When it Comes to ABV, How Low Can We Go?

I loved that Schaefer jingle--and a George Kennedy ad as well.

Despite the implication or reference to the pub drinkers knocking off mild overseas all day long, the "session" moniker on this side of the pond has never seemed to imply anything more than lower abv--and that inconsistently and poorly defined.

The hipster reference to "sessioning" has been misguided from the beginning with folks applying it to any binge drinking experience. I laughed at the braggarts on these boards touting their sessioning of Two Hearted--that actually seems less of late.

On the other hand if using the term "session," albeit poorly defined, allows a new "style" to be marketed and more lower ABV beers available for me then I am all for it. I am all about a lower ABV.

 

Anchor Steam 4.9%, always tasty and not too high ABV.

 

You're really looking to spark a debate if you want to give a definition to session.

As for me, too low is below 4%. That being said, according to some article I found, low ABV beers and near beers and gaining popularity in Germany. It seems like they are making tasty low ABV beers that I would probably try. I don't drink beer for alcohol and I certainly don't like being drunk. If it's tasty, count me in. If it's boozy, count me out.

 

One of my favourite beers of all time is a 3.4% mild which admittedly punches way above its weight for taste.Way above.
I understand that the term "session beer" derives from measures taken in WW1. Pubs were allowed to open for two sessions a day,typically 10.30 to 2.30 and again in the evening from 5 till 10.30.
At the same time beer strength fell so the notion of a beer which could be supped throughout the whole session was created.
As practically all beer was under 4% ABV that is what is meant by session beer.
By the way, although the war ended in 1918 it took until 1987 to repeal the legislatiin !

 

Perhaps you have not had a "good" beer below 4% and believe me, that is hard to find on this side of the pond.

A good cask ale coming in at upper 3s to 4 is just magic. Elegant and understated, these hit all of the buttons but a bit like fine audiophile equipment with music at low volume.

A few large beer markets in the US--San Fran for example--have local brewers and good examples--maybe NYC? I have not personally found it there.

But I agree with you--good sub 4 beer here is an anomaly but one I look for all the time.

 

And even more anomalous than that is finding a good sub-4% beer that is not branded as an IPA.

 

Finding a beer under 4% in a style I like is really tough, I don't like sours or Berliner Weiss, or Session IPAs. I'd have to drive 45 minutes to get there but Bull City makes English Style beers that was tremendous in a few different styles. Their Mild is really phenomenal and if I remember right it's right 3.8%, tons of flavor and taken blind you'd never guess the Abv on this one. Standard off the shelf Guiness is about all there is I suppose that pushes the sub 5% Abv that's not an AAL of any sort.

 

I think the answer is 0.1% or 0.0%.

 

Here in Portland, Hair of the Dog does British style milds using the second runnings of some of their big beers (Adam, Fred, Matt). They only clock in around 3-4% but I felt their flavor was more complex than other milds I've had. Perhaps some other breweries are doing this, but I'm not aware of it.

 

Just grabbed a case of Murphy Irish stout 4% and better than Guinness.

I also picked up Hamms 4.6% and warstiner (sp)Pilsner under 5 as well

Enjoy

 

The lowest abv beer i know, comes from a Dutch breweer, i forgot the name.
But it;s only 2.6 abv.

 

Lindemans Framboise is 2.5% ABV, and is an excellent raspberry lambic. I didn't think I'd like lambics because I don't like sour beers, but this is more tart than sour.

 

I don't like them either.

 

I had a farmhouse ale by Prairie called Prairie
Vous-Francais and it was 3.9Abv. It was really light and refreshing, and enjoyable by my standards. However that style aside, one thing that comes to mind at low AbV and without sacrificing taste was Epic Brewings Tart N’ Juicy IPA. More tart than anything, and questionably an IPA, but it is extremely tasty. I believe it clocked in at 4.5 AbV and is definition crushable.