I am very clear I don’t like IPAs. That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate them, there’s just no way I’m buying them for home consumption. In fact there are some I can respect, but I don’t “like” them. Let’s be clear, though: I’m not bad-mouthing them. No hard feelings, just not my thing. Do any of you have beers like that, regardless of style? Here’s a few respectable beers I don’t like: Zombie Dust Bubble Stash (A neighbor gave me some. I might actually drink it while out, if I’m in the mood.) Two Hearted IPA Foggy Geezer Guinness (for something completely different) Anyone care to share?
Honestly the only beer that really comes to my mind is Pilsner Urquell. While Guinness Draught is a bit light and watery to me I can still drink it and enjoy. I have had Urquell even recently, and while I don't mind just putting it back thoughtlessly, when I really try to decipher the flavors I start tasting off notes that I don't enjoy like cardboard, creamed corn, maybe green apple skin and the like. I respect Urquell purely based on tradition and being the "original" pilsner and one of the Czech's finest, yet I also view it almost like a big beer corporate BMC type of company that is only so large and famous because it was one of the first, similar to Guinness. I am partial to stouts though so even a 4% dry stout style is drinkable to me on just about any given day, yet when I drink Urquell I tend to wish I just spent a few more bucks on a local Pilsner or just about anything from Germany since I seem to be more of a German pils fan than a Czech pilsner in general.
For me it's usually an individual beer. I had a stout from Timber Ales this past Sunday that I scored highly but it just didn't work for me as the flavors didn't sit well on my palate. Didn't mean it east well made, just not for me. I keep pretty good track of what I like and don't like and could probably find a bunch that I scored well but put in the "one and done" category across all the styles I had had. Styles I consistently don't like are altbiers, winter warmers, schwarzbier, pumpkin ales. But I've rated some of those highly since I can find the merit in a well-made brew even if it's not yo my personal liking.
I used to be that way about IPAs, mostly being familiar with West Coast IPAs living in the Bay Area. But recently I've really gotten into hazy IPAs, being on the East Coast now, and getting my hands on delicious Grimm's and Other Half's, and others. So, I've done like a pretty sharp 180 on IPAs. But I guess West Coast IPAs are beers that I respect for their historical impact and lore but generally don't like (with some exceptions). I think maybe Stouts are generally the one style of beer that I'm not into, but I respect greatly. This might just be that I haven't tried a stout that really clicked with me, though. There might be one or more out there.
I agree, Pilsner Urquell is like that for me. If I’m not mistaken, I thought SABMiller bought Pilsner Urquell… Please correct me if I’m wrong. Everyone feel free to step outside of my two mentioned styles. This is about ANY beer you respect but don’t like.
Although there are others for the same reasons, beers from Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum) | Bamberg, Germany | Beers | BeerAdvocate and Brasserie Fantôme | 6997 Érezée, Belgium | Beers | BeerAdvocate. Becoming more sensitive to phenolic compounds, specifically ethyl phenols, has ruined them for me. Surprisingly, vinyl phenols, like the 4VG in Hefeweizen | BeerAdvocate, I tolerate just fine and enjoy tremendously.
Looking at my beer list here, I sorted by how much lower my rating is compared to overall scores. Pretty accurate.
Schlenkerla's Rauchbiers are some of my favorites, at the Ausschank in Bamberg. In the USA, those beers are usually showing signs of age. The clove phenolic in Heffeweizens is off-putting for me. Belgian ales that have phenols used to be favorites, but my palate has changed.
Cantillon, Hanssens, 3 Fonteinen, among others. Lambics fascinate me, but the intense sour and barnyard aromas and flavors are more than I can handle. Had a bottle of Cantillon Vigneronne not too long ago that I enjoyed, so maybe there's hope.
Not sure that this really fits, but I'm going to say, "barrel aged beers". Finding a well done barrel aged beer is like walking out the back door of my house and finding a unicorn that's laying golden eggs. Most just taste like oxidation and if not that, then, they are dominated by the spirit that was previously in the barrel. Really bad ones have both characteristics. That's why good ones are SO amazing.
Do you happen to know how fresh those Pilsner Urquell beers are? Since you made specific mention of "cardboard" that makes me wonder. FWIW I thoroughly enjoyed the Pilsner Urquell that was served to me straight from the wooden lagering vessel at the end of the brewery tour. Here is a photo of Jacob pouring my beer: Na Zdravi
I discussed Alaskan Smoked Porter recently in the Smoked beer thread: "In the article, Drew makes mention of: “The other is a world classic: Alaskan Smoked Porter (6.5 percent ABV) is one of the winningest beers in Great American Beer Festival history, with 19 medals since 1990 plus seven more medals from the biennial World Beer Cup.” I attended the GABF a number of times in the past and I once had a sample pour of Alaskan Smoked Porter and after one sip I dumped the remainer of the glass. I suppose the flavor of Alderwood smoked malt is not for me?" Cheers!
You're not alone Jack. Apparently, many consumers feel it has a smoked salmon aroma and flavor component, which can be quite off putting. I also first tried it at the GABF, but my reaction was positive. That being said, when I subsequently went up to Anchorage for the Fur Rondy festival, I tried to order a glass of it at Chilkoot Charlie's. The patrons there all tried to dissuade me from getting a glass, that's how intensely they disliked it. It seems to be a very polarizing beer.
Most recently I got a 4pk of pint cans that had a date of April 2026 I'm pretty sure, and this must've been November or December maybe, so I was thinking a 6 month best by date, and probably cans a month or two old. Definitely less than 3 or 6 months old, and it was an $8 4pk so no complaints really, it was a bargain and I just wanted a light pale lager/pilsner and figured I would give it another shot. I'm sure it is great at the brewery and in the Czech Republic, the few times I had cans here though it always has a creamed corn and cardboard flavor that I'm not really used to or feel sensitive to or get in many other fresh beers. It might just be the yeast fermentation or something in the old recipe or the type of malt maybe, not sure. I don't think the beer is bad really and I'm sure if I visited the taproom I would enjoy it more and many of their offerings, for some reason it just never really tastes that clean or great to me...
A number of years ago the advertised best by duration was 9 months. I am uncertain with the change in ownership if this is still the case. Yeah, there must be 'something' in these beers that register as off-flavor(s) to you. I don't often purchase canned Pilsner Urquell (e.g., I am drinking homebrewed Bohemian (Czech) Pilsner now). FWIW I have never had any issues with imported/canned Pilsner Urquell but we all have our own unique palates and preferences. Cheers!
SN Torpedo I guess. I dont like it because its too bitter and hop forward and not balanced enough for me but I can respect they make a higher abv mass produced IPA that people think is generally good.
Something specific about Urquell gives those flavors off to me. What I didn't mention in my post is that I get even more off putting flavors in most of the big corporate brands around the world. It isn't just some political or anti-corporate sentiment, I try to be very objective in my reviewing, rating and overall feeling toward things, but for some reason a lot of the big beer brands just don't taste right to me, whether it is Bud, Miller, Coors, Michelob, Corona, Heineken, Carlsberg, etc. It isn't exclusive to US macro AAL beers, it extends to a lot of these big brands globally, and I just don't enjoy the yeast fermentation profile of the beers, whether it has corn syrup or not doesn't even matter, a lot of the big brands just don't sit right with my palate for some reason and it is more than just philosophical it is literally off putting to my palate. The reason why I didn't mention them in my post is because not only do I not like them, I also don't respect them for being big corporate bullies...
Any "Pumpkin" beer. I can see why people might enjoy them in Autumn or on Thanksgiving. But I just don`t like the the taste of pumpkin pie in my beer. Give me Pumpkin Pie or a Glass of Beer, but don`t give both at the exact same time. '
