Will you not try a beer because the ABV is "too low"?

Absolutely. I've never been a big fan of sessions or saisons and sours just don't agree with me. I love my big beers of all varieties. I'd rather drink water than beer under 4.5% ABV

 

One of my favorite beers - De Garde's Bu Weisse - clocks in at a whopping 2.3%. If it's good, the ABV doesn't matter.

 

No way. I will try a beer no matter the ABV if it sounds like something i might enjoy. One of my favorite beers is only 4.2%, carton - boat

 

I'll pass on O'douls but I don't know if it's even considered beer...

 

I would not let low ABV stop me from buying something, but I do tend to gravitate towards higher ABV. Generally I find them to have more flavor and complexity.

 

How low are we reasonably talking about here? I would pass on O'Douls. It'd have to be a really delicious beer for me to drink a beer under 4%. But, normal low ABV beers, of course I wouldn't turn them down.

 

Yes, because alcohol is an important component of flavor. Just like its gotta have enough hops or malt, it's gotta have enough booze.

 

I think some times BA's have a tough time admitting that part -- however small -- of drinking craft beer (or anything) is getting drunk. Have I passed on beers because I saw it was 3.0%? Yes, of course. Have I had beer thats 3%? Yes (Tap Brewing Intergalactic Acid and its great).

Short answer, though? Yes, I will pass on a low ABV beer because (gasp) I want to get drunk occasionally.

Edit: I should add that I've passed on beers that are too high abv too

 

I don't even look at abv until after I buy the beer. The only reason it matters to me is to watch out for drinking too much.

 

It depends completely. This is nowhere near as simple as a yes/no question. I will pass on most session IPAs unless they already have a great reputation, since I don't need to waste my time vetting what is often a weak version of bud that's been dry hopped. The only exception I make there if its an extremely reputable brewer that I trust enough to try it. I'll gladly try a 3-4% saison like the Beatitudes from Council. It just straight up depends on all the variables involved.

 

Low abv only means you can drink more of them before you're incapacitated

 

No I will definitely still drink them. It's not about the ABV. Yeah it's nice to get a good buzz going on every once in a while but that's not what it's about. It's about relaxing with a delicious beer after a long day of work or during a long day of work. Or just relaxing with it period

 

If you gave it to me I wouldn't pass, even on an O'Douls. However, once it starts pushing 4.5% and lower, I am going to really start paying attention to price a lot more. I may pay a bit more than I want for something that is 7% or higher, but if it is getting too low, I will pass a lot more frequently due to price on the lower %

 

I pass on low abv because i do live on a budget so generally i try to make the most of two beers. I also tend to like the flavor of "bigger" beers anyway.

 

Depends on the brewer and the style. There are some brewers that kill it with their high gravity brews, but don't do so well with their more basic beers (eg Goose Island). Similarly, I like impy stouts, but rarely enjoy smaller stouts (there are, of course, exceptions, like Kalamazoo Stout). So yes, if I see a beer from one of these brewers or styles, I might be more inclined to reach for something else if the abv is low. This also cuts the other way. If I see a saison or pilsner with too high of an abv, I'm probably going to grab something else.

 

I felt that way til I tried backyard session IPA from Saugatuk Brewing. Very good beer

 

I'm in it for the flavor and the craftsmanship of the beer. So if that means I'm drinking a low abv then so be it. As long as I'm enjoying what I'm drinking then I'm happy. Yes I also agree that the higher abv adds a certain flavor to the brew that is damn tasty, the faster buzz is just a plus. But I wont turn anything down unless the taste doesn't suit me. Also one of my favorite beers is low abv, Guinness Draught 4.20%. Also Founder's All Day IPA - low abv still one of my favs. The list goes on and on...

 

I absolutely and resolutely beg to differ. I have had many low alcohol highly flavored ales in England. Flavor because of alcohol is not a determinant factor in quality beer with lots of flavor.