Do You Have an ABV Sweet Spot?

5.5 to 7.5 is my sweet spot. Lagers and hoppy ales are obvious but even most wild ales / sours in this range seem to be my fav. as well.

 

I concur with the 6-8% train of thought. Problem is that the beers I gravitate to are generally 9-14% ABV. Anymore, when I go to a taproom I have something low ABV so I don't have to worry about being over the limit to drive.

 

IPAs from 6.8%-7.5%. anything less and it's usually light and thin, anything more and it's usually a bigger body

In general, I find most beers I'm drinking are around 7

 

Four Sierra Nevadas at 6% is perfect. I metabolize that well these days. If I try four Torpedos similarly I feel less comfortable, think that I wax poetic, and tell dumb jokes. So, 6%>7.2% for me.

 

6-8%

 

I choose the beer I want first, then deal with the abv. If it's on the lower end, I can have more. If it's on the higher end, less. Lately I've fallen into a habit of a stout followed by an IPA or a pale ale. The stout seems to bring out more of the hops for me. I do try to balance out the abv with this. If it's a low abv stout, then an imperial IPA and vice versa.

 

Generally speaking I don't really think about it. When it comes to (D)IPAs however, it's definitely in the 6-8 range. Never found a double digit hoppy beer that I've really loved.

 

The thing that aggravates me is bomber-only availability for high-ABV cult or special release beers, such as Abyss. After doing the math on Abyss, it has the alcohol of 5.3 "normal" 4.2% beers. I am the only drinker in my house, so when I crack a bomber, I feel compelled to finish it in a sitting. I may drink half, stopper it, and stick it in the fridge for a bit. I would much rather see these high-ABV beers offered in 12oz once they establish in bombers that it will sell. I suspect that the average ABV of bombers far exceeds the average ABV of 12 ouncers probably to somewhat justify the price of bombers.

 

8%.

 

Never cared for any of the session ipas, good idea wrong type of beer for that. You need enough malt to balance the bitter and I find session IPAs to be generally terrible bitter bombs. I love some of the English Milds I've had lots of flavor at 3.8 Abv, seems a better style for this. Most of the beer I love range from 4.5 to maybe 8 % Abv. But in general I'd prefer less Abv than more, not really a fan of big 10% Dipas, seems to go too much in one direction.

 

this whole thread fosters the same argument @MNAle put forth about over 3 beers was heavy drinking. This is beer advocate, where people who like beer come to comment, but the politically correct view is that we do it for flavor, not to catch a buzz. Well, bullcrap, we could just do ice tea advocate for that. The fact is people drink to catch a buzz, just admit it, stay home and drink,, or get a cab, but most people on here want that buzz, I'm not talking falling down drunk, but please people, admit that 2-3 8% beers are not going to ruin your night! Damn, whenever there is a thread about what beers started you out, then people will talk about lost weekends and such, but then pretend that now they try to just drink 1 3% sour and be done for the night. My question is why? Why not just have a coke? Alcohol is not a monster to avoid as long as you treat it with respect. Party on! To answer the thread question, I mostly go for ipas in the 6.5- 9.5 range. 2-3 usually because that's what it takes to get that buzz I'm talking about.

 

7% for IPAs and stuff like that. Stouts and barleywine 12%.

 

For years - before I got into craft - I didn't drink because of the very real possibility that about the time a I had a few then I'd get a call that one of the kids needed a ride, was at a friend's for a sleepover and was sick, or they had gotten into an accident or had car trouble. These all happened, and luckily I was not drinking. Even though the kids are out on their own now, I still get calls, though much more infrequently, where I need to run help with something. Just tonight I almost had a strong beer with supper but held off - and I was indeed called upon to run somewhere. I did have a brew when I got back - but this sure makes the case for at least having the option for a lower ABV good beer.

 

The sweet spot for me is 7% ABV, regardless of style but I know some styles do not reach that ABV level. At that percentage I can have a couple over a few hours, feel great, and not lose control.

 

I get what you're saying, and am probably the last person here who's hesitant to have more than a few in a row. But my answer stays the same- it's all about clear flavors, complexity and finesse to me. Even if I'm at one of my 3 day long parties .

 

If I'm bein' honest with myself, and all y'all (as they say in the South), it would be between 6 and 7% for most of the styles I drink, but with @TongoRad that some of the milder ones can be eye-opening. Cheers, whatever floats your liver.

 

The experience, to me anyway, is mainly about taste, so I'd rather not taste the alcohol unless it is the bourbon or rum in a BA beer. Alcohol taste does not necessarily tie to ABV because I've had high-ABV beers where you could not detect the alcohol, and low-ABV beers where the alcohol was right up front.

 

I think somewhere around 5% (+- 1.0) is ideal. It is partly about body and fullness. Too little ABV requires a smaller malt addition which is too thin tasting. Higher ABV requires more malts and tend to be full and heavy. The right level of ABV also allows having more than one without too many issues.

Traditional Stouts, Pale Ales, Blonde Ales, and Lagers frequently fall into this 5.X% range. I tend to to avoid Imperial or Double versions, especially if I am out on the town. I also really appreciate brewers who have a good selection of beer under 6%.

 

It depends on the style, for stouts and barley wines I like 10-12 BA 12-14. For IPAs or pale ales 6-7. Sours as low as possible, I like session sours.