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Author Topic: Are some beers better than others?  (Read 10467 times)

Offline brookspn

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Are some beers better than others?
« on: November 11, 2009, 09:00:36 pm »
This is a conversation I'm sure we are all familiar with.  One of our friends is drinking back on a Bud Light Lime and we may say something like, "why don't you try drinking something good?"  Which raises a great question; Is my Pliny the Elder better than his Bud Light Lime?  If so, what makes it better?  It is all a matter of taste, or lack thereof.  Or is there some sort of intrinsic quality that makes Vinnie's crowning achievement superior to the dregs of Anhauser-Busch?

Offline nicneufeld

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2009, 09:12:28 pm »
Is Herbie Hancock better than the Jonas Brothers?  These are the questions that haunt us as we walk the fine line between good taste and snobbery.

Offline a10t2

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2009, 09:51:39 pm »
I'd say PTE and Bud Light are both world-class examples of their respective styles. If you don't like a style, that's different from it being *bad*.

On the other hand, there are definitely beers that are objectively bad. I've had some, commercial and homebrewed.
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Offline blatz

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2009, 10:00:25 pm »
better is subjective  - whats better to you might be worse to him and vice versa. there are no absolutes.
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Offline The Professor

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2009, 10:22:35 pm »
I went through a beer snob period.
Really, the best beer is the one in your hand, that you enjoy.

And for whatever it's worth, inasmuch as I have been a booster for the micro movement since it began, it must be noted with objectivity that  "big brewing" prejudices aside, A/B-InBev is making some pretty decent specialty beers these days. 
They may yet get it right.
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Offline smurfe

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2009, 05:02:32 am »
I grew up on Budweiser being from the St Louis area  and can't diss them. If you really want to get technical they brew a superior product. Look at it. They brew day in and day out world wide and each and every Budweiser taste the same. It really isn't that bad in taste either. Now many craft beers will awaken the palate with alternative flavor and are fantastic in their own right but you can't tell me any of them are technically "better" beers. Preferred flavor? Yes! Better beers? No.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2009, 05:25:22 am »
Is Herbie Hancock better than the Jonas Brothers?  These are the questions that haunt us as we walk the fine line between good taste and snobbery.

lol!  ;D

Seriously, I don't care what someone drinks (as long as they don't throw the can out their car window) and I will drink BMC beer from time to time. IMO what it really boils down to is how adventurous are you? Some people never get over a maturity level with their taste and can not stand anything with flavor, period. They stopped maturing taste wise when they were about 6. For them, Mac and Cheese and Koolaide is the pinnacle of their flavor empire. Most of these people eat and drink bland, flavorless foods and don't care to experiment. Many people go through their life with American Cheese, White Bread and Bud Light.

And I really think that they don't like the taste of Beer but want to have the Beer drinking experience - and really, that is what Light beers were made for in the first place!

Common, what food really goes best with Bud Light? I'll tell you - Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets!

Whether or not the beers are as good as each other, I would say they are both brewed to a high standard of quality. One just is not very interesting and tastes more like fizzy water than beer. Hell, even Bud tastes like a beer at least.

Offline bluesman

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2009, 05:48:26 am »
I am always searching for examples of different styles. It is rare for me to buy a six pack of anything anymore, not only because I have six kegs and numerous bottled beers at home, but because I am looking to broaden my horizon or palate for different styles of beer.

If I want to make a particular style of beer, I search for good examples first, then tailor a recipe and go for it.

I try to keep an open mind when trying different beers.

...in the end it's vanilla, chocolate or strawberry...one prefers vanilla while another likes chocolate...to each his own.

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Offline brookspn

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2009, 06:46:00 am »
I guess I just think that the whole "to each his own" thing is problematic.  All of us here no what "beer" is.  We've read about it, we've drank our fair share of it, and we've made a good deal of it too.  So, I think that we should, without fear of snobbery or alienation, be able to talk critically about the aesthetics of beer.  In the same way that some music is objectively better than others, beer is too.  As with all forms of art, it comes down to craftsmanship.  Is AB/Inbev beer crafted well.  Absolutely.  But where is the creativity?  I suppose its the difference between a mass produced Chinese painting (they redo famous works of art in the original medium on an assembly line) and an original Maxfield Parrish. 

Offline babalu87

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2009, 07:13:06 am »
I'd say PTE and Bud Light are both world-class examples of their respective styles. If you don't like a style, that's different from it being *bad*.

On the other hand, there are definitely beers that are objectively bad. I've had some, commercial and homebrewed.

Can a style be bad?



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Offline bonjour

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2009, 07:19:58 am »
While some beers are definately better than other beers, some beer styles are not better than other beer styles.
A quality beer is a quality beer and a flawed beer is a flawed beer.  The brewers and breweries mentioned are at the top of the game and consistently produce quality beers, though Vinnie is known to sell sour beers, but that is done with intent.

Last Wednesday I served Bud, Miller Lite and several other delctable treasures to my class of beer geeks.  These beers are litterally classic examples of style and as such are awesome representatives of their styles.  Are these the beers that you prefer?  I really didn't need to ask that now did I.   Which is more popular?  Obviously AB.  

So in answer to the question, Beers - Yes, Styles - No
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Offline homebrewgamecock

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2009, 09:16:10 am »
I agree it depends on your taste.  Most big commercial beers like Bud are very well made.  Personally, I would take a Bud over a Miller any day.  Don't really care for Miller products at all.  Coors is ok to me, but not great.  All these commercial beers have very little beer flavor to me.  I don't diss them as a beer snob, but rather I choose not to drink them because for me, they are flavorless empty beer calories.  Also, they are not that much cheaper these days than craft beer.  I see Bud in most stores in CO for $5-6 a six pack unless it's on special.  As for light beer, I don't care for any of it.  Just don't like them - BL, CL, ML, Sam Adams Light, etc. 

I would never call someone out for drinking what they like.  If you like it, drink it.

Offline denny

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2009, 09:41:00 am »
I went through a beer snob period.
Really, the best beer is the one in your hand, that you enjoy.

Same here....when I had just started homebrewing, I was on a quest to save people from "bad beer".  Now, I recognize that people should drink what they like.  I may feel sorry for someone who doesn't want to at least try something new, but I don't judge people by what they drink.

And for whatever it's worth, inasmuch as I have been a booster for the micro movement since it began, it must be noted with objectivity that  "big brewing" prejudices aside, A/B-InBev is making some pretty decent specialty beers these days. 
They may yet get it right.

Interesting observation....about a year ago, AB came out with a bourbon vanilla porter.  They recently announced a rye IPA.   Are they watching me???  ;)
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Offline babalu87

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2009, 10:12:13 am »
Same here....when I had just started homebrewing, I was on a quest to save people from "bad beer".  Now, I recognize that people should drink what they like.  I may feel sorry for someone who doesn't want to at least try something new, but I don't judge people by what they drink.

I have attempted to blindfold people who think all dark beers are too heavy etc, etc, etc

Its funny though, people are willing to try damn near anything put on a plate in front of them but once a beer is anything other than piss yellow they act like you kicked their dog

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Offline BrewArk

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2009, 10:31:36 am »
My beer is better than your beer.   nananana  :D
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