choices for session beers? The term "session beer" can be kind of nebulous, but typically I figure anything lower than 6% ABV and available in six packs (but of course, those aren't necessarily restraints for everyone, just personal ones for myself). Mine would have to be:

1. New Holland's The Poet
2. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
3. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald
4. DFH 60 Minute IPA
5. Founder's All Day IPA (when in season)
5. Sierra Nevada Stout (replace when All Day is out of season)

 

1. Stone Levitation
2. Lagunitas Daytime (when available)
3. Uinta Baba black lager
4. SNPA
5. Black Butte porter

 

Not to be 'that guy' but I gotta go w/the traditional British sense of 'session beer' or at least close to it, which translates to me into something between 3.5%-4.5% that I can drink in 20oz pints for the equivalent of 'one-to-one-and-a-half beers' per 20 oz. If I have something in my hand I wanna be drinking it so, for me, it needs to be lower alcohol. The Brits have this pegged, IMO. Since most of the stuff that makes it over here from there is long past its prime and very few American breweries bottle/brew true session beers, I rely on homebrewed bitters, milds, and the occasional low-gravity Belgian-style table bier for my sessioning needs.

 

I too have to make my own session ales because anything under 4% in America is usually not good. I've had plenty of true 4% or less session ales that are American made and they tend to be watery at best. That and the British stuff that makes it here is so old its a travesty.

 

I agree with OP's Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier - that is definitely one of my favorite for use as a session beer - so tasty. Also agree with bifrost17's Lagunitas Daytime - I just had my first one last week and that is definitely a tasty beer for a session.

To add, I love these ones as well for the situation (when I can get a hold of them):

Allagash White
Celebration or Torpedo IPA
Hoegaarden White Ale

But I must add: I usually bring a custom variety pack, picked for the situation.

 

I disagree here are some that i enjoy not <4% but right at it
Surly Bitter Brewer 4%
Gumball head 4.5%
schells hefe 4%
Brau Brother super Pale ale 4.2%

 

I did forget one obvious exception; Goose Island's Honker's clocks in at 4.2% I think, and it's got a ton of flavor; if I have to pick up a store-bought session beer that's widely-available, that's definitely my choice.

 

1. Prost Hefeweizen
2. Paulaner O fest
3. Dogfishhead Festina Peche
4. Affligem Blonde (a little strong but still my go-to)
5. North Coast Old 38

 

All Day IPA is not seasonal, it is a year-round brew

 

I figure we'll probably hear from the traditionalists any second...
While not falling into the British definition of a session beer, I stand by Augustiner Lagerbier Hell. I can and have consumed several liters of that one over the course of a few hours...along with hundreds of other people doing the same thing. That's good enough for me.

 

I typically look for 1. All day IPA. If I can't find that, which I usually don't, I will just downgrade to a second tier solid beer... Aka Newcastle, Bass, Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams, etc... Something easy to find on the go.