---
title: "Session Beer, Seasonal Beer and Saison: What Are the Differences?"
description: "The difference between Session, Seasonal and Saison beers is a common source of confusion among beer enthusiasts and professionals alike — an understandable doubt we'll try to clear up right here."
url: https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/session-beer-seasonal-beer-and-saison-differences/
date: 2023-11-05
modified: 2026-06-25
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Cervezas-Session-Seasonal-y-Saison.jpg
categories: ["Culture"]
tags: ["ABV", "Beer Styles", "Cultura", "Culture", "Estilos de Cerveja", "História", "History", "Saison", "Seasonal Beer", "Session Beer"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Session Beer, Seasonal Beer and Saison: What Are the Differences?

The difference between Session, Seasonal and Saison beers is a common source of confusion among beer enthusiasts and professionals alike — an understandable doubt we’ll try to clear up right here.

![Differences between Session, Seasonal and Saison beers](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Cervezas-Session-Seasonal-y-Saison.jpg)*Session, Seasonal and Saison beers*

First of all, Session and Seasonal beers are not, in practice, defined beer styles. Rather, they are concepts associated with [alcohol intensity](https://www.thebeertimes.com/abv-vs-abw-cual-es-la-diferencia-en-la-forma-que-medimos-el-contenido-de-alcohol/) and the occasion for brewing or consuming the beer, respectively.

Saison beers, on the other hand, are considered a century-old Belgian beer style, originally brewed on old Wallonian farms during autumn to be consumed during the summer harvest season.

## Are they all beer styles?

In short, a single beer style can be a Session beer (by alcohol intensity), a Seasonal beer (by the season of production), or both at the same time.

This includes Saison beers, which can easily meet both of the above characteristics simultaneously. Let’s break each one down in a bit more detail.

### 1. Session Beers

The origin of the term “session” as applied to beer dates back to World War I, specifically to England.

In that context, workers supplying ammunition to British troops had to work long shifts with brief breaks of two to four hours, known as “session breaks,” during which many of them would head to the nearest pub for a few pints of beer.

Knowing they’d have to return to work within a few hours, the workers preferred low-alcohol beers they could enjoy without getting too drunk before heading back — and that’s how the term “session beer” was born.

Today, and in keeping with its British roots, a session beer can be defined as a low-alcohol beer, generally between 3.0% and 5% ABV, that doesn’t define any particular beer style and is ideal for occasions when you want to enjoy several beers with a low alcohol content without sacrificing quality.

There are also “session” versions of styles that are originally higher in alcohol, brewed with the same characteristics (ingredients, balance, drinkability) but at a lower ABV — like a Session IPA.

### 2. Seasonal Beers

Before refrigeration made it possible to brew [lager beers](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/what-is-the-real-difference-between-ale-and-lager-beer/) in summer and store fresh hops through winter, some beers were only brewed at certain times of year (“season”), giving rise to what we now call seasonal beers — brewed with special ingredients available by season and/or climate.

Brewing was often an autumn and winter activity, once the grains had been harvested and farm workers were no longer spending long days in the fields.

Even though modern technology now allows any type of beer to be brewed at any time of year, seasonal beers have endured as a tradition.

Brewers typically produce their seasonal offerings during a specific window of time or for consumption during a particular season — whether due to ingredient availability, climate conditions, or to mark holidays, festivals, and events, like [Festbier](https://www.thebeertimes.com/que-es-una-cerveza-festbier-descripcion-de-estilo-segun-la-guia-bjcp/) or [Christmas beers](https://www.thebeertimes.com/la-historia-de-las-cervezas-de-navidad/).

Some examples of seasonal beers include [Hefeweizen](https://www.thebeertimes.com/que-es-una-cerveza-weissbier-descripcion-de-estilo-segun-la-guia-bjcp/), [Bock](https://www.thebeertimes.com/cervezas-de-estilo-bock-historia-y-variedades-principales/), [Lambic](https://www.thebeertimes.com/take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side-lambic-el-estilo-de-cerveza-mas-antiguo-del-mundo/) (spring), [Pilsner](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/pilsner-urquell-plzensky-prazdroj-the-origin-of-the-first-blonde-beer-in-history/), [Saison](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/saison-history-and-origins-of-the-beer-of-ancient-belgian-farmers/) (summer); Bière de Garde, [Brown Ale](https://www.thebeertimes.com/que-es-una-cerveza-brown-ale-descripcion-de-estilo-segun-la-guia-bjcp/) (autumn); Old Ale, Scotch Ale, [Stout](https://www.thebeertimes.com/que-es-una-stout-referencias-de-estilo/) (winter).

### 3. Saison Beers

Saison beers, while classified as a [Belgian beer style](https://www.thebeertimes.com/la-cultura-de-la-cerveza-belga-es-oficialmente-declarada-patrimonio-inmaterial-de-la-humanidad/) under modern categorization, can also be a session beer and a seasonal beer at the same time.

They are farmhouse ales originally brewed by farmers in autumn to ferment through winter and be ready to drink once summer began.

At the same time, historically these were fermented beverages that hovered around 3.0% ABV — low enough to quench the thirst of the “saisonniers” throughout the workday without the alcohol getting in the way of continued labor.

## Does a session beer have fewer calories?

Generally, yes. Since session beers have a lower alcohol content, they tend to contain fewer calories. That said, this also depends on other factors, so it’s not an absolute rule.

## Do Saison beers have a protected designation of origin?

No, the Saison style is not protected as a designation of origin. Although it is a historic style tied to the Wallonia region of Belgium, today it is produced worldwide, drawing inspiration from the original techniques and flavors.

## How can I tell if a beer is seasonal if it doesn’t say so on the label?

Many producers present their seasonal beers with names that reference the weather, holidays, or ingredients typical of a particular season — think “Winter Ale” or “Summer Wheat.”

## Recommended

- [The 10 oldest breweries in the world still in operation](https://www.thebeertimes.com/cervecerias-mas-antiguas-del-mundo/)
- [What is diacetyl in beer? Formation, reduction and control](https://www.thebeertimes.com/diacetilo-en-la-cerveza-formacion-reduccion-y-control/)