Drinking less European beers?

Aside from Heineken and Beck's, which are basically macros, those are all UK/Irish beers. Europe is a big place. Maybe try some Belgian, German, Czech, Dutch, etc beers before you write off "Euro" beers.

I've literally found no American equivalent for most/all Belgian, German, and Czech styles.

 

I was actually thinking about this earlier today. I have been strictly drinking American beers for a while now, so I decided to pick up some old favorite German beers for the weekend. I bought some Hofbräu Dunkel, Weihenstephaner Original and Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier.

 

Belgium and Germany are both in Europe. So no.

 

I would say I drink 90% American craft, and 10% Euro. Duvel being my euro of choice by far.

 

Great thread. Euro beers were kind of a gateway from BMC to craft for me. I held on to some sentimental euro favorites for a while, but now avoid them unless reviewing.

 

Your "euro" list is the equivalent of a Belgian saying that they don't drink american beer anymore because they prefer what they have to Blue Moon, Budweiser, Sam Adams, Coors light, and Miller Highlife.

You are naive - and thats ok. Just educate yourself.

 

I for one seem to want to try anything i can get my grubby beer mitts on, regardless of the origin. Yes, some are better than others. And as others have said Europe has many countries each often with their own beer/brewing culture and also many have a much much longer than what we have in North America.

My north American beer consumption is 75% to my 25% consumption of Euro beers.

Are there Euro beers brewed like their Americanized styles? Yes plenty you just have to seek them out.

 

I used to drink a lot of Belgian's. Now not so much. I still love me a Rochefort 10 though.

 

Aside from the German Oktoberfests I have had and am looking forward to again, almost all of my beer is American-made lately.

 

Aside from Belgium beers, I don't buy near as many European beers as I used to. The simple reason is there's a pretty good chance it's going to be out of date, especially beer from a lot of German breweries. Too many times have I had my hopes dashed of diving in to a really good helles or Dortmunder export only to be outdated and oxidized. On occasion I'll tempt fate with a European lager or English ale but usually I just buy Belgian imports.

I know there are a few European imports that rotate fresh stock and those I'll pick up on occasion like Hacker-Pschoor and Paulaner

 

Didn't have the right respect for what a lager could be until trying jack's abbey brews!

 

I've been trying more German and Czech beers lately. It's a very different experience from American craft beers. They seem to prize a pure clean flavor over the complexity seen in a lot Belgian or American beers. Neither are better but the contrast is nice.

 

Belgians and German beers got me into American Craft, but I definitely visit them less now. I think this has happened for several reasons:
1.Belgians can be expensive and unless I'm in the mood for one I'm not willing to pay the price.
2. There's so many damn American craft beers to pick from that European beers become an afterthought unfortunately
3. Kind of linked to the first two reasons, but I take for granted that good European beers are consistently on the shelves to pick up whenever I'm in the mood for one.

And to the OP's last question try Ommegang and Allagash for Belgian style and Jacks Abby for german style. However, it sounds like you've only tried English/Irish brews, so branch out, you've only scratched the surface for European styles. Especially since many of those Englsih/Irish you listed aren't really all that craft I believe, so there's even more to try there in addition to Germany and Belgium.

 

This. It's to the point that I don't even look in the imports section anymore unless I'm looking for a particular lambic. Been burned too many times and I already can't keep up with all the awesome American releases that are constantly being churned out.

 

I drink Spaten.

 

You can make a valid point (which you did) and not come across as a jerk (which you did).

 

I've been drinking mostly imported hefeweizen's and lagers lately. Weihenstephaner, Hofbrau, Spaten. Weihenstephaner Vitus is incredible.

 

Great answer right off the bat.

First immerse yourself in the wealth of what those countries truly offer (even as imports)- then see where your preferences lie.