interesting, but sad trend

I actually just bought a six-pack of Oberon two days ago. Anyway,

Nope. I've just noticed that higher ABV beers cost more, and a good number of them (Imperial Stouts and Barleywines) I don't particularly care for.

I'll just stick to my beers that are (mostly) about 5-9% and be content.

 

many high abv beers are more flavorful.... (I'm thinking stouts, dark ales, and some IPA's)

I think people are just craving more and more flavor intensity

 

I think this is a fairly correct statement, but there are plenty of flavorful beers that have a lower abv.

 

Go to beer festivals. A lot of attendees looking to get hammered don't care what they drink as long as it is high octane. It is a shame that a lot of great beers get overlooked. In Philly, some of the Russian Rivers which were once snapped up immediately now sit. Nature of the beast.

 

I agree, but the trick is finding them. That's the thrill of the hunt, for every road apple you end up putting back it's nice to be pleasantly surprised. Last year's winner for me was Breckenridge's Agave Wheat, bought a single not expecting much just mixing in a light one w/the heavies & damn if I don't keep my eye out for this as a good sessioner to have around or take to a party. It definitely had me circling back & re-evaluating Breckenridge's stuff a little more that's for sure.

 

Nope regardless of ABV some are just looking for the latest/greatest most sought after when great brews are right on the shelf ..

 

You couldn't keep Hell or High Watermelon on the shelves?

Stuff was yucky

 

Get some Cantillon then see how fast a 5% beer can fly out the door. Oberon is terrible imo.

 

I think price point has a bit to do with it. As does weather. When its cold, I want high octane and I don't want to drink 10 beers. In summer, I want something I can sip on all day, or cans so I can go out and about.

 

I definitely tend to look for 8% or more usually because that is where the flavor is. I have to have complexity now. I don't drink for drinking sake, I like the flavor. The higher abv tends to have it. Of course most impy stouts, porters, and barley wines are all at least that high and that's about all I buy. I think there is a huge shift of craft drinkers to these beers as referenced by this forum and BAs top 250 beers itself.

 

I've definitely noticed some "Dude, this is 12 percent!" marketing going on. I think a lot of my younger brethren get far too caught up on ABV.

Personally, I'd love to see more American breweries take on the sub-4% range of ABV.

 

Well, I wonder if this contributes? Go look at the top 250 list. Just four of the Top 30 are less than 8% ABV. Zombie Dust at 6.4, Supplication at 7, Cantillion FF at 5, Beautification at 5.5. Assuming I can count correctly, I think that says a lot. So...think about a whole bunch of people that hop on to this site, look up the best beers list, and don't really do any research. What will they think? A session brew or anything less than 8-ish percent doesn't stand a chance.

I think the point was made about seekers of the next big thing which can't be denied - that is the way of the world today. And I am sure there's a percentage looking for a buzz,but there are much easier and more cost effective ways to achieve that than beer. Can't really claim high ABV beers are a bargain buzz.

My personal tendency is to vary with season. I like a nice high ABV in the winter,and progressively lighten up as the weather warms. OP said Georgia? Don't think it actually gets cold there....

 

Imperial Palate Syndrome. I really feel that it's a mix of people wanting to experience big, bold flavors and people wanting to get a load on while cracking as few bottle caps as possible.

 

I'm not picking on you personally but this statement represents everything about craft beer that is starting to turn me off and make me want to buy PBR and Genny.

 

I second this. In the winter, I go for the darker and higher ABV. But come summer, I want something lighter and lower so I can hang out longer.

 

I do think there is a large portion of people who want "more bang for their buck," and so go for higher ABV beers. As mentions above, these beers do also tend to have a little more complexity going on.

I definitely went through a nothing but DIPA/BA stout/barley wine phase, but have moved closer to the center of the ABV range now. Most people will regress towards the norm if they stay in the beer game long enough.

 

This summer it's all about low abv sessionable beers for me. Looking for saisons, pales, sours, wheats, Berliners, and anything I can find around 4%. I couldn't tell you how many times I could of gone for a high abv stout this winter and said no because I didn't want 12oz of 15% beer when I had to run out later in the night and shuttle kids from activities. It's not much fun cracking them at 10pm when you get up at 5 am for work.