The Session is a monthly event for the beer blogging community which was started by Stan Hieronymus at [Appellation Beer]. On the first Friday of each month, all participating bloggers write about a predetermined topic. Each month a different blog is chosen to host The Session, choose the topic, and post a roundup of all the responses received. For more info on The Session, check out the Brookston Beer Bulletin’s [nice archive page].


This months Session is hosted at [DrinkDrank] and pushes the our limits... choosing one beer to rule them all.  See below.


"What if you were to design the perfect brew—a Tolkien-esque One Beer to Rule Them All. The perfect beer for you, personally. Would it be hoppy and dark or strong and light? Is it augmented with exotic ingredients or traditionally crafted? Would your One Beer be a historic recreation or something never before dreamt of? The sky is the limit on this one."


My Precious! (forged in a 15gal keg)
I nearly passed on this month's session because I felt, like many of you do I am sure, that there is just no way that I could pick one beer.  I love nearly every style and my beer moods are definitely shaped by season, activity and food!  How could one beer fit all of my moods? Then I realized, that isn't really the point. The point is to dream up a beer that would, in my opinion, rule the beer world.  Oh, now I get it! Here is my stab at the BEER of beers.

Aroma: Full of hops (American citrusy types) with hints of sweet caramel and toffee and grainy spices.
Flavor: Assertive but not over the top bitterness, enough caramel like sweetness to balance the hops and rye malt to add a subtle dry, spicy layer. Clean yeast character. Warming alcohol presence at 7%.
Appearance: To get those aromas and flavors the appearance will be dark copper.
Body: Brewed for a medium body so as to increase its food pairing abilities.

Because of its flavor, body and ABV this would be a beer that would be quaffable on all but the hottest days.  Its flavor, body and ABV would also age well and blend well with oak.  Mmmm, now I gotta go plug this into my BeerSmith program and see what I can come up with!

The Session is a monthly event for the beer blogging community which was started by Stan Hieronymus at [Appellation Beer]. On the first Friday of each month, all participating bloggers write about a predetermined topic. Each month a different blog is chosen to host The Session, choose the topic, and post a roundup of all the responses received. For more info on The Session, check out the Brookston Beer Bulletin’s [nice archive page].


This months Session is hosted at [Booze, Beats & Bites] and delves into drinking alone. 

  

I must admit I am not one for drinking alone and I am reminded of that every time I pull up to a bar with out a sidekick.  Don't get me wrong, I am not casting sideways glances at those of you who do, but for some reason I just like to drink alone. I won't dwell on this for to long (it starting to sound like I am talking a therapist) except to say I just can't separate the social from the session. 

And certainly, I don't have any problems drinking and/or enjoying a session with friends, and I have had some great beers alone but I can't help wonder if I would have rated the experience just a touch higher if I had been enjoying that beer with a friend. Now don't get me wrong, I do drink by myself. I'm not sure you could be a beer blogger if you didn't.