It’s easy to hate on simple beers, but honestly, they’re fine. Sometimes you want a complex experience that draws your focus; sometimes you just want “a beer” because it’s not something you want to pay attention to.
I lived in the heartland of craft brew for a very long time. I brewed, my partner brews. We went to festivals for brewing. These days, eh, a simple light lager is fine.
My buddy has a good definition of it. He says there are “experience” beers, and “session” beers. Experience beers are more flavorful, filling, complex. Session beers are beers that are easy to drink without thinking too much about it. Like, an experience beer is for an outside deck dinner at sunset. A session beer is for a bonfire or something where you’re looking to get drunk.
Exactly. And frankly, from a brewing and chemical engineering perspective, the consistency and subtle flavors of a light beer are more impressive than something like an IPA where you can just blow out the drinker’s palate with hops and win an award for it.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love big beers. It’s just that I’m almost 40 with three hyperactive, mischievous, and hellaciously smart kids under 10 (and a partner to match); there are many times where light and predictable is really nice.
It’s easy to hate on simple beers, but honestly, they’re fine. Sometimes you want a complex experience that draws your focus; sometimes you just want “a beer” because it’s not something you want to pay attention to.
I lived in the heartland of craft brew for a very long time. I brewed, my partner brews. We went to festivals for brewing. These days, eh, a simple light lager is fine.
My buddy has a good definition of it. He says there are “experience” beers, and “session” beers. Experience beers are more flavorful, filling, complex. Session beers are beers that are easy to drink without thinking too much about it. Like, an experience beer is for an outside deck dinner at sunset. A session beer is for a bonfire or something where you’re looking to get drunk.
Exactly. And frankly, from a brewing and chemical engineering perspective, the consistency and subtle flavors of a light beer are more impressive than something like an IPA where you can just blow out the drinker’s palate with hops and win an award for it.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love big beers. It’s just that I’m almost 40 with three hyperactive, mischievous, and hellaciously smart kids under 10 (and a partner to match); there are many times where light and predictable is really nice.
Agreed, nothing wrong with a lager. Among simple light lagers, though, the major breweries offerings are particularly … simple.
Start the night with a good craft IPA. End the night with Rainier.