ABV preferences

Honestly ABV isn't really a factor in my drinking decisions.

 

I wouldn't say I have a general preference but my choice in beers for specific situations are affected by the ABV. I will say for IPA's I generally pick a lower ABV because there's really no benefit taste wise for a high ABV IPA. Most of the time I even find IPA's with 6-7.5% ABV tasting best. With quads or BA stouts the high ABV is pretty much intrinsic. I don't really care what the ABV is as long as its good. Its not like you pound a beer like that even if the ABV is low.

I think the ABV inflation of IPA's is weird to be honest, there's no good reason for it other than it being who's junk is biggest? Do people really think a high ABV IPA tastes better? I can't say I've ever drank a 9 or 10% IPA and said "Wow that's one of the best I've ever had". Usually its more along the lines of "Wow it hides the ABV well". Its not that they are worse per se, they just aren't any better. I don't have an aversion to getting drunk but I do have an aversion to passing out. If I was 250 lbs I might drink higher ABV beers more often but I'm not.

 

Depends on what type of beer it is. If I'm going barrel-aged then Id prefer 10+. If its an IPA, then ID say around 7% and if its a sour then in the 5% neighborhood.

 

Depends on the beer, but my usual range is 5-8% The higher ABV is ok when you just want a single or on a special occasion.

 

for IPAs 8-10% seems to be the sweet spot, as i like them slightly sweeter and more intense hop flavors, but not overly boozy. For stouts and barleywines, they can vary. The higher end ones (12-15%) seem to have more sweetness and flavor, but I've had super flavorful ones in the 10-12% range

 

Under 7% across the board for me. I occasionally like something with a lot of kick (like just about anything from the Bruery), but it's unusual.
Most of the time I drink normal table lagers and IPA's.

 

I don't have a preferred range, but I do more often than not seem to be drinking beers in the 6-8% range for IPA's, and 9-14% for Stouts

 

I tend to plump for low ABV for a variety of reasons. One is that many of my favourite pubs require driving to. Another is that these are the beers I grew up with and came to love.And I enjoy the taste and like to drink for extended periods
Taste is like the other senses, they adapt to intensity. A low strength beer, over time, does not offer much less flavour sensation than stronger ones. The former enhance sensitivity and the latter deaden it.
Think in terms of listening to a single human voice or a full band. Your ears adjust and you can enjoy either without making any concessions.

 

Well, as many have said previously, it truly depends on the style. Lagers for me are best in the 4.5% - 6% range. Anything higher, and that alcohol becomes very detectable for that style. IPA's are best anywhere from 5%-7%. With stouts/old ales/quads/barley wines, I like them bigger 10% - 14%. That's where those beers shine in terms of mouthfeel (typically).

 

Depends on style (I like variety) and season. Most of the year the stuff I buy is in the 4.5%-8.5% range, the median being ~6%. But come late Fall and Winter, stouts, barleywines and other strong styles enter the rotation, bumping the average ABV upward.

 

I'm usually around the 8% ABV range if I'm drinking hoppy beers.

However, since I've been drinking more lagers lately, I'm probably more in the 5 - 6% range with an occasional dip below that.

That said, I really don't pay attention to ABV. I drink what looks interesting to me, whether that be a 3.5 - 4% Mild or Helles or a 14% Imperial Stout or Barleywine.

 

Most of the beers I gravitate to are "robust" dark ales that tend to be high ABV, though it would be great if they were lower ABV/calories. My theory is that the beers with robust flavor tend to be high-ABV for two reasons; high-ABV can contribute to robustness - and also helps justify the high cost. Yes, I know that more grain is required to brew high-ABV beers, but the price is disproportionate with the cost of those additional grains. Also I realize that they sell less of those monster beers due to the cost and strength, so they need to make more profit per beer. I would prefer cheaper and lower-ABV robust dark ales, then I could enjoy more of them.

 

Aren't most beers around the ~5% mark? Or that's the average. Not sure a % or two is going to make a world of difference to me.

When you get into the double digits, it usually means spending more, so those are more "special occasion" types, treated more like a fine wine or a spirit.

 

6.8%-8.8%

 

I prefer 5-6% then I can have 2 without feeling too guilty.

 

I tend to enjoy 6% and above, really the end result of the variety of ales that I typically enjoy. 5.5% is probably the basement.

 

Obviously it depends on the style but 4-8 abv fits most of the styles I normally drink. If I could get Heady as it is at 6% all the better, but that's not the case, but I drink AALs and Pils which mainly float around that 5.3 line, I'm really good there.

 

Most macro/BMC are 5 or so. I expect craft averages 6-7.

 

About 90% of the hundreds of beers that I own are between 10-20%. I usually prefer around 12%+