Session
There was a time when drinking a few beers in the middle of the day was a perfectly acceptable way to gear up for finishing the workday. Times have changed, but that’s not the only reason tossing back a few beers at lunch is ill advised–beer has changed.
Session as a category was born in Britain’s pub culture, a byproduct of taxation around ABV (alcohol by volume). Crafting well-balanced, flavorful beers was in fact a craft. To do so well, brewers had to be creative and innovative with flavor combinations and brewing processes. Session beer boasted interesting and balanced flavor profiles and an ABV below 4%. These were not light beers; they were good beers brewed to be enjoyed. The flavor was the priority; the ABV was the creative challenge.
Overtime the beer culture’s interest in delicious beer didn’t wane, but our collective consideration of ABV did – especially in the US. Extreme flavor beers came with an ABV to match—8, 9, 10, even 13% ABV. Beers that high in alcohol do more than impair your judgment, they impair your ability to hang out, relax, and enjoy beer and conversation with friends. Notch American Session Beer is our interpretation of this brilliant British brewing tradition—tasty beers, reasonable ABV.
For more information about Session as a category and a movement, check out these links: