Beer Strength Preference Poll

[MmmBeer]

As others have said, it's a difficult choice, as most of the beers that I brew or buy tend to be in the 5.5 - 6.5% bracket. The only 10%+ beer I can recall really liking was a Thomas Hardy Ale.

I ended up choosing over 6%, so just take a cow, blow its nose, wipe its arse and chuck it on a plate smothered with vindaloo sauce, while I break out the horned helmets and screaming guitars.

 

[jceg316]

I like both, they both have a time and place and it's more mood dependent. However I ticked weaker beer as on an average night I don't want anything too strong.

 

[strange-steve]

take a cow, blow its nose, wipe its a**e and chuck it on a plate

No preference either way. I like to mix it up and don't subscribe to the idea "beer has to be a pint", this nullifies the ABV issue.

Now don't try to use common sense on our overly simplistic debate. You strike me as a quality over quantity man so I'll put you in the 6%+ category

It's not really a binary choice IMO.

In an ideal world, but hey this is my poll :p

 

[peebee]

I think @strange-steve's original idea that this is a poll and not another discussion was plainly daft. We're a bunch of incurable wind-bags, and everything is an excuse for another "discussion".

 

[dad_of_jon]

@strange-steve

let's be honest my sig gives you the answer

although I may have had the odd lapse of concentration.....

Now that i've found my helmet again (no not THAT helmet - the one with the viking horns) let the drinking commence!

 

[Ghillie]

who claims they're into heavy metal because they have a Nickelback album

 

[marshbrewer]

Sub 6 for me. In fact, most of the commercial beers I drink in the pub are 3 -4%, apart from the excellent Bateman's XXXB. Homebrew, then I shoot for around 4/5% unless I'm doing a mild. Even IPA's I aim for just over 5, but then I'm brewing UK style IPA's. The only brew I deliberately aim for above 6 is my Best Extra Stout.

 

[BridgeBrew]

4.5%-5% is my preference.

 

[Richie_asg1]

I would pick taste over strength and tend to be under 5% most of the time, which means I can drink more of it.

 

[strange-steve]

I would pick taste over strength

I would imagine that's true for everyone and those of us who chose the correct answer (>6%) are of the opinion that stronger beers generally taste better.

 

[Minimag1]

I actaully do both, a single pint (or 2) of 6-7% for the taste, then switch to low alcohol because I want to carry on and not fall down

 

[Hoddy]

For me the sweet spot is circa 5.5% - 6.2% ABV as it’s gives that body and flavour that I look for without overly alcoholic flavours.

But that’s just me.

 

[jceg316]

I changed my vote. I've been thinking about it, and if I'm going out my way to drink a really good beer it will probably be stronger than weaker.

 

[An Ankoù]

I changed my vote. I've been thinking about it, and if I'm going out my way to drink a really good beer it will probably be stronger than weaker.

You reminded me of a beer festival I went to about a decade ago, I think it was Poole. Drank all the good and strong stuff and decided to finish with a pint of something light with my last two vouchers before staggering home. It was a pint of Elgood's Black Dog mild. I enjoyed it so much I bought another book of tickets.

 

[Hoppyland]

those of us who chose the correct answer (>6%) are of the opinion that stronger beers generally taste better.

Ah, but the minority that chose the democratically-demonstrated wrong answer of >6% simply show that they are out of step with the true afficionados who know what truly great beer tastes like
Since you're clearly a representative of only 36% of the voting population, I sincerely hope that you are not trying to subvert the will of the people here

WE WANT HOPS
WE WANT MALT
Don't mess up the flavour with TOO MUCH ALCOHOL
There, I'm off to start my own political party.

 

[An Ankoù]

I would imagine that's true for everyone and those of us who chose the correct answer (>6%) are of the opinion that stronger beers generally taste better.

But they don't taste better, they taste different! I suppose it's depends on whether you're a "sipper" or a "glugger". I didn't realise this was so important until I moved to France. There are plenty of excellent Belgian beers and Bières de Garde on the supermarket shelves (as well as plenty of 'orrible stuff), but if you don't feel you've had a proper pint until you've had six, then they're ultimately unsatisfying. I found myself drinking Heinneken (marginally not quite as awful as the Brit brew, but even so!) and Fischer, both too sweet, but drinkable, until I got my brewery unpacked and sourced the ingredients. At least I was able to keep the empties for bottling.
I've always thought my quest as a brewer was to brew the weakest beer with the best body, flavour and everything else that goes into making an excellent pint, so that I could drink more of it than otherwise before falling over. This sentiment gives me hope that I drink for the love of the beer and not just for the alcohol.
(Who am I kidding?)

 

[Lawrence22]

I do really enjoy the occasional strong beer, my current batch of IPA will come out about 7.3%, but I voted below 6% as most of the beer I drink would be below this. Had the cut off been 5% I would have voted higher category.

 

[RichK]

I guess my optimum is in the 5.?% sort of range. I can appreciate going either way from that when appropriate. Lower for a long session, higher for something with a bit of kick.

 

[Clint]

Lower abv for me as Mrs Clint has banned the following....
Completely not knowing what I'm doing.
Falling over.
Getting lost.
Pi88ing in the wardrobe.

 

[Lawrence22]

Could be worse, you could pi88 on Mrs Clint.