Why does everybody hate lagers?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BurritoRepublic, Jul 5, 2018.

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  1. BurritoRepublic

    BurritoRepublic Initiate (0) Jul 5, 2018 Virginia

    Like everybody, my taste in beer has evolved over the years. I typically stick with a certain style of beer for a while and move on to the next one when I grow tired of the same old thing. My exploration in craft beer started with brown and scotch ales, then on to stouts and porters, then IPAs for a long time. My current and longest running preference is lagers, specifically pilsners, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

    I'm fortunate to have a package store near me which has the largest beer selection I've ever seen. The options for me are pretty good. However, they are dwarfed by the unbelievable number of ales, specifically IPAs, porters and stouts. When I go to any other store with a smaller selection, my options are slim to none.

    Today I read a slideshow article entitled "America's 40 Most Delicious Beers" and was annoyed when not a single one of the beers listed was a lager, let alone a pils. The list was based on Beer Advocate's most current top 250 list. I reviewed this list and quickly found that not a SIGNLE ONE OF THEM is a lager. They're all IPAs, stouts and porters, with a few saisons and lambics sprinkled in. 250 BEERS.

    But this isn't the fault of BA. Their list is constantly changing, and is based on the reviews of consumers. Which brings me back to my first point: Everybody hates lagers.

    I have a hunch why this is true. Ales usually back much more flavor in terms of hops, and tend to have more ABV. They also have the most variety in terms of styles, but the biggest reason, in my opinion, is that Americans are just tired of lagers. We have been drinking pilsners for generations in our macro domestics. They're all the same watered-down version of a Czech style pils that was popular in America when these macro-breweries started mass-producing beer. It's almost as if they have all been tapping from the same giant vat of beer, and gradually adding water to it to boost volume as the years go on.

    I'd like to go back in time to the 30's and drink a Budweiser. I bet it would taste like a great full-bodied pils from a quality-focused brewery. But these days that's just not the case. And when people start enjoying beer for its taste rather than its effects, they tend to stray as far away as they can from the piss water they stole from their dad's mini-fridge as a kid, and dive as deep as possible into beers with as many bells and whistles as can fit in a 12 oz. container.

    Or maybe I'm just a douche.
     
    #1 BurritoRepublic, Jul 5, 2018
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  2. IPAExpert69

    IPAExpert69 Savant (1,065) Aug 2, 2017 Pennsylvania

    #2 IPAExpert69, Jul 5, 2018
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  3. JayORear

    JayORear Grand Pooh-Bah (3,058) Feb 22, 2012 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Did you really register for the site just to post this? Lots of love for lagers and pils here. Dive into some of the regional forums and you'll see what I mean. At any rate, an uninformed rant isn't your best foot forward as a new BA.
     
    #3 JayORear, Jul 5, 2018
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  4. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't need a list to tell me what to like and I like lagers.
     
    #4 Squire, Jul 5, 2018
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  5. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lagers are the favorite beer of 75%+ of the world's population, have been for a really long time, and will be forever.

    I guess I disagree with your post, OP.
     
    #5 cavedave, Jul 5, 2018
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  6. BurritoRepublic

    BurritoRepublic Initiate (0) Jul 5, 2018 Virginia

    Pretty much, yeah Jay I just joined this site to post this. Not my last post either, I'll be back. Just commenting on something I've seen all over the country. Lager pickings are slim to none at almost every store, bar, etc that offers craft beer.
     
    #6 BurritoRepublic, Jul 5, 2018
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  7. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    @BurritoRepublic welcome to BA. I think if you spend some time perusing the forums you'll see that there is a deep appreciation for lagers here and a vocal group of individuals who discuss them at length. Hopefully you can get involved on here and join the fun.
     
    #7 FBarber, Jul 5, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 5, 2018
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  8. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    The only people who say they hate lagers are people who don't know anything about beer.
     
    #8 EvenMoreJesus, Jul 5, 2018
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  9. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Actually, I think that we need more rants here on BA. Stake out your argument and defend it at all costs. Just make sure to do a good job of it.

    Is "Everybody Hates Lagers" a good rant by @BurritoRepublic? Ehh . . . it's OK, but it could use more focus. Here's hoping that he sticks around long enough to come up with a better one.
     
    #9 EvenMoreJesus, Jul 5, 2018
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  10. Mvsmvs92

    Mvsmvs92 Crusader (456) May 31, 2011 Ohio

    Devil's Backbone Vienna Lager should be an easy find in your state,also Richmond has many great breweries.Welcome
     
    #10 Mvsmvs92, Jul 5, 2018
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  11. EmperorBatman

    EmperorBatman Zealot (741) Mar 16, 2018 Tennessee

    Have you heard of Sixpoint Alpenflo Helles? It became one of the most sought after beers since it was released this year, and has been highly praised by most folks who tried it.

    I haven’t been here for too terribly long, but I’ve gotten the impression that there is a deep support base for lagers on this site, as well as in the beer community as a whole. They may not be the most “glamorous” beer category, but nonetheless they are still much-loved and frequently disseminated.

    And just wait for Octoberfest season, which is dominated by Märzen lagers!
     
    #11 EmperorBatman, Jul 5, 2018
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  12. eppCOS

    eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Part of the problem here, maybe (?), is that not every beer that is a lager is labeled explicitly as a lager. But there's shitloads of lager at any of the craft beer stores I have here. If you're in rural Virginia, then maybe not so much? But I'd be shocked if the "ales" are more than, what, 60-70% of what you can buy near you. I dunno...maybe this thread should be retired.
     
    #12 eppCOS, Jul 5, 2018
  13. rudiecantfail

    rudiecantfail Pooh-Bah (1,927) Aug 9, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I just finished up a sixer of Victory Home Grown Lager. This afternoon, I'm going to try Weyerbacher Down the Shore which is a golden lager. Look for my review in an hour. I don't know who hates lagers, it's not me or the folks I see posting around here.
     
    #13 rudiecantfail, Jul 5, 2018
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  14. howtoservebeer

    howtoservebeer Aspirant (205) May 24, 2018 Spain

    I love lagers to be my first pint from a hot sunny day.

    personally, mass market beers have been predominantly lagers. And mass market beers are priced very cheaply. Making me link lagers should be priced low.
    I find myself buying lesser of lager in a craft beer bar anymore because of this. I know its unfair for other perfectly good craft lagers.
    But if we're talking about those japanese rice lager, red rice lager or pilsner or helles, its a different story.
     
    #14 howtoservebeer, Jul 5, 2018
  15. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Theres a TON of people on this site who love lagers. They just get a majority over shadowing by ipa and barrels.
     
    #15 Urk1127, Jul 5, 2018
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  16. Crim122

    Crim122 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2014 North Carolina

    I picked up a four pack of Pilsner Urquell this week. It is phenomenal, and I kick myself for taking a long time to dive into the world of pilsners.
     
    #16 Crim122, Jul 5, 2018
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  17. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Man, folks are a bit testy this morning. :sunglasses:

    OP, @cavedave is exactly right, so it's hard to go along with your initial premise (everyone hates lagers). That being said, I think for some craft beer consumers lagers have traditionally gotten something of a bad rap, as many folks associate lagers with the ocean of swill churned out by BMC (as it sounds like you're acknowledging as well). That's unfortunate and unfair, as there are plenty of great lagers produced here and abroad. Depending on where one lives however, obtaining some of those great beers may not be that easy, and so in some instances there's likely an exposure problem (hard to appreciate a great lager if you never encounter one). So that's likely a problem as well. Some of the responses provided in this thread also list some pretty salient reasons for why craft brewed lagers have traditionally not faired all that well when it comes to reviews and ratings on BA.

    All that aside, there are plenty of members on BA that are huge fans of lagers, and my impression is that this number is on the increase. Where I live we're starting to see an increasing number of well made pils, kolsch and helles lagers, and that trend appears to be concomitant to a similar increase in interest and demand. Does that mean we'll eventually see a lager crack the top 100? Maybe yes, maybe no (though I seem to recall that at one time the humulus lager from Bruery was very highly rated, and even today has a very high BA rating/score), but regardless, there's still plenty of reason for optimism if you're a lager lover (as I am as well).
     
    #17 John_M, Jul 5, 2018
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  18. invertalon

    invertalon Pooh-Bah (2,249) Jan 27, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lagers are my go-to these days. Pils, Helles, Dunkel, etc... Love them!

    Most people think Lager = Budweiser/Miller/Coors/whatever. Little do they know what is beyond the stereotype...
     
    #18 invertalon, Jul 5, 2018
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  19. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not sure about the "hate" part, but it sure seems that "most everybody buys lagers". 19 of the top 20 beers sold in the US, domestic and imports, are lagers (MC's Blue Moon the only top-fermented beer) and those 19 account for just about 2/3's of all the beer sold in the US.

    Considering only the "craft" segment, of the biggest 6 brewers, 3 have lager flagships - #1 Yuengling (Trad. Lager), #2 Boston Beer Co. (SABL), and #6 Gambrinus (Shiner Bock).

    The post-Repeal era US beers hop usage averaged .5 -.7 lbs/bbl, so much hoppier than today's AAL's (although the figure isn't exactly equivalent since ales were still around 15-20% of the total US barrelage). Owades estimated that post-WWII Budweiser was around 20 ibu's and northeastern regionals like Rheingold and Schaefer were 20-29 ibu's into the 1950s - on the west coast, Olympia was still 22 ibu's in the 1970s. Most sources put the flagship AAL's at around 10 ibu's or less, currently.

    But it is a myth that today's macro AAL's have been "watered down" - lower in bitterness, likely w/higher percentage of adjuncts, yeah-- but the 5% ABV of today's Budweiser and Coors "Banquet" puts them higher by several tenths of a percent than they were post-Repeal right up until the 1970s or so when Bud = 4.8% and Coors = 4.5%.
     
    #19 jesskidden, Jul 5, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2018
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  20. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    And those people would be 'novices'. They just seem to make the most noise, for whatever reason.
     
    #20 TongoRad, Jul 5, 2018
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