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

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