Southern Tier Brewing Changes the ABV on almost all their products

Originally posted by Nugget

Originally posted by DirtyMartini
doesnt matter to me. i only use the abv as a guideline for how many i can/should drink and to give me an idea of what kind of beer im in for.

personally, i drink beer because i like the flavors. you could take away the alcohol aspect of it and i would probably like it more.

A guy saying he doesn’t like beer for the alcohol is like a guy saying he doesn’t like women for the sex. It’s not a believable statement. As far as how much ABV matters when it comes to choosing the world’s best beers, it does seem like the higher numbers fare better. I’d be willing to bet the reason is that they have more flavor, or more complexity of flavor. They have more ingredients in them per pint than their lower-alcohol kin. Higher alcohol requires more hops/malt to mask or complement its burn. MGD 64 is a 2.5% mass-produced lager that has almost no flavor. Steel Reserve is a 8% mass-produced lager that has far more (albeit crappy) flavor because it has far more (cheap) ingredients thrown in.
I’m wondering how many RB’s have been a part of more than one N/A beer judging session? Or even a low-alc. one? How many people do you think are frantically trading to get their hands on a Dugges Brandmastare Andrens Torstslackare, the highest-rated Low-alc. beer on RB? Zero, that’s how many. Why? Because alcohol content DOES matter in beer for several reasons. One is that it’s usually a good indicator of cellarability. Another is that it usually indicates a stronger flavor and may help one decide at what point in their tasting session to drink it (who tries their first Chimay Blue before their first Chimay Red?). Another is to gauge how buzzed it might make you- if you’re out for a long night of drinking you don’t want to be pounding 12%er’s at 6pm... you might opt for a pilsner. And even then, maybe a Pilsner Urquell (4.4%) over an Augustiner Pils (5.6%). Yet another is that it’s a huge discussion point for geeks, as in "Why does this Elysian Great Pumpkin taste better to me at 7.7% than it did at 9.5%?"
My point is alcohol in beer and ABV do matter. And if you’re not drinking beer for the alcohol, just for the flavor, why not start rating different colas? Or bottled waters? Or Kool-Aid?

Originally posted by HonkeyBra
I wonder what would happen if Dogfish Head lab tested their beers . . .

Originally posted by DirtyMartini

Originally posted by Nugget

Originally posted by DirtyMartini
doesnt matter to me. i only use the abv as a guideline for how many i can/should drink and to give me an idea of what kind of beer im in for.

personally, i drink beer because i like the flavors. you could take away the alcohol aspect of it and i would probably like it more.

A guy saying he doesn’t like beer for the alcohol is like a guy saying he doesn’t like women for the sex. It’s not a believable statement. As far as how much ABV matters when it comes to choosing the world’s best beers, it does seem like the higher numbers fare better. I’d be willing to bet the reason is that they have more flavor, or more complexity of flavor. They have more ingredients in them per pint than their lower-alcohol kin. Higher alcohol requires more hops/malt to mask or complement its burn. MGD 64 is a 2.5% mass-produced lager that has almost no flavor. Steel Reserve is a 8% mass-produced lager that has far more (albeit crappy) flavor because it has far more (cheap) ingredients thrown in.
I’m wondering how many RB’s have been a part of more than one N/A beer judging session? Or even a low-alc. one? How many people do you think are frantically trading to get their hands on a Dugges Brandmastare Andrens Torstslackare, the highest-rated Low-alc. beer on RB? Zero, that’s how many. Why? Because alcohol content DOES matter in beer for several reasons. One is that it’s usually a good indicator of cellarability. Another is that it usually indicates a stronger flavor and may help one decide at what point in their tasting session to drink it (who tries their first Chimay Blue before their first Chimay Red?). Another is to gauge how buzzed it might make you- if you’re out for a long night of drinking you don’t want to be pounding 12%er’s at 6pm... you might opt for a pilsner. And even then, maybe a Pilsner Urquell (4.4%) over an Augustiner Pils (5.6%). Yet another is that it’s a huge discussion point for geeks, as in "Why does this Elysian Great Pumpkin taste better to me at 7.7% than it did at 9.5%?"
My point is alcohol in beer and ABV do matter. And if you’re not drinking beer for the alcohol, just for the flavor, why not start rating different colas? Or bottled waters? Or Kool-Aid?

Fact is if temptation, sculpin IPA, expedition, or any of my other favorite beers could be made n/a and taste exactly the same, I would be ecstatic.

Originally posted by DirtyMartini
I don’t rate anymore. I found too many people here drinking for the rating, and not the sheer enjoyment.

Originally posted by cbkschubert

Originally posted by DirtyMartini

Originally posted by Nugget

Originally posted by DirtyMartini
doesnt matter to me. i only use the abv as a guideline for how many i can/should drink and to give me an idea of what kind of beer im in for.

personally, i drink beer because i like the flavors. you could take away the alcohol aspect of it and i would probably like it more.

A guy saying he doesn’t like beer for the alcohol is like a guy saying he doesn’t like women for the sex. It’s not a believable statement. As far as how much ABV matters when it comes to choosing the world’s best beers, it does seem like the higher numbers fare better. I’d be willing to bet the reason is that they have more flavor, or more complexity of flavor. They have more ingredients in them per pint than their lower-alcohol kin. Higher alcohol requires more hops/malt to mask or complement its burn. MGD 64 is a 2.5% mass-produced lager that has almost no flavor. Steel Reserve is a 8% mass-produced lager that has far more (albeit crappy) flavor because it has far more (cheap) ingredients thrown in.
I’m wondering how many RB’s have been a part of more than one N/A beer judging session? Or even a low-alc. one? How many people do you think are frantically trading to get their hands on a Dugges Brandmastare Andrens Torstslackare, the highest-rated Low-alc. beer on RB? Zero, that’s how many. Why? Because alcohol content DOES matter in beer for several reasons. One is that it’s usually a good indicator of cellarability. Another is that it usually indicates a stronger flavor and may help one decide at what point in their tasting session to drink it (who tries their first Chimay Blue before their first Chimay Red?). Another is to gauge how buzzed it might make you- if you’re out for a long night of drinking you don’t want to be pounding 12%er’s at 6pm... you might opt for a pilsner. And even then, maybe a Pilsner Urquell (4.4%) over an Augustiner Pils (5.6%). Yet another is that it’s a huge discussion point for geeks, as in "Why does this Elysian Great Pumpkin taste better to me at 7.7% than it did at 9.5%?"
My point is alcohol in beer and ABV do matter. And if you’re not drinking beer for the alcohol, just for the flavor, why not start rating different colas? Or bottled waters? Or Kool-Aid?

Fact is if temptation, sculpin IPA, expedition, or any of my other favorite beers could be made n/a and taste exactly the same, I would be ecstatic.

Ya know, I once thought that way. Unfortunately, good tasting beer without alcohol will never come to be. Alcohol is a significant part of the aroma, flavor, and finish of most beers. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to drink beer without some alcohol in it.

Come on. A slight alcohol buzz never hurt when hanging with good friends or family and drinking some good beer or a good bottle of wine.

Just don’t drink and drive

Originally posted by DirtyMartini

Originally posted by cbkschubert

Originally posted by DirtyMartini

Originally posted by Nugget

Originally posted by DirtyMartini
doesnt matter to me. i only use the abv as a guideline for how many i can/should drink and to give me an idea of what kind of beer im in for.

personally, i drink beer because i like the flavors. you could take away the alcohol aspect of it and i would probably like it more.

A guy saying he doesn’t like beer for the alcohol is like a guy saying he doesn’t like women for the sex. It’s not a believable statement. As far as how much ABV matters when it comes to choosing the world’s best beers, it does seem like the higher numbers fare better. I’d be willing to bet the reason is that they have more flavor, or more complexity of flavor. They have more ingredients in them per pint than their lower-alcohol kin. Higher alcohol requires more hops/malt to mask or complement its burn. MGD 64 is a 2.5% mass-produced lager that has almost no flavor. Steel Reserve is a 8% mass-produced lager that has far more (albeit crappy) flavor because it has far more (cheap) ingredients thrown in.
I’m wondering how many RB’s have been a part of more than one N/A beer judging session? Or even a low-alc. one? How many people do you think are frantically trading to get their hands on a Dugges Brandmastare Andrens Torstslackare, the highest-rated Low-alc. beer on RB? Zero, that’s how many. Why? Because alcohol content DOES matter in beer for several reasons. One is that it’s usually a good indicator of cellarability. Another is that it usually indicates a stronger flavor and may help one decide at what point in their tasting session to drink it (who tries their first Chimay Blue before their first Chimay Red?). Another is to gauge how buzzed it might make you- if you’re out for a long night of drinking you don’t want to be pounding 12%er’s at 6pm... you might opt for a pilsner. And even then, maybe a Pilsner Urquell (4.4%) over an Augustiner Pils (5.6%). Yet another is that it’s a huge discussion point for geeks, as in "Why does this Elysian Great Pumpkin taste better to me at 7.7% than it did at 9.5%?"
My point is alcohol in beer and ABV do matter. And if you’re not drinking beer for the alcohol, just for the flavor, why not start rating different colas? Or bottled waters? Or Kool-Aid?

Fact is if temptation, sculpin IPA, expedition, or any of my other favorite beers could be made n/a and taste exactly the same, I would be ecstatic.

Ya know, I once thought that way. Unfortunately, good tasting beer without alcohol will never come to be. Alcohol is a significant part of the aroma, flavor, and finish of most beers. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to drink beer without some alcohol in it.

Come on. A slight alcohol buzz never hurt when hanging with good friends or family and drinking some good beer or a good bottle of wine.

Just don’t drink and drive

The thing is I know its part of the package, I never said it wasnt. I dont mind the alcohol. My whole point is that its not a factor to me. If you told me pliny the elder was 5%ABV and not 8%, I could care less. Its a great beer. ABV helps guide me to what the characteristics of the beer will be which will determine whether I really want to drink it or not. Im just saying outside of what it brings to the flavor, body, etc of beer, I dont care about the effect it has on my body. I love good beverages. I seek out great beer and wine...but also love to find great coffee (which mirrors beer in that I dont care about the caffeine and wish you could get all of the great coffees in decaf), teas, etc...

flavor and aroma mean everything to me...not the effect it has on my body.