Today in addition to being National Beer Day celebrating the end of Prohibition on April 7, 1933, it is also Session Beer Day: the official-yet-informal day for celebrating Session Beer founded by Lew Bryson. I can’t really describe it better than this:

April 7th, 1933 was the day Prohibition ended for beer drinkers, and America celebrated happily with oceans of beer…all of it 4% and less. AND THEY LOVED IT!

That’s a perfect day to celebrate session beer, great-tasting craft-type beer at lower alcohol that you can enjoy in quaffing volumes. Session beer is about enjoying beer for what it brings: great conversation with friends old and new, the glow of “social lubrication,” and great taste without walloping doses of alcohol so you can enjoy yourself without getting knee-walking stupid drunk. Keep it under 4.5% (or 4.0%, if you want to be historical), and make it a session.

What do you do on Session Beer Day? DRINK SESSION BEER! If you run a bar, SERVE SESSION BEER! Have a great time, enjoy the beer, and enjoy the company of friends!

It’s simple: drink a session beer today, encourage others to do so, share it online. Untappd even has a special badge for you.

And I thought I’d round up the local Central Oregon breweries that have beer that’s under 4.5% abv that I know of that’s available today, so if you’re in the C.O. today here’s what you can check out:

• Deschutes Brewery: Deschutes River Ale, 4%, bottles an on tap at the Pub
• Cascade Lakes Brewing: Blonde Bombshell is 4%, bottles and on tap
• Bend Brewing Company: Ching Ching is 4.5% but you’ll only find it in bottles at the brewery right now
• McMenamins Old St. Francis School: The ever-popular Ruby Ale is 4.39%, on tap and in bottles
• Three Creeks Brewing: Knotty Blonde is 4% and is on tap and available in bottles
• Crux Fermentation Project: Off Leash Northwest Session Ale at 4.5% in on tap
• Worthy Brewing: Easy Day Kolsch is 4.5% and on tap now

Enjoy!