Dear Tippler

I received the following email earlier today:

Dear Judicious Tippler,

I need some beer advice. My boyfriend (a regular reader!) is the most employed person in our house, which means that he generally buys the beer. He's really into buying fancy microbrews and the like. Problem is, these beers usually have a fairly high alcohol percentage and I get more drunk after two beers than a person is supposed to (especially if that person who usually has to work with the public the next day). Can you suggest some good beers with lower percentages? Or should I just switch to gin?

Sincerely,
Kat

Response:

Dear Kat,

I'm guessing that your boyfriend buys heavily hopped IPA's and Belgian style double & triple fermented Trappist beer which, when drunk in small quantities, can tempt & tantalize taste buds. When drunk in excess, people get slapped and work is missed. My suggestion is to try any of selections from the McAuslan Brewery (Quebec). The BCLC will have the Pale Ale, which is exceptional, and they should have one of my favourite summer beers - St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat beer (this one is best in small doses, due to the fact that it is a fruit beer). Both of these are 5% alcohol, which is a standard ABV for beer in Canada.
Also recommended:
Nelson Brewing Company's Old Brewery Pale Ale (slightly higher 5.5%)
Nelson's Liplock Wheat Beer (if you like wheat beer) (4%)
Any of the Phillip's beers - both the Slipsteam Cream Ale (a bit darker-maybe an autumn beer) & Blue Buck (both 5%) have been staples in my house at various times.

If your boyfriend truly cared about your predicament, he would drive to the US and fill up the car with Miller High Life and Bud, so you could drink all day and not feel a thing. Or fly to England and up a 4 pack of Tesco Value Lager (2%) for 88 pence.

Yours,
Deebag
The Tippler

Response 2:

Well Kat,

As alcohol levels have such an effect on the taste of beers, brewers have really taken to using high levels of alcohol to enhance the complexities of their fancy beers. IPAs, red ales and Belgian-style ales are all the rage right now, so it is harder to find good beers with less bite. I would suggest trying some witbiers. Unibroue makes a reasonably light one called Blanche de Chambly that is a favourite of mine. Hoegaarden is much better than people give it credit for. Some English-style ales would be good, too. Look into the Duchy Originals--most liquor stores carry it (the Prince of Wales brews it, after all). Porters and stouts are usually lower on alcohol, but kind of dark and heavy for the summer season. Mexican beer is often pretty light, but much of it is gross, too. Ask your boyfriend to pick up some Alhambra (from exotic Spain). It is good and not-too-heavy.

I hope this helps!

Big Love
The Tippler