Your thoughts on ABV?

The only time I mind is when they leave it off the label.

 

I'd likely be suspicious of a 15% pilsner, or of a 3% doppelbock. That being said, I don't base my beer purchasing decisions on ABV. If that was an important criterion, I'd either only ever drink beers <= 4%, or I'd just buy Everclear and be done with it.

 

depending on style... one example would be I've never really liked any barrel aged beer lower than 7%, too thin to hold the booze notes

 

I love beers that run the gambit of the abv style. America has not quite mastered the precision of brewing top quality beer on the lower end, in general. I would love to see that change before I kick the proverbial bucket. Medium to high range abv...those are covered consistently.

Because of what I just wrote, I chose somewhat important.

 

The point is that you COULD drink it all day long without falling over or pickling your liver.And after a pint or two your senses adjust to a point where you can't tell it's a low ABV brew.

 

I went with somewhat important. It matters when I have shit I gotta do.
I'm not going to drink a 13% stout while tearing an engine down or something... I'll loose everything lol.
4-8% is my sweet spot.

 

By the time of my third trip to the UK my senses were already adjusting about the time we entered the Heathrow landing pattern.

 

I voted not too important because of an oxymoronic reason - it's not important because I plan around it! So I guess, being aware of abv was important enough for me to make habit of noticing it but due to this habit, I no am no longer really worried about it becoming a factor. Does that make sense? Not sure if I expressed that correctly.

 

The best beer IMO will the ones that have the lowest ABV but flavor/mouthfeel of a bigger beer.

But honestly, ABV is not very important to me if the beer is good. I prefer 8% and lower, typically.

 

Important to me, I dont like feeling buzzed or gettin drunk. The more beer I can drink without the buzz the better, therefore I always check ABV to plan ahead how much I will drink on any given session.

 

Tough question to ask because it depends on context and assumptions.

From a context perspective, do you mean in terms of flavor, in terms of "effect", etc.

Many comments assume (rightfully, to a large degree), that ABV is a pretty big player in flavor. But, if you discard that assumption, then it really changes the game. As someone noted earlier: two beers, exact same flavor but different ABV, I'm going the lower ABV. In fact, I just told a friend of mine two days ago that I'd love it if I could get great, flavorful beers with zero alcohol. "Double IPA" flavor and character, no booze? Sign me up.

The problem is that the booze does impact the flavor profile and the nose.

TL;DR: I don't really care what the ABV is except for the impact it has on my sobriety. I do care about it from the perspective that it does have an impact on the flavor profile.

 

DFH 120 Minute....need a chaser for that beer.

 

I can remember at least one time. I had one beer with my meal and wanted a second beer. Down to two, chose the lower ABV to limit my intoxication.

 

I look at abv when I buy. I prefer stouts and Belgian beer so higher abv is right up your alley. I drink beer not only for flavor but also for the effect it has. I like beer to usually beaver 10%

 

Weak sauce

 

my vote is 50/50 just due to style bases. Not interested in a 14% kolsch or something along those lines

 

Didn't say I didn't like it....it's just boozy as hell.

 

I like beer that, obviously, appeals to my palate, so ABV isn't a "considered" or direct factor. What I have noticed is that I don't want my beer to be astringent like grain alcohol. So when the alcohol content becomes uncovered, that beer becomes less appealing. Consequently, the 10%+ beers become a "suspect category" since coverage becomes more difficult. I won't just grab a new 10+%er off the shelf to try it. I'll read the reviews here first. Also when I'm reviewing a high ABV beer, I'll mention the fact of the brewers skill demonstrated by keeping it covered.

 

I've still got a few Waldo's hanging around, and if you where out having one you would have to respect that. One beer would be almost the equivalent of 1/2 a bottle of wine, and I don't chug my beer, but drinking one in 10-15 minutes might be right. Have two and I'd bet your close to the limit if not over. Big difference between what you can drink out vs in, and do it safely. I wouldn't session any thing out and about, I cap it at 2 beers depending on Abv, most are in the 5-7 range, it's almost impossible to find many beers under this with the exception of perhaps Guiness or the super light lagers.

 

I agree that if it is some style that has an expected lower ABV I would actually be looking for that in reviewing the beer. Such as a summer shandy which would have a lower expected ABV. So I would not necessarily buy my beer based upon just the ABV.