Why do most Americans drink crap for beer?

Question

I'm not saying ALL Americans, but cruising this board I see all these questions about Budweiser or Miller or Coors or Busch or some other extremely crappy American macro. Where are the Sierra Nevada lovers? The Black Butte Porter drinkers? The Sam Adams lovers? New Belgium fans? Newcastle drinkers? The people who enjoy the beer that tastes good, has discernible notes in the nose, the people who pour their beer in a glass so they can look at it, admire the color, smell it and admire the ingredients, take that sip and admire the head retention, the grains used in the beer, the different hops that can either make your beer smell fruity, citrusy, or even like a pine forest of the greenest bud on the planet? Where are you people? I know I'm not alone, there are many of us here in my neck of the woods, but I know you people are out there as well. Tell me your favorite beer, what it is you love about that beer. If you start talking about a macro you will just prove your low IQ level.

Yup, I'm a beer snob. Problem?
And drinking 30 beers in 4 nights constitutes a problem. Do the math, MR. HIGH IQ. 7.5 beers a night is an alcoholic, not a smart person.
And to the person who had a friend killed by a drunk driver, my heart goes out. I don't condone drinking and driving, thats not what this is about. Responsibility is a word a lot of people have a hard time understanding.

BTW, you don't need to drink 30 Sam Adams to get drunk. Good beer generally has a higher alc% so you drink less. High IQ being killed by too many beers, maybe????

I AM an American, just trying to wonder where we as a people got off track. Visiting Europe will change the way you view your "fellow Americans" and how out of touch with reality a lot of us can be. I like the answer about people drinking what is handed down to them. I have often thought that might be the case.

Some good answes out there, I myself am a homebrewer and have found there are many different types of beer out there. I like to try new beers to see if there is one that I want to try to duplicate.
I've been to many tailgates, we used to go and TG before Sac Kings games a lot, but the people had Fat Tire and Mirror Pond to drink because we all agreed that Budweiser doesn't agree with our taste. Knowing so many people that can't stand American Macros, I wanted to know why there are so many on this board and where the real beer drinkers are.

mr. West, I do sometimes have a problem with offending people, can't help that. I do respect your post however.

As for caveman, well, "pissing" my money away is a relative term. I spend less for my beer than any cheap beer drinker ever will because I brew my own. It costs me about $17 a batch, which will yield a 5 gallon keg, or for bottle drinkers 2 cases. Thats 48 beers. My price per bottle is $.36 cents.

OK, FOR CLARIFICATION, MY QUESTION WAS WHERE ARE THE REAL BEER DRINKERS. I SAID NOT THE AMERICAN MACRO DRINKERS. I SAID IF YOU START TALKING ABOUT A MACRO, IT PROVES YOUR LOW IQ, BECAUSE I DIDN'T ASK FOR RESPONSES ABOUT HOW MUCH PEOPLE LOVE MACROS. SO IN ESSENCE, I DIDN'T SAY PEOPLE WHO DRINK MACROS HAVE A LOW IQ. I SAID THAT I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT MACROS AND IF YOU RESPOND TALKING ABOUT A MACRO, WELL THEN...............

Answer 1

I love Sam Adams and Shiner Bock.

Not a huge Sierra Nevada fan...

I think most people are turned off by the added expense...

Answer 2

I am an American who does not buy into the dreck that is Budweiser, Miller, or Coors. My view of beer is that it is a highly complex, highly flavorful drink that is supposed to have nuances that keep it from being boring or bland.

The junk that is Budweiser, Miller, and Coors (as well as any other mass-produced quantity-over-quality "beer") uses the cheapest ingredients and the cheapest brewing techniques possible in order to increase profits. The problem is that the art of brewing is sacrificed, and what is left is a very bland, very poor, substitute for beer.

When I drink, I do not drink to get drunk, but to appreciate something that should represent quality. Therefore I drink microbrewed beer, and regional brews like Yuengling. If I am going to drink something that can be found anywhere, I will drink a Samuel Adams because they have not sacrificed quality for profits. And if I am going to drink an import, it's not going to be a cheap import like Corona, or Dos Equis, or Heinneken, or Amstel. It's going to be Guinness, or Murphy's, or Smithwick's Irish Ale.

I am a beer lover, a beer connoisseur. And I am also an American. Besides, life is too short to drink crappy beer.

Answer 3

On one hand I agree with you and on the other I have a problem with how you say it. The beerphiles are growing in number and that is a good thing. They aren't many in number and may never be. I don't agree that it has anything to do with IQ, it has to do with exposure. If you have never been handed a Chimay to drink... how is it your fault for liking MGD? Remember back to when you didn't know to much about beer my friend... How would it make you feel if someone insulted your intelligence simply because you didn't know better beer was out there? Be educated about your beer, but don't be a snob.


Enough on that... http://beeradvocate.com is a great website and a great magazine for the beer aficionado.

Oh and Charm... We do consider them crap.

EDIT:
Instead of talking down to people, educate them as best you can. If after stating you case in calm rational manner they still decide to drink macro brew rather than discover the wonders of micros and imports... that is there problem not yours. I look at it like this myself.. I won't by Walmart cola, I'll buy Coke. I won't by a Kia, I'll buy a VW... and I won't buy a Bud Light... Why? Because I like quality. I offer samples and even bottles to my friends. Some take my offers and some don't. Not my problem.

I think Monty Python put it best...

American beer is like making love in a canoe, it's f***ing close to watter

Answer 4

EXCELLENT POST!!

I agree that Americans (us/we) as a whole are buying absolute garbage for beer. I routinely find new liquor stores, sometimes going into other towns, to find larger beer selections. I will note which brews they have that I haven't seen before and research them (www.ratebeer.com).

Being on the east coast, I'm a fan of Harpoon IPA, Harpoon Munich Dark, and Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA & Indian Brown Ale. Long Trail is also pretty good, have to be somewhat careful at 7.2% on that one, though. Almost everything Sam Adams makes is very good, and highly drinkable. I'm a fan of their Black Lager (a Schwarzbier) and Cream Stout (absolutely pitch black).

Very nice point about using a GLASS! So much better that way, you can actually see if you're drinking yellow piss water or a dark pitch-black stout.

Even better: I've never had anything from Bud, Miller or Coors. Nothing! Nothing that said "Light" or "Lite" on it, either. I started with Sam Adams Summer Ale.

Answer 5

My brother the beer snob (Sam Adams is considered "slumming" for him, he usually doesn't drink it if it was made in the US.) says it's because most Americans have lame palates. I guess it's like choosing McDonald's over a grilled ribeye.

I'm not a real beer drinker, but on the occasions that I do (mainly when I'm in a place where I don't know how the bartender pours) I'll have an Amstel Light. I just like it because they're smooth and rarely skunky. One skunky beer is enough to put someone off for a LONG time!

Answer 6

Wow, you've said a lot there. I drink beer because I like the mild flavor of the macro brews. Beer to me is a "relax and eat junk food while I watch the football game" type of beverage. If I want to sip a beverage and enjoy a bouquet and the subtlety of a beverage, I'll pour a fine glass of wine. Neither do I have a low I.Q. likewise I'm not in favor of stereotyping. I really don't find an appreciable difference in one brand of macro brew over another, so I really don't have a preference.

Answer 7

People just like what they like. You sound like a beer connoisseur-someone who enjoys the history and nuances of the beverage, not just the quick drink or goal of getting drunk. A lot of Americans prefer pale lagers or pilsner style beers and don't care for the stouts and porters.Although it's not the answer you are looking for, I like ice beers because they remind me of the cheap stuff my Dad drank when I was a kid.Maybe a lot of other Americans are like me- drink what they were exposed to when young and never experiment past that.

Answer 8

I'm sick of all the "Budweiser king of beers" bullspit, all it is, is glorified clydesdale piss in a bottle. I was always a fan of India Pale Ales. Avery makes a great one, as well as Two-Hearted Ale by Bells, those are my faves. Sierra Nevada? The Bigfoot Barleywine is delicious. Oberon by Bells is probably my all time favorite warm weather beer. Gumballhead tickles my tastebuds, i wish i could remember who makes that one, it explodes with tastiness. Beersnob? I was one, but unfortunately alcohol started to consume my life and i had to quit.....for good. The thought makes me very sad that i will never be able to drink again. I lost a true love in microbrewed beer, but hey.....at least i know where your coming from brother....its truly an art to be appreciated.

Answer 9

Beer doesn't suck. Macro swillin' trailer trash ho's do. (Only those that qualify may get offended.) Drinking just to get drunk defeats the purpose of drinking a good beer, dulling your senses is bad, very bad, in the quest of finding and enjoying the bestest most wonderfullest glass of beer. In my opinion, the holy grail of beerdom is to create a recipe, brew a batch, name it, pass it out to friends and be overwhelmed by the demand.
Soon...

Answer 10

I guess it's what we are used to. I am living in Germany right now(land of the beers) and can't resist any of the different kinds they have. My American friends are split 50% drink German, and 50% drink American. Once you get a taste for the real flavor of beer it's hard to resist. One of my friends whom drinks American beer also drinks coffee with a ton of sugar and a gallon of creamer. I drink mine pretty close to black cause I like the coffe taste, not warm milk and sugar.