How important is the "buzz"?

I think there's a little disconnect on buzz topic (obviously). To clarify, half are saying the buzz is the main draw to drinking beer, but by that they mean that's what drew people in at first. I think there's probably very few people who started drinking because of the flavor, whether it was beer or liquor. I know I drank at first to get drunk, and I had to force bud lights down. Good times. The other half of people are buzz isn't important RIGHT NOW, and that's where I stand as well (at least 80-90% of the time) As other have said I like a good buzz now and then or hell just getting straight fucked up. BUT the majority of the time I simply care about the flavor. That being said there's no way i would want N/A beer. If I don't want a buzz then I limit my drinking like I do on weekdays, which is 1-2 a night. So, overall, I agree with both sides. The buzz was key at first first, but now its role has diminished. Just seemed like people were arguing over two separate things.

 

But recognize that this is an argument for why drink any alcohol at all and is not specific to beer. I've no disagreement with the argument or the importance of alcohol and yeast to human history.

But that doesn't give much to go on when people are discussing why beer is their alcohol delivery mechanism of choice and whether they choose beer because of the buzz. Everclear also produces a buzz, so saying we drink beer because of the effects of alcohol is over simplifying. (Just as is accusing others of lying to themselves when they say they drink beer for the flavors.). We drink alcohol for those effects.

I keep wine, vodka, gin, whisky, whiskey and beer in stock in the house. They all have alcohol that contributes to their flavors. My particular choice on most evenings is for beer because right now I'm enjoying beers for the flavors. I choose and drink them for the flavors. During a recent significant family event I chose to serve a bottle of Malt Whisky that I'll never see another bottle of in my lifetime. That beverage was chosen not for the buzz, but for the flavors and the significance of the event. I don't choose a particular alcoholic beverage because of the buzz nor do lots of others. Now if my only choices were beer or beer the role of buzz would be critical, but those are not my choices, so buzz is irrelevant to my choice.

 

If they don't like effects of alcohol, why are they drinking alcohol? That's the ridiculous assumption. Did you read the thread? 99%+ of the people who posted here stated it wasn't the main driving force behind their consumption, not that it wasn't at all a factor. That's damn close to 100%. It's not a stretch to think the other 1% are fooling themselves.

 

For me, with beer, there is a uniqueness factor. Like many others have said, the combination of the flavors, textures, varying styles, etc along with the buzz are primary reasons to drink craft beer.

Yes, you can drink just about anything to get the buzz but I cannot say I've ever been excited about trying the latest Captain Morgan, waiting in line at the distillery for something limited to be released, or finding someone in a different time zone to trade with me.

 

alcohol is part of beer. whats wrong with admitting we like the buzz associated with it? seems like a lot of people here are just not willing to admit that. without the alcohol the beer scene wouldnt exist.

 

Right now, on CannabisAdvocate, members are debating whether they smoke weed for the high or for the taste and smell...

 

There are some sodas I enjoy, but I very rarely drink soda. Why waste the calories, when I can have a delicious beer or two and feel the added benefits of a little alcohol. It's such a pleasant way to unwind after a full day or ever so slightly shift your perspective.

A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to a bike (bicycle) festival and had a couple beers. Then we went to a local brewery and had a couple more. I had a blast for a few reasons. I genuinely love riding, and I genuinely love beer and then the inhibitory effects elevated (contradiction, technically, I know) my mood. It was awesome.

 

The 'not for the buzz' crowd is not denying any of that.
What we are saying is today, when I drink beer, often it is not for the buzz.

What I am hearing is people saying is that I am lying and deep down I only drink beer for the buzz, even when it is one beer with a meal because hell, I should just drink water or root beer instead if I don't want the buzz.

 

Because, supposedly, it's 100% about the taste of beer for them, and alcohol is the unwanted byproduct that comes about in the process of brewing these great tasting beers.

Look, like I've already said - for me personally, I'm with you and Todd - beer and buzz are fully intertwined, and no, I cannot relate to people that say otherwise. But there are plenty of things in life, that are probably niche, or unexpected, or unusual - and I don't relate to them either - but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

Sure maybe some people are deluding themselves, but out of nearly 500,000 members, I think there's a good chance that maybe there are a handful of people that only like the taste, and totally dislike the effects.

 

no as you know In Texas we JUST SHOOT those we disagree with, lol

 

I enjoy a light buzz where I get relaxed and everything's just a little bit funnier than it really is, but I wish it would stay that way. I actually don't enjoy getting drunk, I just really really really like beer and beer gets me really really really drunk.

 

If beer did not have a buzz I would NOT drink it. I remember many a cruise on the seven seas for the good old USNAVY, and after 90 days consecutively, we would get 2 whole crap lagers. Trust me it WAS ALL ABOUT THE BUZZ THAT DAY. and we thanks those that did not want to drink, and begged them to go get there 2 they DID not want......steel beach picnic. lol

 

i dont see anyone saying we ONLY drink for buzz. but i think the flavor crowd whether they want to admit or not, alcohol does contribute to the flavor of the beer even if subtle.

 

Not breaking new ground here to point out that we all love beer because we find it delicious. My simple point is we are attracted to find our favorite drink, fine beer, because we are attracted back to alcohol, and flavor, or just the alcohol, at first.

I don't think anyone can say, with a straight face, that it was love at first taste for that first alcoholic beverage's taste, and dislike at first buzz for the feeling it gave, and they were attracted back to it specifically because of the taste, and despite the buzz that they dislike. This is all I am saying. This is all Todd is saying. And I think anyone who says they loved the taste, hated the buzz, and were attracted back to it because of the taste, and despite the buzz, is lying. Is it really that hard to understand that if someone doesn't like the buzz, it is beyond unlikely they will return to try the alcoholic beverage that gives this buzz they hate? Does it really taste so well that they will endure this feeling they hate to enjoy that taste?

That is my opinion, and has been every time I have joined this conversation.

 

Love the buzz. I don't like the being drunk. A nice comfortable head change feels good. I mainly drink for the taste and it doesn't matter what the ABV is. I assume many of us here drink for the taste. If we drank only to get drunk, then perhaps Natty Light, MGD, etc. would satisfy our wants/needs and there would be no need for craft beer.

 

Would beer be as interesting without the alcohol? Maybe not. But, I'm not a big partier. I rarely drink just to get buzzed. I drink craft beer because I love the taste and derive enjoyment from exploring and comparing the multitude of great beers that we have to choose from. The buzz factor is not nearly as important for me.

 

I drink beer because I enjoy it all around, the "buzz" is not my driving force.... but I think it is adds to the over all experience of relaxing and enjoyment.

 

Why are so many people arguing that a "buzz" WAS what got most of us in drinking beer? The OP never stated that at all, did he? I think many people are arguing for something that wasn't what the OP asked.

To answer the OP directly:

As would I. I repeat, I will still drink beer if it tasted exactly the same as it does, but with zero alcohol.
To anyone saying I am a liar, how you can say that about me?
I have drank coffee for well over 50 years now. Did I start drinking it for the caffeine? Absolutely yes.
Do I still drink it simply for the caffeine? No. I only drink decaf (and have for years), because the 2 or 3 cups I have every morning is too much for me. Yes, there is still a small amount of caffeine in decaf coffee, but not enough to matter.

My friend drinks bud platinum. He doesn't care what it tastes like, but he will drink enough to get drunk. If he doesn't have bud platinum, he will drink any other BMC that he can get for cheap. Taste to him means he has to at least tolerate it, and if he can drink bud platinum, he can drink any AAL. Will anyone argue the opposite that he drinks because of the taste? Certainly not. I will not argue that most drinkers drink to get drunk.

I do. As I have already said, I no longer drink it with the desire to get buzzed. My dependancy on alcohol is not such that I desire it to the point of overconsumption. I can go weeks without drinking beer, just as I can go weeks without drinking coffee. Would I miss them? Yes. Does it mean I am "addicted" to them? Nothing regarding the criteria to determine alcoholism is present with me, according to the DSM-IV http://www.hamsnetwork.org/dependence/ but I would miss the ritualized behavior of drinking both.


That being said, I do agree that an extremely HIGH percentage of beer drinkers FIRST began drinking beer because of the buzz. 100%? 99% I have no way of knowing, but I believe it would be quite high. That doesn't mean that still holds true for those 100 or 99% many years down the road.

I started drinking coffee because of the caffeine, but I now drink decaf (not zero perfect caffeine, but a small enough amount). Are people saying I still drink coffee because of the caffeine? Not at all.

I take an aspirin every night. Would I take it every night if it wasn't an analgesic? Absolutely, because that isn't the reason I take them now.

Give a child a caffeine free soda and see if they still enjoy that sweetness of the soft drink. Can anyone argue that they still enjoy it because of the caffeine? No.

When I got my first car, did I want to drive fast? Absolutely. Drag raced as often as I could.
I still use a car, so does that mean I drive only because I want to race? No.



To most of us, beer is just absolutely delicious. The process of learning about brewing history, searching for beer, reading labels, picking out new beer or new styles, and enjoy the complex (or simple) taste of beer is what most of here have in common. And yes, most of us were brought here because at one point in history, we tried beer not for the taste, but for the buzz. Does that still hold true to all of us?
I am surprised that many people here are calling those that don't drink for the buzz liars. Should we start generalizing each other across the board with other aspects of beer? How about reviews? I taste papaya in stone 18th anniversary, so I think everyone else should, otherwise they are liars.