Why does everybody hate lagers?

while I agree that most people prefer bold in your face flavors like a hoppy IPA or a pastry Stout, I disagree that you actually have to understand what makes the flavors in a beer taste good in order to really think that that beer taste good. I've enjoyed the taste of beer since I was a little kid, and as an adult I find myself enjoying beers that taste like beer. As I've gotten older I've pursued Homebrewing and learning what makes these flavors taste the way they do in a beer, but that lack of knowledge or Insight did not prevent me from enjoying those beers that I had early in my life. I think that hype, paired with beer flavors that are not traditional beer flavors, have led to the rise of what we as the old guard would call fake beer. Lately my mindset has changed more to accepting these beers as a natural progression, but that doesn't mean I have to give up on beer in general and drink specifically styles that don't taste like beer anymore.
And before anybody gets butthurt, understand I have nothing against pastry Stouts or the newer ipas, and quite enjoy them as well. This is just an observation from a guy who remembers beer tasting differently is all.

 

We get Nite Lite in NY, and I had some for the first time last week. I quite enjoyed it, actually, and would gladly buy it again.

 

I personally disagree with the intimation that most craft beer drinkers prefer non-lager like flavors. There are a lot of craft beer consumers drinking lots of beer like Sam Adams Boston Lager, Yuengling Traditional Lager,...

I do agree that among the beer geek segment there is not a lot of love for lagers but the beer geek segment of the craft beer market is a small portion of the overall craft beer market.

Cheers!

 

Aren’t we in agreement then?

I also agree with your overall post, maybe you don’t HAVE to understand the flavors to enjoy them. I was simply offering up an explanation for why ratings for lagers are markedly lower than other styles.

I don’t mind it, but I prefer Founders Solid Gold.

I shouldn’t have used the phrase, “average person” since this discussion has largely been about the Beeradvocate community. The OP’s gripe was that ratings are lower making it appear that “everybody hates lagers”. My post was centered around that topic.

And while many people in fact do consume Boston Lager and Yuengling, aren’t sales for these beers declining over the last few years? I also think marketing is a major driver of these sales.

 

Maybe a different take......

If you are talking about folks under 35, perhaps. For those who drank lagers for 20+ years before the explosion of brewing, continuously revisiting them after years of blasting your taste buds has led to a whole new appreciation from a different perspective.

 

I have no knowledge of sales data for individual brands, do you? I do know that Yuengling has recently introduced a new year-round beer (this is the first new year-round product since 2001) of Yuengling Pilsner. It will be interesting to see how well Yuengling Pilsner sells.

Cheers!

 

Love me some Yuengling Lager.

 

Yuengling uses genetically modified ingredients according to their website. They seem to justify it by saying that most brewers also do this. Incorrect. There is a chance some "round up" corn found it's way to good ol yuengling. Why chance it? probably at least a 50/50 chance, and they admit using such sources.

 

I love lagers except for pils and any that are over-hopped or taste like grass.

 

I'm not personally a fan of Yuengling, but I have to say it's available at about every bar. So it's obviously popular. And you'd be hard pressed to find Budweiser on tap most anywhere, and Yuengling IMO has replaced it. It's not a far stretch for a guy like me who likes AALs to appreciate a great Pils above and beyond, but I'm having trouble thinking of a labeled Lager I really like other than Red Oak Bavarian Lager. I'm replacing a good bit of my beers I buy with AALs and Pils over IPAs. I save money and my taste buds and when I have a hoppy beer I appreciate it a bit more.

 

Lager... meh
IPL... well, sh!t, lets take a look at this

 

I dont hate lagers. I just prefer them to taste and smell like an IPA
Ooh and also look and feel like a milkshake instead of an actual beer (I kid, I kid)

CHEERS

 

Pls stop ruining our noble heritage

 

I have been getting back into lagers. Even picked a 30 of Hamms.

 

Or a free ride, when you already paid..

 

Lager fan here. UT at one time had some pretty tasty lagers at 4%, mostly Squatters, maybe Wasatch as well. 1st Amendment comes to mind.

Cheers!

 

no flavor!

 

I know I'm definitely in the minority, but I love macro adjunct lagers. Say what you will about them being cheap, bad, or lazy, but every one I've ever had has its own quirks and personality, and it's fun to explore them all. Plus when you can get 30 racks for the same price as some fancier 4 packs, it doesn't hurt the wallet at all, and it makes sharing with friends much easier.

 

Yeah, whenever I drink one of these, I think,
"WTF? Is this beer or Perrier?"

 

As it happens, I had one of those last night! (but it was 2013 vintage).