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So, I’ve noticed two memes of sorts, lately, in the news. The most recent is an interest in things Belgian, particularly the Lambic variety. I can’t complain, really–maybe it will spur others who otherwise wouldn’t stray from the Bud-Miller-Coors ‘herd.’ The overall view has been positive, although some of it has been a little backhanded. All the same, I’ll admit that the Belgian brews aren’t for everyone: the most well-known are either strong and/or sour; nearly all the brews from that particular area of the world are a bit ‘odd’ by most standards. I personally think that they’re all good, particularly taken at the right time and place–but then, that can be said of nearly anything.
The other big meme going around, and one that I’ve been seeing for a little while now, is a renewed interest in ‘smaller’ beers. Not ‘lite’ beers, but the classic ‘session’ beers–going no stronger, generally, than about 4.5% alcohol by volume, generally hovering around 3.5%. They’re certainly just as flavorful as their ‘bigger’ brethren; but for as ‘normal’ as they are, they seem to be tougher to brew. At the very least, tougher to brew well, particularly by homebrewers–we tend to go for the big beers, the ‘Imperial’ versions of whatever. Even going for the Scottish 70/- I’m planning for this weekend is a bit out of the ordinary; I don’t know the last time I brewed something that was under about a 5% abv. Here again, I can’t really complain–such things will typically only stretch the brewers’ skills.
But given the penchant most folks have for “the biggest (strongest) beer you’ve got!”, this one I really must applaud. If all you want is to get completely plastered, well, Everclear will do that for you, faster and cheaper. Beer, on the other hand, is really meant to be a social drink. And if you’re so blitzed you can’t speak clearly, to say nothing of standing or walking, well… You’re not being all that social.
So here’s to the session beers! May we brew (and drink) more of them!