This edition of The Session is sponsored the Beer Nut.

Announcing Session no. 25: Love Lager

…[L]et’s get back to basics. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose early drinking career featured pale lager in abundance, so consider this a return to our roots as beer drinkers. Don’t even think about cheating the system: leave your doppelbocks and schwarzbiers out of this one: I want pilsners, light lagers, helleses and those ones that just say “beer” because, well, what else would it be?

I want to know what’s so great about them, and what’s awful. Are we talking just lawnmowers, barbecues and sun holidays here, or is there a time for some thoughtful considered sipping of a cold fizzy lager?

When I first saw this announcement, I was in a bit of a quandary.

Should I go back to the lagers that I cut my proverbial drinking teeth on, such as Miller Genuine Draft? Or should I go back further and try what The Office Beer Bar & Grill euphemistically calls “Retro Beers“, like Schlitz or PBR? Or should I stick with a craft offering, like Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Saranac Adirondack Lager, or perhaps Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager?

Ultimately, my choice was kind of made for me. See, I opted to do Samuel Smith beers all this week. Their Pure Brewed Lager was what my retailer carried.

I have a lot of trepidation about this one. See, lagers from Europe don’t generally get the treatment they need during shipping to the United States, and most of them end up lightstruck. As a result, I tend to shy from imports, especially lagers. And I spent over $2.00 each for this little guy and his six brothers; that’s going to leave a bruise on my wallet. I’d hate for it to be undrinkable.

I suppose I’m going against the spirit of this Session. This is certainly not something I would have picked up early in my drinking career. Ten dollar cases of MGD were more my speed at the time. Still, what’s the point of working for a living if not to earn money to buy decent beer?

Very, very pale. It may be one of the lightest beers I’ve ever seen. Head is white and pretty fluffy. Aroma is very light, with maybe a bit of grassiness. Body is…(wait for it)…light; toasty and perhaps a bit of honey. More malt character than something like this out of, say, Germany.

More importantly, it’s not skunked.

All in all, this is pretty good. However, light lagers aren’t generally a group I go for anymore. If I do, I’ll stick to something more local and, frankly, cheaper.

This is Beer-a-Day #65.

Samuel Smith Pure Brewed Lager