this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2024
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A classic Monty Python joke from Live at the Hollywood Bowl. Definitely some truth in this... I live in Germany with some of the best lagers in the world, and having a Miller Light for the first time was a really weird experience.
Now when I've visited the US quite a few times, I can say I dislike the expensive craft beers way more compared to the classic american lagers... They are way too hoppy, but the worst thing is how much more expensive they are! Like a pale ale can be over ten dollars, but a pint of PBR is 3.50. Beer should be cheap, and I don't really like how this craft beer culture made the prices go so high.
The problem is, is the craft beer industry is obsessed with hops and the different varieties. Since IPAs are one of the most hopped beers, they took it and ran with it, all the while going down the rabbit hole of adding more and more hops. (akin to a child learning to cook by adding continually dumping in different spices to try to balance out the others) playing with the mixture of hop varieties. Most of them are also brewed to be drunk close to 0C which lightens its bitterness a bit. Though, fruit-infused and some hazy ones can sometimes have that bitterness work in their favor.
The next time you are in the US and you are still curious, while not to common, look more towards the porter/stout side. The coffee ones tend to be really good along with the more niche bourbon-barrel aged stouts. Fruity wheat beers can be a hit-or-miss with some being hopped more than others, but there is a good portion which are really good; sour ales having the same issue. Craft lagers could be another, but are almost non-existent due to how it's brewed.
My in-laws brought me back a pack of 4 different craft beers from a trip recently. I can't drink and enjoy them - way too hoppy. Even the Pilsner - and I like a good Pilsner - was not enjoyable at all. The one that's left is the dark beer - going to be an expensive dirty Diesel one day.