10 Session Beer Spots
Many North American breweries and bars occasionally offer beer choices at 4.5% or below; finding those with a year-round dedication to them is a greater challenge. Here are 10 favorite spots.
Amalgamated Brewing — St. Louis
The flagship of this south St. Louis micro, located in the historic stables of the old Lemp brewery, is a flavorful, 4.4%-ABV Zoigl-style lager.
Brewer's Union Local 180 — Oakridge, Ore.
Amid mountain-biking paradise, this British-inspired brewpub specializes in cask ales, including several below 4% strength.
The Diamond — Brooklyn, N.Y.
One of the few bars we found with dedicated taps and bottles for beers below 4.5%.
Grand River Brewing — Cambridge, Ontario
Dedicated to beers below 5% ABV, including the Galt Knife Old Style Lager at 4.4%.
Hair of the Dog — Portland, Ore.
In what might be a sign of the apocolypse, this brewery famed for its barleywines recently began releasing a Little Dog series of ales around 3.5% ABV.
Jester King Craft Brewery — Dripping Springs, Texas
Aside from Commercial Suicide, other year-round brews include the farmhouse ale Das Wunderkind at 4.2% strength. The hoppy wheat beer Drink'in the Sunbelt at 4% was a recent collaboration with Danish brewer Mikkeller.
Notch — Boston
Brewer Chris Lohring's outfit launched with kegs of Session Ale at 4.5% and a Session Pils at 4%. At a recent event to release the beers in bottles, patrons were lined up out the door and around the corner.
Pratt Street Ale House — Baltimore
This cask ale brewpub near Camden Yards has also been distributing its beers, many below 4.5%, to discriminating bars in the greater D.C. area.
Public House Brewing — Rolla, Mo.
Launched in December with an explicit dedication to session beers, including a 2.5% mild, and selling it faster than they can make it. Offering a Trough Special where drinking five beers of the same style gets you the sixth one free.
Yards Brewing Co. — Philadelphia
Its year-round Brawler bitter and Philadelphia Pale Ale are 4.2% and 4.6%, respectively.
—Joe Stange