The Session #144: The best beer you can drink at home right now

“The Session” is a monthly prompt-based writing challenge aimed at getting more people writing about beer. I couldn’t take part last month for the first edition of this newly revamped season, so I’ve made doubly sure I submitted something this time around.

Everyone is encouraged to join in. If you have time today, scribble down a couple of hundred words based on the topic and share it via the instructions here.

I drink more at home than I used to, and that’s 100% down to budgetary requirements. I’ve got a lot of travelling to do this year which means trips to Manchester for afternoons on the booze have been stripped from the finance spreadsheet (a fully metaphorical spreadsheet you understand, money is more a concept based on vibes and hope in this house.) Instead I’ve found myself drinking at home when I’d normally be at the pub, becoming one of the people within that grey, faceless mass that are implored to Support Local. Use it or lose it. Well, I’m afraid I did lose it — have I mentioned recently that my bar closed down a couple years ago?

Sorry, I digress. What I mean, really, is that instead of buying overpriced pints of lager or Guinness by the round in pubs near me, I’ve been saving my pennies for one or two really good pub pints per weekend. This leaves Friday and Saturday nights free for watching old Alice in Chains concerts on YouTube and drinking bottles of beer we brought back from Cologne, or bottles I’ve had stored in the cupboard for a rainy day.

My favourite beer to drink in my living room while Layne Staley rips another vortex into my soul has been Reissdorf Kolsch (no surprises there) and Sobremesa’s stout. Full disclosure, Sobremesa sent me a box of their beers and ciders because I’m starting working with them next month (MONDAY???) but I was wholly impressed by the stark bitterness and depth of their Farmer’s Dark Ale. It’s an oatmeal stout made with their farmhouse yeast (go on their website, it’s really interesting) and during a time where everyone is complaining about the ubiquitousness of Guinness and wondering what’s next, it was refreshing. I don’t expect Sobremesa to become a global concern — they are too bothered about the environment and their lovely fruit orchard for all that — but I hope some of you try their beers after reading this. Or visit their tap room in Wales. Because while supporting local is important, the parroting of this phrase has stripped it a little of its intent. I’d rather support independent breweries and bars who are doing actual good in the world, and making great beer, than pouring my coppers into the tills of places I can only really see myself drinking San Miguel in.