How important is the "buzz"?

I wish beer (and wine) were more like 1-2% so I could drink more without the buzz interrupting things :-)

 

I just regret it the next morning.

 

I enjoy the lightest mellow buzz, but that's about it. If all beer could somehow taste and smell exactly the same, but was at around 3% ABV and had zero calories, it would be perfect.

 

Well, ideally, there would only be 'buzz', and there wouldn't be 'drunk'.

 

If there were N/A "beers" just as tasty, I would drink them A LOT. This is not to say that the alcohol effects have no role, however. I think that many here drink beer for multiple reasons, and the effects are not the only reason why people drink beer.

 

That is a really interesting question!

As I got more and more into craft beer I personally do not drink beer with the intent of getting a buzz on, although it is commonly the outcome. With more and more complex and interesting beers I do not want to get super bombed simply because I would like to remember enjoying them. Especially since a lot of the really good beers to cellar are limited production with releases maybe once a year.

These days when I am looking to drink simply to get a buzz I prefer liquor.

 

I think the buzz (or extreme drunk) is kind of the point, not only is it tasty and magical but it comes with a little buddy called abv. Which is a part of the flavor as well. If u "like drinking beer" but hate the buzz, you don't like drinking beer!

 

Of course I drink beer to get a buzz. I'm not saying that is the only reason...If it was I'd be drinking Thunderbird...I appreciate everything that quality craft beers have to offer.

But wishing beer was low or no alcohol.... Who are you guys kidding?

 

I love the taste of the beer I drink. I never could really drink things solely to get drunk if I really really hated the taste. However, I do love the buzz and occasionally the extreme drunk bit of drinking. But only after my tastebuds are shot I can go drink anything and not care about taste if I want to get really drunk.

 

For the buzz... heh... sometimes it's just to quell the shaking, anxious irritability in the late afternoon. Jeez.

 

I'm in the minority when I say I wish beer didn't have alcohol. I would love to drink as much as I like without worrying about intoxication and a designated driver. As far as the buzz I could care less if I obtain one or not.

 

If this were true we would all be downing 6-8 tasty juices or lattes that taste great at a time.

 

As with coffee, I'd gladly consume beer if it had no alternative effects. The buzz is completely secondary to flavor for me.

That said, there are definitely times where I appreciate the buzz of each.

 

50% tasty flavor, 50% buzz enjoyment. It simply works both ways equally. The calories just wouldn't be worth it for me if it was non-alcoholic. Though I'll admit, there are plenty of times when I wished the 7% IPAs I was knocking back at a bar were more like 3%. My job requires I retain my CDL, of which holders are held to a stricter standard for BAC legal driving limits. I have to be extremely careful.

 

The buzz is part of the beer drinking experience, and something I enjoy.