Since discovering craft beer I drink ...?

Quantity wise, a lot less. Of course, part of that was just getting older and having kids. Plus, some of my reduction in quantity owes to drinking some of those 10%+ brews.

 

Interesting question. For me, the answer is "quite a bit more".

Prior to discovery craft beer, alcoholic beverages were merely an alcohol delivery vehicle. I mostly drank mixed drinks (whiskey and cola, mmm...) to get a strong buzz on, and when I wanted to move up to something a bit more refined I'd go for wine. Wine is a complex category itself, but I never really "got into it" per se.

The result of being a true enthusiast of beer has been drinking more often (usually 1-2 a day and 2-3 on weekends), but consuming less alcohol per session, leading to an overall drinking increase: ultimately, very rarely drinking with the express purpose of becoming buzzed/drunk.

 

when it comes to craft, less is more.

 

If I didn't drink craft I would only be drinking to get drunk, not for the taste and experience that comes along with it.

 

A whole lot more. I went from not drinking beer at all( age 18-22) to drinking way more than nothing.

 

Way more. I basically gave up drinking regularly after college and would only have 1-2 beers when going out to eat, or out for drinks after work, or at cook outs, etc. I rarely kept beer in the fridge at home.

Then I got turned on to "crafty" beer a few years ago which then led to pale ales, then IPAs, and it's been all uphill from there. Now I have a full-sized dedicated beer fridge in the basement and a small dorm fridge I keep at 55 degrees as my "cellar" and I checked in to just about 1200 beers this past calendar year.

 

EASILY a lot more

 

I drink a little more, but probably bordering on a lot more. My home brewing has probably increased my drinking more than craft beer has.

 

Just slightly less. For 20 years, drinking BMC (hello, MolsonICE) with the sole purpose of relaxing and having a manageable buzz before retiring for the night (usually 4-6 beers) --- never for taste or enjoyment per se (yes, the buzz is enjoyable, but an enjoyable first sip is totally different). Now, 4 years into craft, have settled into the 3 or 4 typical beer night. This is easily less ounces, yet surely also more alcohol, as half or more of what I drink now is higher ABV than Molson. My drinking definitely still fills the buzz requirement, no doubt. Add in the quest for new tastes, plus the discovery of brewing history with traditional ingredients/methods, plus the gigantic learning curve here on BA, plus taking time to process what I'm tasting ...... and I have an entirely different, and more rewarding, drinking experience these days. All with less ounces consumed. Slightly less.

 

I'm thinking a little less by number of bottles/cans, but with the higher ABV's and more body to craft brew, I guess it all equals out.

 

Trying not to tic....

 

I'm definitely drink a lot more now that I'm into craft.

I don't get "drunk" that often, and I am sure to take my time and enjoy the experience a lot more now.

 

better beer?

 

I've basically been drinking "craft" since I've been drinking - had nothing other than a few sips of my dad's Bud until I got to college at the University of Illinois in '93, and then was lucky enough that a friend I made first semester was already into microbrews and imports courtesy of his brother. My dorm door was plastered with box sides long before I was 21, and fortunately Piccadilly (which had the local monopoly on liquor stores) had good selection of beer. Ah, the days of Watney's Cream Stout, Pete's Wicked Ale, and so on... So, coming back to the question, when you are starting from zero craft really doesn't have much to do with consumption. Now, having a kid - THAT caused my consumption to skyrocket .

 

Definitely less compared to my miller lite - coors light days from a volume stand point. I take 1-2 days off a week and typically have 3 beers on weeknights and 4-6 weekend nights. Tonight I had "3" - La Fin Du Monde bomber (my wife had a 1/3), Itchegem gran cru and Banded Horn Veridian IPA - what a great variety! I also drink about 3 "cups" of coffee a day but my "cup" holds 3 cups based on actual measurements...

 

I have replaced quantity with quality. My beer budget has stayed about the same.

 

More. A lot more. But much less, or rather none now out of a Beer Bong.

 

I definitely drink more. Before beer came along, I gave up on beer. Bland, empty calories. Rarely was there something out there that was different. All that has changed now. Beer is a sensory thrill ride. I have a beer almost everyday.

 

Since i've started drinking craft beer, i've slowed down drinking quite a bit. I used to chug the beer down, now I take my time time to admire the beer, its quality, aroma, taste, finish, look, etc. Beer is now more of a hobby then a way to get drunk.