You know what I'm talkin' about. When sitting down (or standing up) and having a few, what's the range of ABV that gets you properly tipsy without overdoing it? For me, I've found that the 7-8% range is best for me, more specifically around 7.3-7.7%. For example, Jai Alai at 7.5% ABV is like having a single IPA while nearing double IPA strength. Enough flavor and bite to hit your palate right every time without becoming watery, but not so strong that you have to stop after having 4. Just to be clear, this isn't necessarily a "session beer" thread. I'm talking about having a few (3-4) rather than several (5-8). So what say you? Where do you find that perfect balance of flavor and strength?
With the amount of incredible pale ales and IPAs out there right now I've gotta answer 6-7. So many great beers than land in the category.
Honestly, I NEVER buy a beer based on ABV. I enjoy it for the flavor and its smell and appearance. If it should happen to be 4% or 14%, it really doesn't matter to me. ABV only factors in to my decision of how much I should drink if I will be driving that night.
Why do people always put words in my mouth when I create a thread? I said nothing about it affecting your buying decisions.
And I didn't say you did. I was just giving my reasons regarding my sweet spot (or lack thereof) for ABV. Relax man, it's all good.
Really? No 19-22% option? I'm out! (this is just a joke please let's not argue.....too much of that on this website as it is.)
Prob. Something like 9+ ABV. So that I can slowly drink 2, maybe 3. Unless if I am ticking then definitely as low as possible so that I can try as much as possible.
I vacillated between 7-8 and 8-9 (I guess that'd make it 8, eh?), but I voted 7-8 because more beers I've enjoyed lately seem to be in that zone - and voilà! - I seem to have found the poll's sweet spot!
7-8% for me. You took the words right out of my mouth on your Jai Alai reference. Good and balanced. Hard to keep that balance over 8%.
5%-6% for "several". On occasion, a 7%er or two gets me rolling, but the big boys- which I consider 8% and above- I like to share glasses with a few friends. Holidays and no driving- I'm not allowed to divulge! I must admit that Foothills Jade and Noda Hop Drop'n Roll go down awfully easy.
I always thought 5.5 percent was perfect. If you find something you like you can stay on it all night at 5.5 as opposed to 7 or 8 which you will just end up face down on the floor.
Here's an interesting twist to the thread. I find that with higher ABV beers, I tend to drink them slower. For example, I had a couple of Goose Island BCBS recently. They clock in at a whopping 14.5% ABV. I tend to nurse them rather slowly. Not because I intend to do so, but big beers like that kind of make me nurse them. On the other hand, if I am drinking Spaten Lager - my favorite lager - which clocks in around 5%, I can literally guzzle them down. And not intentionally either. I just want to guzzle it. So what do I have here? I tend to drink higher ABV beers over a longer period of time, lower ABV beers over a shorter period of time. All this to say, the time it takes to get buzzed with the respective beers is probably similar. I can only guess the math would corroborate this. For example, if you drink two 10% ABV beers in one hour versus 4 5% ABV beers in one hour, will the buzz effect be similar? I guess.
