The best beer... statistically

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by bonsainut, Nov 30, 2020.

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  1. dennisthreeninefiveone

    dennisthreeninefiveone Pundit (980) Aug 11, 2020 New Jersey
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    100% with you on that. My preferred beer for over 30 years now in SNPA. A case can be made that SNPA is the best beer. A case can also be made for at least 100 other brews.
     
    #141 dennisthreeninefiveone, Dec 4, 2020
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  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Sierra Nevada could use more customers like you.

    Below is from a 2019 article:

    “The brand (SNPA) has declined 5% over the last year though…”

    https://www.beercrunchers.com/blog-20/caught-in-the-middle

    I wonder how long until the sales of Hazy Little Things exceed that of SNPA?

    Cheers!
     
    #142 JackHorzempa, Dec 4, 2020
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  3. John_M

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

    This is hilarious (and fascinating), as this is exactly what I was thinking about and wondering the other day. My guess is that most people would likely pick a lighter style beer, but probably not an AAL. I was thinking most folks would likely go with a pils or helles lager (light beers, but with plenty of flavor), but a Kolsch makes sense as well. This is assuming that cost or accessibility wasn't a factor in the decision making process.

    With respect to the Baltimore party you asked about, it's been a few years, but I remember giving some thought to the invitees attending. Some of them, I knew, were craft beer fans, but most of them weren't (I assumed). This being Baltimore, I was fairly sure that Yuengling lager would likely have been as close to craft as they would have gotten.

    So with that in mind, I did buy a few IPA's (Lagunitas and SN Celebration ale comes to mind), but mostly purchased APA's and ambers/golden ales. Among the imports, I bought a few German wheat beers and Belgian Wits, but otherwise just bought German Pils, helles lagers and the like.

    I'm a big believer that lighter style beers can still have a lot of flavor, but that AAL's are not a good representation of that style of beer.
     
    #143 John_M, Dec 4, 2020
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  4. John_M

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

    On the contrary. My impression is that people who are buying craft beer do so almost solely because of the flavor. I know I don't have to tell you this, but craft beer is invariably considerably more expensive than BMC products, is much more difficult to come by, and is loaded with all kinds of different flavors (I realize I'm generalizing a bit with that last statement). Some craft styles (IPA's, DIPA's and the like) need to be consumed as fresh as possible for optimal enjoyment, and can become nearly undrinkable if they're left on the shelf too long. As you and I both know, craft beer fanboys have been know to wait in line for hours and even days to obtain a very limited supply of highly desired craft beer.

    IMHO, that's not the sort of thing someone is willing to do or put up with unless they really, really, really enjoy the taste of the beer they're buying.
     
    #144 John_M, Dec 4, 2020
  5. cavedave

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

    Well, I have seen many posts from people who say they love the packaging of some beers, or hate the packaging, and are influenced. I have seen people accuse others of drinking craft beer that they don't even like, presumably due to peer pressure, or other non taste related influence. I am certain there are other non taste influences as well I don't notice because I'm a craft drinker.

    And for the record I have known many beer drinkers, and the one of them most obsessively concerned with freshness, and with ability most attuned to it, drinks nothing but Budweiser.
     
    #145 cavedave, Dec 4, 2020
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  6. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    It’s human nature to want to quantify things into top lists or assign it a numerical number of its greatness. So the biggest selling Album of all time is Thriller, is that really the greatest album of all time? By sales it is with 66 million sold, if you ranked “your “ top albums of all time would Thriller be #1? Personally Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon is much better, maybe The Wall? Maybe The Beatles Revolver, or Sgt Pepper. The best selling song of all time is White Christmas, how many would have it on your list at all let alone #1, over 50 million copies sold. There is no outside influences here those are hard and fast numbers and they’re fact. So when you try to quantify things that are solely based off personal likes and dislikes it really muddies the waters, not that’s its not fun to do but it’s far from fact. So a quick google says Snow is the #1 selling beer in the world, sold only in China. #2 is Budweiser, obviously it’s more popular in other countries than it is here. #3 Tsingtao and #4 is Bud Light. Those are quickly googled facts I just snatched on vinepair I wasn’t picky about the source. Any f these at the top of anyone’s list?

    Things driven by personal preference and opinion are always fun to try and put a value on, but it’s tough. I love a nice Ribeye, a Vegan would get ill. I would never eat some of the vegan staples I’d get I’ll. If you asked me to rate IPAs and such it would be pertinent to a large degree, but far from definitive, if you asked me to rate sours, I’m definitely not your guy, I know squat about them. So I guess you can pick your expert where you can, but when they’re put into a pile it’s still personal opinions nothing more. Of course personal opinions that are very heavily positive deserve a lot of attention. Meaning what? It’s easy to rate high when we truly love something, it’s easy to low rate when we hate it and we think it sucks, it’s the mid range in the scale where it gets a bit dicey and confusing. All of that for that, lol. Sorry if it rambled and maybe not very conclusive, I just had a thought.
     
    #146 nc41, Dec 4, 2020
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  7. dennisthreeninefiveone

    dennisthreeninefiveone Pundit (980) Aug 11, 2020 New Jersey
    Trader

    Sierra Nevada could use more customers like my friend Robert who only drinks SNPA about a case a week.
    Thanks for posting that link. As the author said I doubt SNPA is going away any time soon. Give them at least 20 more years.
     
    #147 dennisthreeninefiveone, Dec 4, 2020
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  8. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    It is popular on BA to shit all over AB/Bud but AB is the only brewing company that I know of that proactively ensures that only fresh (e.g., less than 110 days old) beers are on retailers shelves. Maybe someday a craft brewery(s) will perform at the same level but I am not holding my breath here.

    Cheers!
     
    #148 JackHorzempa, Dec 4, 2020
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  9. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Budweiser is a marvel that’s definitely stood the test of time, it’s available literally everywhere it’s always fresh, and it’s consistent. When you sell so much beer and your distribution is literally every establishment in the US that sells beers that’s no mean feat, Beer stores, gas stations, food stores, hell even pharmacies. I obviously don’t always buy it, but when I do I’m never surprised. And that is a big plus, most surprises are not good.
     
    #149 nc41, Dec 4, 2020
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  10. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    It is the partner Wholesale Distributors that are performing the actual work/labor here to remove old stock but to AB's credit they put terms & conditions in the contract to make this happen and even utilize AB Sales Reps to monitor the situation. If the Wholesale Distributor is not properly doing their job here there are consequences.

    This is a 'model' for properly managing retail beer distribution but I am not aware of any craft brewery choosing to make a commensurate effort in this regard.

    Cheers!
     
    #150 JackHorzempa, Dec 4, 2020
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  11. John_M

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

    I'm sure you're right. That's why I said "almost" solely for that reason. That being said, I've noticed the same "non taste" factors that you have with craft consumers. It's fairly uncommon in my experience, but I have seen it.

    As for your comment about bud drinkers, I'm surprised to hear that, and find it interesting. To date I've never met a bud drinker that ever gave a second thought to the freshness of his can or bottle of bud. At least not that I was aware. I must not be speaking to the right bud drinkers.
     
    #151 John_M, Dec 4, 2020
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  12. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    John, I just gotta ask: how many Bud guys do you discuss beer with?

    I know a guy named Frank (more of a friend of a friend situation) and he is a Bud guy but we talk about sports, current events, etc. and never discuss beer. He has little/no interest in craft beer and well...I am not a Bud guy.

    Cheers!
     
    #152 JackHorzempa, Dec 4, 2020
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  13. John_M

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

    I haven't been down under for roughly 20 years now, but even back then, when I was in Sydney and Melbourne, I had a devil of a time finding Fosters on tap anywhere. Victoria Bitter was pretty much everywhere, I remember that much (like @JackHorzempa, it was also my beer of choice during my visit), but I finally had to go to a specialty taphouse to find Fosters (the place had 30 or 40 different beers on tap, including even some English imports and American craft options).

    I thought for sure Fosters on tap in Australia would be absolutely divine. It flat out sucked and as far as I can recall, was the most bland and tasteless beer I sampled on my trip. I don't believe I've ordered a glass of it since.
     
    #153 John_M, Dec 4, 2020
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  14. John_M

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

    Not ever these days. However, when I was in Baltimore, pretty often. As you probably know, I was a frequent customer at Max's in Fells Point, and they would get a lot of tourists coming through (it was pretty much the first place you would hit for a beer after getting off the water taxi). Max's also got a huge influx of Sox and Yankee fans during baseball season, as well as a huge crowd of NFL fans during football season.

    Anyway, I would frequently talk to folks at the bar who were from out of town, many of whom would buy BMC products. One of the things that always fascinated me, was that format was often very important to BMC drinkers. Usually, they wanted their swill of choice out of a bottle. If Max's was out of it, even if the same beer was on tap, they frequently refused to order it (instead they would order some other BMC that Max's had in bottle). That's what always led to conversation, and in turn some of the observations I've made in this thread. As you probably know, Max's has a huge assortment of craft and imports on tap, as well as a huge bottle/can selection (with some real gems). So I would ask these pilgrims (in as nice a manner as possible) if they weren't tempted to order something new and different off the draft list.... and if not, why not?

    Most of them were mildly interested in such an extensive tap list, but none of them were ever tempted to try something new or different off the taplist.

    Here in PDX, it's really a different world from a beer consumption standpoint. Even at hard core sports bars, it's pretty rare to see anyone buying BMC. A lot of place will have some cheap AAL on tap or in can/bottle, but it's usually something like Rainier, PBR, Hamms, or whatever. A lot of places carry cans of Montucky out here for some reason. Anyway, the impression I have is that most places in town figure that if you're going to carry some light AAL, then there's really no reason to pay a premium for it. So they aren't ordering kegs of BMC. I'm sure bud is available in cans and/or bottles at plenty of places in town, but I can't tell you the last time I saw someone ordering one.
     
    #154 John_M, Dec 4, 2020
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  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    FWIW I have in the (distant) past had discussions with folks on the topic of why they prefer to drink their megabrewed beer from a bottle and a frequent response was that they did not 'trust' the cleanliness of the tap lines. Perhaps these folks got abused at a corner bar in the past and decided to solely drink bottled beers? In contrast I always had a "preferenc"e to drink draft product (even 3+ decades ago when I drank more AAL beers vs. craft beers); my "preference" was draft since those AAL beers were not pasteurized.
    I have been to Max's a few times (4?) and it is indeed a great place with a large choice of craft beer which I drank on tap. I love that place.
    Yes it is. I was in the city of Portland in 2018 attending HomebrewCon (plus a few more days to do some out of town sightseeing - Mount St. Helens, Hood River/Mt. Hood, etc.). My wife was not keen on the city of Portland but she loved the surrounding area. And yes, there is a unique beer scene their (which reminded me of Portland, ME). Something about a city being named Portland and the proclivity to drink craft beer.:thinking_face:

    Cheers!
     
    #155 JackHorzempa, Dec 4, 2020
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  16. John_M

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

    Which I can understand, but you would think they'd at least give it a try. The bartenders at Max's allow you to sample a beer before committing to a glass.
     
    #156 John_M, Dec 5, 2020
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  17. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I am not Dr. Phil but perhaps once an individual is 'traumatized' ...?

    Pretty funny story (or maybe not) earlier today my wife was watching Dr. Phil and after listening to what a woman (mother) on his show said something he just put both hands on his face and bent over. I am not a regular watcher of Dr. Phil but this was the most 'emotional' response I have ever seen him do. For the most part, from the little I watched, he has been fairy cool and composed. Today (or whenever the show was produced) he must have been at his wit's end.

    Kinda reminds me of lines from a George Thorogood song:

    "Can I stay with you maybe a couple days?
    He said let me go and ask my wife
    He come out of the house
    I could see it in his face
    I know that was no
    He said I don't know man ah she kinda funny, you know
    I said I know, everybody funny, now you funny too."

    Cheers!
     
    #157 JackHorzempa, Dec 5, 2020
  18. nomisugitai

    nomisugitai Zealot (730) Mar 11, 2006 New Jersey

    You also had the people who swore that the establishment "watered down" the tap beers.
     
    #158 nomisugitai, Dec 5, 2020
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  19. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm regularly startled by peoples' general unwillingness to risk a new experience. I have a brother in law who is a.Coors light guy. Like that's all he drinks. Last Thanksgiving we all got a house down in Sonoma county and one day, of course, went.to Russian river. He literally only drinks Coors light, so he was at a loss and said he'd just drink water (we already had a pregnant dd and he likes to drink beer [Coors light]) so I ordered him a velvet glow. That is a damn fine beer that shouldn't be offensive to a fan of.Coors light but you'd think I insisted that we share a plate of ghost pepper covered camel testicles. He reluctantly sipped it while the rest of us drank through 2 or 3 rounds and we all hung outside. I can't wrap my head around it but some.people just want what they want
     
    #159 unlikelyspiderperson, Dec 5, 2020
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  20. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I think it's been said above in different ways in this thread, but my take on your specific example is that many people drink to be sociable but hate what they're drinking so they choose a beer that has minimal taste. You put a light-flavored beer in front of him that had the same beer taste but a bit stronger, thus he disliked it more than the beer that he liked to hate but is in denial that he hates that beer. Some people just need to stick with Coke or water and face that denial. :slight_frown:
     
    #160 PapaGoose03, Dec 5, 2020
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