Session Beers by Jennifer Talley

Author:Jennifer Talley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: CKB007000 Cooking / Beverages / Beer
Publisher: Brewers Publications

A Session Society

Leo Vygotsky, the Russian psychologist, founded social learning theory in the early 20th century: “Through others we become ourselves.”1 He theorized that culture plays a crucial role in human development and that society’s cultural norms have an extreme behavioral influence. In contrast to Jean Piaget, the famous Swiss clinical psychologist, whose model of cognitive development stated that development precedes learning, Vygotsky felt the opposite was true, that learning precedes development (Vygotsky 1978, 25). Therefore, life experiences and interactions are constantly shaping who we are and how we act. Throughout her book, Ambitious Brew, Maureen Ogle eloquently describes how culture shaped beer drinking behavior. Ogle frames American culture during the first half of the twentieth century where Americans “rejected hard labor, which had devoured women’s energy, in favor of convenience: soups, vegetables, and fruits from cans; factory-made bread; store bought mayonnaise. Washing machines. Detergents in boxes” (Ogle 2006, 228). Unfortunately, the more processed foods became, the more flavor they lost, thus spawning an era of “bland America.” The American lager taste turned away from discerning flavor profile and into what is now generally termed as modern American industrial lager, where malt and hop flavor take a back seat to sales. Ogle cites the president of the Wahl-Henius Institute, a leading beer institute during the mid-1900s, who warned brewmasters that they should not let their own personal taste for malt and hops interfere with the public’s desire for blandness (Ogle 2006, 229).

The current IPA craze is also indicative of the symbiotic relationship between brewer and consumer. During recent years, more and more hops have been literally thrust down the throats of craft beer drinkers. The lupulin threshold, defined by Vinnie Cilurzo as a line that is crossed when a once extraordinarily hoppy beer now seems pedestrian, continues to rise and so too has the customer’s desire for more hops (Hieronymus 2012, 193). As cultural shifts often show us, history repeats itself and what was once old is new again. In 2016, it became evident that yet another style of IPA is on the rise. The recently coined New England-style IPA is distinguished by a hazy appearance, diminishing hop bitterness, and a juicy, full-hop flavor and aroma (Fowle 2016). Perhaps our craft brewing culture is evolving again along its ever-shifting fault line. Perhaps extreme bitterness and alcohol will fall in the crevasse, leaving flavor and sessionability free to materialize. What goes up must come down, and the growing popularity of session beer is indicative of Americans’ ever-changing palettes and drinking culture.

Celebrations have been part of human culture from the beginning. Although the way we celebrate as a nation and these rituals of revelry have changed, the fact remains, drinking typically goes hand in hand with many adult celebrations throughout American culture. As we welcome new life into the world or say goodbye to departed souls, both birthdays and funerals warrant toasting to what will soon become or who will be dearly missed. Festivities surrounding weddings, graduations, holidays, and music fill city streets and open fields every month of the year across America.

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