Full Sail Brewing’s Session Lager turns 21 and celebrates with new beers and branding
Full Sail Brewing Co. Elevates Session Lager with New Beers and a Striking Retro Refresh
Full Sail Brewing Company’s launched the Session Lager brand 21 years ago in a distinct short stubby 11.2oz bottle and red and white packaging. Over the years the brand evolved from a bottled only beer, to draft and cans, and with more than one flavor. Born out of the Hood River, Oregon-based brewery, one of the oldest in the state, Full Sail is celebrating Session coming of age with new retro packaging and two new alternative flavors.
This 30-time gold medal-winning American craft lager will be complemented by the launch of two brand-new styles:
Session Japanese Rice Lager: Brewed with rice for a lighter body and ultra-clean finish and hopped with Sorachi Ace for defined lemon zest and delicate herbal spice character. Crisp, dry, and sessionable.
Session West Coast Lager: All-malt and hop-forward, featuring Anchovy and Mosaic hops layered for bright citrus and tropical aromatics with firm, clean bitterness and a snappy finish. Classic West Coast character—dialed in for maximum drinkability.
Full Sail is having free tastings of the Session line in Portland on Friday March 9th from 4:30 to 7:00pm at John’s Marketplace in Multnomah Village, and on March 13th 4:30 to 7pm at John’s Marketplace on SE Powell. Cans will be hitting grocery stores like Fred Meyers as early as this weekend and throughout next week.
Session lager was originally only available in 11oz stubby bottles
Alongside the new beers, Session Classic reintroduces its original bold, retro-inspired packaging—a tribute to the design that first hit shelves in 2005. The refreshed look honors the beer’s 21-year legacy while reconnecting with the spirit that made it the ultimate “anywhere” beer.
“Session is 21 years strong, and we’re not standing still,” says Pat Tiernan, CEO of Full Sail Brewing Company. “The new lagers show exactly where we’re headed—bold flavor, easy drinking, lower ABV, and built for real-life occasions from the backyard BBQ to the weekend outdoors—all within a new look that honors our history and reminds people why they fell in love with it in the first place. Whether you’re in a lawn chair or on a mountain peak, it’s the perfect beer for the experience.”
“Lager brewing is a technical discipline—fermentation control, raw material selection, and balance are everything,” says Garrett Meier, VP of Operations at Full Sail Brewing Company. “For the Japanese Rice Lager, we used the Japanese hop Sorachi Ace to bring defined lemon zest and fresh herbal character over a lean, rice-driven body and dry finish. The West Coast Lager takes a different approach—all-malt structure layered with loads of Anchovy and Mosaic hops to deliver bright citrus, tropical aromatics, all supported by a balanced bitterness. The right way to mark Session’s 21st anniversary was to lean into what we do best: clean, flavorful, highly drinkable beer.”
Starting this spring, the redesigned Session Classic Lager, Japanese Rice Lager, and West Coast Lager will be available in draft and 12 oz. cans (6-packs and 15-packs) throughout the Pacific Northwest and Colorado.
About Full Sail Brewing Company
Perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, Full Sail is a true craft-brewing pioneer. Since 1987, Full Sail has been pouring pure Mt. Hood water, local ingredients, and responsible processes into every pint. Full Sail’s brews and sustainable practices have garnered more than 300 national and international awards, including 150 gold medals and Beverage World’s “Craft Brewer of the Year” distinction. Learn more at www.fullsailbrewing.com.