I was going to comment over the weekend at Jack Curtain's Liquid Diet on the interesting discussion about whether "session beer" is or isn't... but then I notices something more abstract about whether the beer blog post and comments as a whole. It seems to sum up all internet beer discourse on one webby page. Consider what's all in there:
- It's triggered by an accomplished brewer refuting a beer drinking trend based on that trend not being something the brewer includes in its brands.
- It contains the consideration of whether something is or is not a style, something we will all laugh about years from now just like wide leg jeans and Facebook.
- It includes an Alstrom making himself the center of attention when, again, he isn't personally remotely the point: "I find it laughable when I hear people call Todd and I anti-session beer..." Gee, I hope that doesn't make me a hater.
- It's got a cheeky interjection by Stan.
- It's makes a lot of space for concurrent denial of the existence of session beer as well as broadening of the meaning to the point of meaninglessness: the phrase for "short session" is "not a session."
- Fisking!!!
- It starts out with a classic statement of principle Jay and, then, sees Lew coming in the role of closer pounding the point home.
- It even displays unvolunteered oath bolstering in the name of Martyn Cornell.
What else could there be in there? Mild passive aggression? It's there. Someone leaving an "enough said" and then later going on? It's got it. Note to my kids in 2024: this will make a great footnote in the Master's thesis about how Dad and many of his era wasted his evenings.
Comments
Jordan St.John - March 21, 2011 11:12 PM
"Grampa, what did you do in the great internet war?"
"Well, little fictional Jimmy, I set some jerks straight about a beer."
Tom - March 22, 2011 3:31 AM
Oh no you didn't! Snap!
Ron Pattinson - March 22, 2011 8:29 AM
After reading several discussions about session beer on the web, I never want to hear the term again.
Alan - March 22, 2011 8:51 AM
That's it! It lacked the display of unvolunteered oath bolstering in the name of Ron Pattinson.
Craig - March 22, 2011 12:11 PM
'nuff said!
Joe Stange - March 22, 2011 1:21 PM
Having sworn off "craft beer" and now "session beer" it's only a matter of time until Ron swears off "beer" altogether and spirals into a troubling obsession with accurate historical pork scratching recipes.
Jeff Alworth - March 22, 2011 2:16 PM
I believe your fourth bullet point is the most trenchant.
Gary Gillman - March 22, 2011 2:59 PM
Just on the point of the origin of the term, which Martyn partially addressed. It comes, in my opinion, from Michael Jackson's early writings. I can't pinpoint the book and year. It may have been the World Guide To beer, but more likely first appeared in one of his early pocket guides. I can't recall seeing the term in print before his books; other appearances as far as i know post-date his first publications.
Michael didn't originate (quite) everything; it's possible the term lurks in something Richard Boston wrote, or an early CAMRA publication. Still, I have a feeling St. Michael originated the term.
In my younger days, I was a fan of these beers, but now, not so much. I think it's better to drink one or two stronger beers. Less bloating and total calories, I think, than what you get from a session.
I too get tired of the discussions, but they will recur as long as brewers brew too many super-strong beers with too much taste. :)
Gary
Martyn Cornell - March 22, 2011 4:15 PM
FWIW, the earliest mention Google Books turns up for the phrase 'session beer' is 1993, in <i>The Beer Drinker's Companion </i>by John Dallas and Charles McMaster, and they're talking about a "medium gravity" beer of 3.7 per cent abv. Not that this proves anything about when the phrase was invented, who invented it or what strength a session beer is: the answer is truly in the eye of the beerholder.
Alan - March 22, 2011 4:31 PM
Jeff, just rub lemon juice on your computer screen and then hold it over a lamp. The message pops right up!
Stephen Beaumont - March 22, 2011 5:36 PM
Good lord! That is indeed one epic thread. (I just word counted it and it is one pithy comment away from 9,000 words long!) I only wish i had caught it earlier, as i have not the patience to now wade through the entire thing.
One observation that I might add, here rather than there only because I'm already mid-comment: When I was younger and craft brewing was still microbrewing, we marveled at the notion of a pint -- an Imperial pint! -- of 8% alcohol Niagara Falls Eisbock being served at C'est What. Now, my friends and I regularly find ourselves drinking larger quantities of beer of higher strength with no great ill effects, albeit most often prolonging our consumption over a longer period of time, Conditioning, context, maturity or alcohol tolerance, you be the judge.
Craig - March 22, 2011 7:47 PM
Funny on how nobody commented on the Albany Ale stuff like this.
David - March 24, 2011 12:44 AM
Haven't you realized that the Alstroms are the center of the craft beer world because they are 'advocates' of beer. (end sarcasm...now)