If you’ve ever looked closely at the bottle of an alcoholic beverage, you may have seen in small print on the label a listing of the percentage of alcohol by volume that the beverage contains. This common measurement is referred to as "ABV," which is simply the percentage of alcohol in the total volume of the liquid. The higher the ABV, the more alcohol a beverage contains.
Beer can range in ABV from as little as 2 percent to well over 20 percent, though the majority of all beers fall in the range of 5 to 7 percent. For reference, wine normally is a bit higher, between 10 and 16 percent, while spirits are 15 percent or more.
Brewers also use a few terms to help describe the strength of their beer.
"Imperial," "double," "triple" and "quad" are common terms used to identify beers with a higher alcohol content.
Imperial and double are often used interchangeably to describe a bigger, bolder version of a classic style of beer, such as an India Pale Ale, or IPA. A regular IPA may have an ABV of 6 to 7 percent, while a double or imperial IPA hits 8 to 12 percent. A regular porter may have an ABV between 5 to 7 percent; an imperial porter can go beyond 8 percent.
Triple describes beers with more alcohol, typically 8 to 10 percent, and quad indicates beers in excess of 10 percent. Along with an increase in alcohol, these "bigger" beers have more intense flavors due to an increase of grain, hops and other ingredients used in brewing.
On the other end of the spectrum are beers with less alcohol, commonly referred to as "session" beers. These have 5 percent ABV or less. The term infers that a drinker can enjoy a few of these beers in a session without becoming excessively intoxicated. But less alcohol does not mean less flavorful.
Session beers tend to be seasonal releases, particularly during summer and hot weather, because they are generally lighter in body and color and are thirst-quenching. They come in all styles, including dark and creamy Irish stouts like Guinness, which has only 4.2 percent ABV.
Ready to tackle a big imperial beer? Try Ballast Point’s Victory at Sea Imperial Porter. This is a flavor bomb of a beer — at 10 percent ABV it not only packs a punch; it’s full of flavors of coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Black and velvety in appearance, Victory at Sea is brewed with pure vanilla and hand-roasted coffee from a coffee shop in San Diego. This is a beer worthy of sipping and sharing with friends.
If you’re looking for a relaxing, easy-drinking beer, try Deschute’s River Ale. At only 4 percent ABV, this light and refreshing ale is a perfect session beer. It pours light golden and has a pleasant biscuity flavor reminiscent of freshly baked bread, complimented with lingering notes of citrusy hops. The low ABV and full flavor make this a great beer for barbecues and daylong gatherings.
On the beer scene
» Meat and beer have been an inseparable pair for ages. The Charcuterie & Beer pairing event at Pint + Jigger on Sept. 3 will feature five courses by chef Dan Albertson, each paired with beer. A local favorite, Big Island Brewhaus Golden Sabbath, will be served with a terrine of pork mousseline with a pork tenderloin inlay and wrapped in leeks. Tickets are $41.99 and seating is limited. Visit charcuterieandbeer.eventbrite.com.
» Coming in late October to Kaimuki is Troy Terorotua’s second craft beer pub, BREW’d, to be located at the makai corner of Waialae and 9th avenues. BREW’d will offer 16 taps and more than 100 bottled beers along with a menu of fresh food, featuring as much local produce and meats as possible. Chef de cuisine will be Don Takeya. Terorotua, a chef, also owns REAL a gastropub.
———
Tim Golden shares his obsession with all things craft beer monthly in the Star-Advertiser food section. See his blog, “Beer in Hawaii,” at www.beerinhawaii.com.
