How important is the "buzz"?

So glad I'm not the only one who feels this way, OP. There have been many times I wish that beer could be alcohol free (or very low in alcohol, at least) and still retain all of it's traits. I understand, however, that alcohol can play a big part in a beer's aroma and flavor, and even it's presentation (ABV affects lacing and head retention, does it not?).

When buying and enjoying a beer, the alcohol content -and the buzz- are of no concern to me. I just enjoy the attributes of a well crafted beer! Just moderate yourself and treat your body with respect.

 

OK 90%.

When I introduce new people to craft beer--they all boast to a ONE how much the ABV is in the beer they have found--"what % is it"????

Friends of mine that have enjoyed good beer for 25-30+ years (as have I) are every bit as excited in the outstanding low ABV things that can find now. Sure we enjoy the way it feels (sometimes) but can honestly say that I am looking for taste first. If two good IPAs are in front of me--I usually go low every time.

 

It's a part of the whole experience. Personally I love to get a nice little buzz on, but not too much so as to where I am affected the next day. One or two beers usually does it for me.

 

I'll admit, I like the buzz. I prefer to catch a light buzz and nurse it along than to go all loud and stupid. 2nd what everyone else says about water or coke vs beer.

 

Beer is an intoxicant that happens to taste really, really good. Sometimes I want one beer to taste, sometimes I want to crack a few beers with buddies and get buzzed and sometime I want to drink my face off and act a damn fool.

 

1. Taste
2. Buzz

 

I agree with you 100%. I was replying sarcastically to @Todd's black-and-white response. There are many, many reasons to drink beer, and for one of the founders of this site to suggest that it all basically comes to down to getting a buzz is, well, pretty shocking. He's entitled to his opinion, of course, but I strongly disagree with his assertion.

 

Very

 

An interesting way to look at this is to look at how beer is made. We provide yeast with a party, complete with a nice environment for an orgy, lotsa food, and wonderful proteins that get the yeasties, I am sure, fairly wasted. They, in turn, try to encourage us by leaving us with this delicious beverage that returns the favor. The more we like the beer, both in taste and alcohol, the more we throw parties for the yeast. We're a team, man. I think we owe it to the yeast to enjoy the buzz they give us as much as they enjoy the one we give them. Don't you?

 

...says the guy who gets paid to drink beer...

Look, I haven't looked at this thread since last night, so I don't know all the arguments for/against the assertion you've made. All I know is, if I could drink beer, for example, at work, with my lunch, without (a) impairing my judgment and (b) all of the social stigma associated with even moderate alcohol consumption in an inappropriate context, hell yes, I would do it. Every day. For the taste alone--of a juicy IPA or a bold imperial stout or a puckering sour. But because of those two things alone, I have to wait until I get home to have a beer or two.

I know you have a lot more experience than I do with people's opinions about beer, so I can't completely discount your statement out of hand. And when I have time, I will read through this entire thread looking for empirical evidence that everyone always drinks beer primarily for the buzz--which, unless I'm mistaken, is what you are saying. Until I'm convinced, though, I hold that sometimes this isn't true, and that neither you, nor anyone else, can truly claim to know everyone's motivation to drink beer in all cases.

 

Perfectly succinctly stated. The buzz is a part of the experience, but I can say the following reasons I drink beer:

• I actually do prefer it to almost all other types of beverage on average (perhaps because)
• I might be addicted to the buzz it creates (but...)
• I really do hate when the buzz gets to the point that I shouldn't/can't have another tasty beer

Double-edged sword, I guess is another way to look at it. It's not a hate of the buzz, but to say it's the primary or only goal would be wrong also. I can easily have and enjoy a single beer with dinner to enhance the meal without any delusion that it will get me buzzed.

 

Was going to say the same ...... like, 5+ pages of posts in less than a day kind of important. Good question from the OP though, I actually read the whole thing. Obvious sticking points being the subjective interpretations of "buzz" and "important". I'm personally on the "looks forward to a buzz" side. I have no use for getting drunk, but I'd drink less than 2 beers a month if there was no buzz. I also can side with the anti-buzz crowd, in this sense -- I can't and don't enjoy a beer or two at lunch because buzz+work is a non-starter. In that way, I dislike the alcohol that comes with beer, since it prevents round-the-clock enjoyment. I also have not had wine/liquor in years (maybe once a year around New Years?). The slower onset of a beer buzz is perfectly made for social enjoyment. Other than beer, I only drink water and black coffee. To those who have mentioned calories and overweight issues, try nixing all of your sugar/bread/pasta, ALL of it, and you will see wonders and be able to stop worrying about moderate beer intake (by moderate I mean 3 or 4 at most per day, less if possible .... feel free to PM me if this intrigues you).

 

I can say with 100% honesty that I do not drink for the buzz. If it happens, it happens, but it's not why I buy and drink beer, and I'm not disappointed when I have a beer or two and don't get a buzz. I like beer because no other beverage I can think of (that I like) has the level of flavor and complexity that a well crafted beer has. Taste is the main thing I look for in a beer. I could care less about ABV, I rarely have more than 2 in a week, and I only drink on my days off. Does this make me any less of a BA? In my opinion, no. In my mind, I am a responsible person with a big appreciation for good beer who moderates their self very well. I honestly don't see how some of the folks here still have functional livers.

Yes, unfortunately, most alcohol free beer tastes bad... some of it is REALLY bad. But in all fairness, most alcohol free beer is also a N/A version of a crappy macro in the first place. If I could have all the taste and complexity of regular beer minus the alcohol, I'd gladly keep drinking and enjoying them, because taste is the most important factor to me, hands down. The fact that some people ONLY seek out a beer because it's an alcoholic beverage that alters their state of mind is sad.

 

Then you should be able to provide us with pointers to the evidence/data to support this claim.

 

It is not only important, but it is necessary. I do not think I would be drinking beer if there was no altered state...

 

I enjoy how "fun" this read is and the sentiment behind it. With that said, allow me to undermine it with a boring academic take on the topic!

Perhaps from a natural selection point of view, beer fermenting yeast strains have also lived because we have cultured them specifically because they produce the ethanol based beverage that we enjoy drinking. From a biological perspective, all yeast wants to do is reproduce. Alcohol is simply a byproduct in the process and serves two biological purposes.....

1. The yeasts main reason for the pyruvate to ethanol conversion is the regeneration (via oxidation) of NADH into NAD+, for continued use in anabolic pathways such as glycolysis. Simply stated, they mainly indulge in the production of ethanol because it allows them to regenerate their energy production system.

2. The ethanol produced in the absence of oxygen also inhibits many microbes from living in the yeasts natural environment.

To bring it back to fun terms (you've inspired me Dave).....

Partying helps them face another day and keeps them amongst friends who can handle their liquor

"Have a good time all the time. Always eat the worm" - Coconut Pete

 

You're proving to be quite the role model in this thread.

Sorry, but as the co-founder of this site, IMO you should show a bit more impartiality, and respect for all virwpoints, as far as this topic goes.