Why is American beer so weak kneed?

Question

What is it like 2% alc,might as well drink near beer or root beer.Why aren't there any stronger brands? Have their masters determined they just can't handle it?

Answer 1

Totally agree about the mainstream stuff. In fact more and more Americans are feeling the same. That's why microbreweries are going crazy here. I lived in St. Louis home of Anheuser Busch for twelve years, couldn't stand anything they made.

They may not be getting exported to other countries yet but there are a whole slue of 7-9% beers coming into the market because we all want a good strong beer.

Personally, I enjoy making my own and they're usually 5-8% and fairly hoppy. Been doing it for about six years and it takes some time to get really good at it, but there are a ton of people in America who appreciate good beer. Not as many that can afford good beer, however.

Still, despite it all, my favorite two beers are German and Belgian.

Answer 2

2% is a bit of an exaggeration, but American beer has traditionally been weak and thin since Prohibition ended. A lot of the good beer brewers had gone out of business, and the ones that were left figured they could stretch the ingredients by watering it down (as well as using cheap brewing adjuncts such as corn and rice malt) and nobody would know the difference, because no quality beer had been available to the public for years since before Prohibition started.

Answer 3

Think most American beers are 4.5 to 6 % alcohol. Usually 6% by volume. Apparently it is made that way because we buy it that way. No one is forcing anyone to drink it. There are a number of options. Pay a higher price for imported or make your own.

Why is the type of beer Americans drink important anyhow? I could come up with a lot of countries where I do not like their products and complain about them on YA but if I don't want them, I just don't buy them.

I made beer for about 7 years but it got to where the cost and time of cleaning all the bottles wasn't worth it. I make my own wine now so there are less bottles to wash.

Answer 4

Your right ,most imported beers are stronger and better! Maybe it's because other countries take time to develop good tasting products, where as the U.S. is in such a hurry for everything that they don't take the time out to match up to the other countries."Steam beer " I think is brewed in San Francisco is not bad,or "Samuel Adams".If you want something really strong try "Old English 800",or "Mickey's Big Mouth." Those are a couple of strong American malt liquors.

Answer 5

Home brewing is really becoming popular in the US. I believe this to be due to the fact that most of the big breweries (Busch, Miller, Coors, etc..) are terrible, watered down Pilsners. I brew simply because there are no limits to the flavors or styles of beer you can make.

There is tons of information on the internet about brewing your own beer! I encourage everyone to check it out.

Answer 6

American beers (coorbudmiller) are made light so that people will drink more of them. They are made with wheat and rice, which would be against the law in most European countries.

Answer 7

The dreck that Budweiser, Miller, and Coors brews must be what you are referring to, as domestics such as Samuel Adams (which has brewed the strongest beer to date at 25% abv), Yuengling (and other such regional breweries), plus the microbrews, know how to brew beer that has flavor and substance to it.

Answer 8

Come to Canada! Our light horse **** beer is stronger than that american crap!

Answer 9

Check out ratebeer.com
they have all kinds of listings for good beer.

Answer 10

I have never seen any 2%, so i don't know what the hell you are talking about. oh and **** canada, if your wondering why american beers are not as heavy as european beers its because they are favored in the hotter climate.