How Session Beers Prolong Your Drinking Experience

If you are trying to learn all your beer terms to become a more educated consumer, you aren't alone in being confused. What's the difference between a sour beer and a gose, anyway? Is there actually a distinction in grocery store beers versus those that you buy at a liquor store? The latest term that might have you scratching your head: session beer. Honestly, however, it's not that complicated. "Session beers are typically lower in alcohol (usually under 5% ABV) and designed for easy drinking over a longer period," which is, to say, a session, explains Stephen Alexander, sales and marketing director for Tall City Brewing Company in Midland, Texas and part of the public relations and marketing committee for the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. In other words, the lower ABV means that you can drag out your sipping sessions without getting too tipsy. If you are hanging out with friends or listening to some great music at a party or live event, a session beer might be the way to go.

The right session beer for you depends on a number of factors, of which taste is perhaps the biggest part. Luckily, says Alexander, there is a session beer for almost everyone, with a wide variety of brews out there that appeal to a vast assortment of beer drinkers. In addition to not being too intoxicating, session beers also avoid being too filling, meaning that your stomach is less likely to get sloshy as you enjoy a few bottles, cans, or glasses.

What session beers does Alexander recommend for those looking to try one out? "You know everyone's palate is different, but I would usually recommend people to Blonde Ales and Kölsch," he says. He also endorses English bitters, which typically feature ABVs of no more than 4.2% and are "[b]alanced with light malt and earthy hops [...] [l]ow carbonation and easy on the palate," or Berliner Weiss, a "[t]art, light, refreshing wheat beer [that is] often served with fruit syrup in Germany." Practically all session beers are brewed to be refreshing, but for an even lighter drinking experience, you can use a session beer to whip up a summery shandy or a radler (and, yes, there is a difference!).

Keep in mind that just about every style of beer can be tailored with a lower ABV, so session beer is less about a specific flavor profile and more about being easy to drink in quantity. And, while some beers have "session" right in the name, that isn't a requirement for a session beer — the alcohol percentage is the defining characteristic. If you are looking to break into session beers, consider what you like in a "normal" beer and go from there, seeking out a session variety that matches a profile you already find desirable.