UK beers and lower abv

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/71/6341/

Recently tried that one (english ale) and it was a great beer with just 3.5 ABV, amazing flavour and aroma of american hops. Even though it´s an english bitter, it uses floral and citric hops and tastes very american. Luckily there´s a huge brewery in mexico that directly imports this beer so I got it very very fresh (like 2 weeks after it was brewed) and hops were just great.

 

Do European beers use ABV or ABW? I can't remember

 

ABV generally.

 

Never seen ABW in all my 20 cheers drinking.

 

Not ridiculous at all.

 

Why do so many contemporary American brewers make high alcohol beers?

 

America likes BIG.

 

Because they sell like crazy.

 

You'll find them here and there, but you have to look hard to get under 4%. Under 5% is a lot easier to find. A lot of times they aren't bottled either, just on tap at a local brewer.

 

I'd love to see this I also like lower ABV so I can drink more and not become toast haha. But I just do not like English beers I don't know what it is they just all somewhat taste the same and the taste is not appealing to me. Haven't had many regardless but I do love boddingtons pub ale and Newcastle is ok though but that is seriously it.

 

Unfortunately, I think you'll have a hard time finding that beer.

 

Crikey! Two of the most tasteless, mass produced English ales. You need to get sampling.

 

Try Fullers London Pride and Hobgoblin if you havent.

 

To be honest Ive always found the high abv thing to be a sign of immaturity as a collective craft movement. That and the insane ADDish quantity if beers produced. I suppose Im just old school, but Id prefer to see more beers hang around to be perfected.

 

American craft is pretty bland. I mean I love yuengling and saranac summer ale, but that's seriously it <-------- equivalent comment about US beer that you made about UK

 

When the roads aren't covered with ice, I have serveral different 10-15 mile bike routes where I can hit 4 or 5 micro breweries and acquire the proper hydration. Most have something under 5 abv. Surly Mild is 4%, 612's Mary Ann is 4.1% abv, Lynnlake's Rudimentary has an abv around 4%, Insight's Piccolo is 2.9% abv and has good flavor, while everyone elses lightest beer is over 5%. The places with the low abv beers are must stops while the higher abv places are optional.

 

Yards Brawler is a very tasty Mild at 4.2% (close enough ), and seems to sell surprisingly well. It's only available in the PA/NJ area, though- but keep an eye out if you're ever down here.

 

Most uk 'real ales' are bland and watery
Brew dog dead pony pale ale is 3.8% and hoppy as hell it's lovely but then it's a Californian pale style
Most English craft breweries produce American style craft and it's all fab- buxton, siren, the kernel et al
The older breweries produce awful real ale that I cannot stand