Session time

Stone Levitation Ale is decent. And I can think of a few Cantillons that come close to session-level ABVs that I could drink all day and night.

 

This is a pity because brewing a notable low gravity beer is in many ways the ultimate achievement of a skilled brewer.Also of course there are those who wish to be refreshed yet consume less alcohol than would affect them.One reason for their continued popularity in the UK-despite the availability of stronger beers-is that most "quality" beer is drunk away from home and many people have to drive back.That's also of course a good reason for a strictly measured amount with a stated ABV , you know just what your alcohol intake will be.

 

So may I ask if you drink to the point where you don't "feel fine" then that is no longer a session correct?

 

Founders All Day IPA needs to not be 12 dollars per 6
Not saying it isnt good. Its good.

 

Damn I thought 9.99 was bad...

 

Well, here's what it's all about.We went on a minibus trip round some of our pubs today.
While waiting outside the Horse & Plough for the bus to arrive we were seen by the management so the pub was opened early for our benefit so had our first beer there.We then during the day progressed to the Staunton Arms, the Marquis of Granby , the Boot and Shoe ,the Anchor, the Red Lion, the Plough, the Rose and Crown,another Crown, the Sample Cellar and a different Plough.Arriving back at the Horse and Plough some of the guys went back it for some more.At least one drink in each pub and back home in a fit state to put together a meal and a hot drink, watch the cricket on TV and write this.
We met some friends from another Branch in quite a few pubs.Those guys were talking about drinking in two dozen pubs or so if time permitted.
Lots of truly excellent beer, a great day out and I feel fine after it all.

 

The Boot and Shoe - didn't that use to be one of the few Home Ales pubs with handpumps?

Apologies for the highly specific East Midlands references. Just look on it as something exotic and unobtainable. Like California for us poor European plebs.

 

Umm...Deschutes River Ale at 4.0%abv is flying off the shelves in town and for a good reason. It packs a lot of flavour into that tiny abv. But...unfortunately, as others have mentioned, beers of this strength or lower, are hard to find..for me.

 

My homebrewed English Style Dark Mild Ale: http://www.brewtoad.com/recipes/dark-mild-20

 

2.9% with one third of an ounce of hops. I thought you were crossing an unfair line by bringing homebrew into this conversation, but good on you sir. Well played. I'd like to try this one.

 

Tell you the truth, Ron I don't know. I first visited the pub in the mid 60s and vaguely remember it was just like being in somebody's front room but can't remember the beer! I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Free House as the pub sign said "Mackeson" on it.But as nearly all the Vale of Belvoir pubs were Home Ales it quite possibly was one , the nearby Marquis was Home Ales.I didn't visit the Boot and Shoe for perhaps 30 years , don't ask me why, it's a little gem of a place.Perhaps there were just too many other pubs to visit in the area.
Home Ales was served on handpump when I began drinking-they were from memory plain black handles. Then they changed to electric metered pumps of varying design in, I think, the 70s and 80s.Some pubs were missed in this change , I don't remember the Red Lion at Stathern ever having electric pumps.
Exotic and unobtainable? Lots of lovely villages stuffed full of excellent pubs , rolling country and practically no traffic.Could be worse

 

This is true, and one must remember that words and concepts and meanings never are subject to local usage, and different understandings, and the insistence of majorities of folks who understand things a different way. There is one way to understand a thing, otherwise there would be confusion in the meanings of things, such as the amount that is a pint, what a bonnet is, the word "lift", etc., etc.

 

My favorite this year was Indeed Burrgrinder at 5.10% ABV. --- that is close enough.

I also have enjoyed Bengal Lancer a time or 2, and the cask edition is 5% abv.

 

Lawsons Spring Fever session IPA, killer good and right at 3.5% ABV. I usually don't pay much attention to ABV within reason, but this IPA is very very good and has a lot of flavor crammed into that glass. Tap only I believe. Though it nudges a little over 5% HF What is Enlightenment is also outstanding. I've had Founders All Day and it's really a solid brew, better if it was in cans.

 

Just had Wachusett Light IPA 4.0%abv which is not bad.

 

Well to be fair, it is only a 2.7 gallon batch!

Sadly its the only way I can get a good session beer in my area. Which is quite ironic, because for off premise consumption in Oklahoma, all beer that can be sold cold and at a grocercy store, gas station, etc, must be below 3.2% alcohol by weight (around 4% by volume)

So you would think local breweries would produce session beers, but they don't, and they are all sold at liquor stores (at room temperature) and higher alcoholic Strength.

 

UPSLOPE craft lager and Deschutes twilight summer ale