Drinking less European beers?

I don't see myself buying any euro beers anytime soon. After 3 years in Germany it is nice to be back in the US. I am happy to take a break from all of the German and Belgian brews.

As mentioned though the age of some of the imports I have seen here in Dover didn't make me want to buy them. The cost is also high. Even paying in Euros across the pond is much cheaper than buying good euro brews imported to the States.

 

My fridge is 90% American--I love NC local.

I dig 'em all but have found not substitute for Roch 10 and Westmalle Tripel when that urge hits me.

Oh yea and a Jever and then those Hefes.............

 

I've yet to try the Chimay or Rochefort lineup. Every time I see them I think about buying all of them but it is $15-$17 for just 3 beers. There have already been a ton of threads on bomber prices or individual bottle prices. I think my tastes are just used to American beers/styles...just as those in Europe may prefer their typical styles.

 

Implicit in this thread is that many of us prefer fresh beer. I'm sure some of don't drink many imports because of the questionable shelf time. Many of the best American beers are dated. That's the biggest deciding factor for me.

EDIT: It's advantageous to have an idea where your beer has been, how long has it been sitting, etc.

 

I would say my beer purchases are 60% European, 20% Canadian and 10% US. I generally just prefer European styles, and oddly enough I often find more fresh European beer up here than US.

 

That was supposed to say "10% other". I have had a few though...

 

I've never had a better Helles Lager than Weinstephaner Original, a Dunkelweiss better than Weinstephaner's, or a Doppelbock better than Optimator.

I go Euro when I get a hankering for those styles.

 

I am an American craft homer. 99% of my beer consumption is American craft.

 

It really depends. I've found few great American replacements for many German and Belgian styles. Outside of those I tend to stick mostly to American beers.

 

You'll probably find Chimay at a more reasonable markup on draft, but definitely try Rochefort (6, 8 & 10) and St Bernardus (all of them, esp Abt 12) if you're into Belgian beers at all. Rochefort 10 and St Bernardus Abt 12 are more or less two defining takes on BSDA/Quads.

Chimay is good overall, but at that price-point (and I don't know if they've actually changed their formula, though I've heard they have), I prefer other Belgians.

If you're not into Belgians or just haven't tried any, I'd recommend Unibroue, Ommegang and some of New Glarus' beers as a cheaper starting point.

 

I am consistent with what I'm hearing...I liked Optimator and other big German beers at first. I then went to Belgian Trippels for like 2-3 years. Then. All of a sudden. IPAs starting tasting good. It was a whole new world. Now, I don't even look at non-U.S. beer anymore. Sure, I appreciate a good Belgian ale, but I want hops or, the other end of the spectrum, an amazing complex stout. I'm sure I'll shift back at some point, but right now, I love me some good ol' U.S. beers. This is kind of a weird analogy, but I feel like U.S. beer is kind of where rock music was around the 60's. So much raw awesomeness, I just don't want to miss any of it because something will come along and screw it all up forever. I mean nothing so great can last forever....right?

 

Only European beer I drink is Samuel Smith's. I love their Oatmeal Stout, Chocolate Stout, Imperial Stout, Organic Pale Ale, Organic Lager, and their Yorkshire Stingo is good as well. There are some European beers I would love to try but so many good American craft beers.

 

Never would've guessed you like Samuel Smith. On an unrelated note, nice avatar!
Samuel Smith makes some tasty beer and it is very very reasonable price wise. I don't buy it too often because I get distracted by new beers but all their stuff is solid.

 

Definitely.

Its not that I like European beers less, it just that the diversity and quality of local beers, as well as, widely available American beers has improved so much in recent years, that I find the incentive to buy European is not as strong as it once was.

Having said that, I still keep Belgian beers in my rotation, as well as, occasional German beers. There are just to many world class Belgian and German beers to ignore.

 

Oddly enough, I rarely buy Samuel Smith. Not even that popular in England, and far better examples of European beer available IMO.

 

I can't decern any flavors that don't scissor kick me straight in the mouth, thus, I only drink American beers.

 

Drinking a quality European brewed beer that is not old and not ‘beat up’ in transport if a wonderful thing!

Drinking an old and/or ‘beat up’ European brewed beer sucks!

Cheers!

P.S. To chime in on what Rochefort10 made some mention of: I have had very good luck with my purchases of Belgian brewed beers. They seem to hold up very well for some reason.

 

July was a bumper month for me re imports. I got to drink several different Belgian Ales not seen in my market before. More are coming in September. It was a nice break from drinking all American brews...