In recent years, the craft beer scene has experienced a significant shift. Gone are the days when breweries competed to create the most potent, high-alcohol brews. Today, a trend towards session beer styles (less than 5%ABV) is growing - lower alcohol beers that pack a flavourful punch without the alcohol.
Why the Change of Heart?
Remember those big double and Triple IPAs that made you legless after two pints or those eye-wateringly high-ABV beers like Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32%) or Snake Venom (reportedly 67.5%)? While they were undoubtedly conversation starters, they missed a crucial point: drinkability. After all, what's the use of a beer if you can't enjoy more than one without toppling over?
The New Wave of Appreciation
Session or table styles are not a new category. For hundreds of years, Farmhands and other workers were often rewarded with table beers while working, and the taxation of beer created many session beer styles that are the cornerstone of the traditional English pub culture. So, what exactly are session ales? These low-alcohol beers (typically under 5% ABV) don't skimp on flavour. They're called session beers because you can enjoy several over a drinking session without feeling worse for wear. Popular styles include:
- Session IPAs
- Irish Red & Stout
- Milds
- Bitters
- Scottish Light & Heavy
- Berliner Weisse
- Light Lagers
- and many others
Crafting the Perfect Session Beer: Tips and Tricks
Creating a low-ABV beer isn't as simple as reducing your malt bill. This is all about drinkability, aiming for flavourful and balanced:
- Start Low, Finish High
If you are brewing a session style, the style parameters will guide you for the original gravity (OG) and the Final Gravity. This will ensure the correct ABV and flavour, mouthfeel and finish. The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) style guidelines are an excellent resource for this information. However, if you want to take a higher ABV style and make it a session version, aim for a lower original gravity (OG) than the style guidelines, but the same final gravity (FG) as the original style. This ensures your beer won't be thin or watery.
- Malt Magic
The style guidelines will guide you again here. Most of the UK ale styles start with a flavourful base malt like Marris Otter or Golden Promise. We suggest beginning with a suitable base malt, then adding specialty grains for complexity. Remember that Vienna and Munich malts can also be used as base malts where appropriate.
- Mash Matters
Mash at a higher temperature to target alpha-amylase enzymes. This helps produce a less attenuated beer with a fuller body.
- Hop and Boil Strategy
In low-gravity wort, longer boils are a great way to add flavour without the gravity points; consider starting with a 90-minute boil. With hops and bitterness, balance is key! For hoppy styles, consider reducing bittering hops and loading up on late additions for aroma and flavour.
- Yeast Choice
Always pick a suitable yeast for the style; if your mash temperature, OG and predicted FG are where they need to be, then the yeast will do its job, and you will end up in the right range. However, you may want to consider suitable yeasts that have a lower attenuation to help ensure there is no alcohol creep.
- Water
Session beers probably benefit the most from control and adjustment of the water profile. By using a chloride-dominant ratio, you can enhance the malt profile to help ensure the beer doesn't taste thin, even if it is a hoppy style.
The craft beer world constantly evolves, and session beers prove that good things come in small packages. So why not give it a go? Your taste buds will thank you!
Try our Session IPA Kit or try a session extract kit.
MYO Drinks
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