Do beer enthusiasts care about anything other than level of hop flavor?

[AstroManLuca]

So I've discovered that there's an almost perfect correlation between how highly a beer is rated on BeerAdvocate and how hoppy it is. That is, every time I've tried a beer that was really hoppy, it's always gotten an A or A- on that site. Less-hoppy beer is always rated lower. Most of my favorite beers fall in the C through B- range. Above that, they tend to be too bitter for my taste.

Is there a particular reason for this? Is it the trendy thing now to only like hopped-up IPAs? Are beer lovers who rate beers on the internet more likely to be into hops, while simple beer-enjoyers just don't care enough to post to BA?

Please don't tell me I "hate real beer" or anything just because I'm not into the really bitter, strong stuff. There are a lot of beer varieties out there and I like many of them... but pale ale isn't among them.

 

[OCGuy]

I have no problem with the crowd that loves the extra quadruple hoppy IPA bitter beer, I even enjoy them myself every now and then. But it is definitely not the end-all be-all in judging a beer. There is far more flavor and fun to be had in other strong ales....

 

[So]

Originally posted by: OCguy
I have no problem with the crowd that loves the extra quarduple hoppy IPA bitter beer, I even enjoy them myself every now and then. But it is defiantly not the end-all be-all in judging a beer. There is far more flavor and fun to be had in other strong ales....

Agreed.

 

[Dirigible]

The trendy thing is to gush over highly-hopped beers. Drink what you like.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
So I've discovered that there's an almost perfect correlation between how highly a beer is rated on BeerAdvocate and how hoppy it is. That is, every time I've tried a beer that was really hoppy, it's always gotten an A or A- on that site. Less-hoppy beer is always rated lower. Most of my favorite beers fall in the C through B- range. Above that, they tend to be too bitter for my taste.

Is there a particular reason for this? Is it the trendy thing now to only like hopped-up IPAs? Are beer lovers who rate beers on the internet more likely to be into hops, while simple beer-enjoyers just don't care enough to post to BA?

Please don't tell me I "hate real beer" or anything just because I'm not into the really bitter, strong stuff. There are a lot of beer varieties out there and I like many of them... but pale ale isn't among them.

You should either learn to read better or at least try to better understand different beer styles before you rant. There are thousands of highly rated beers that are sweet and malty rather than hoppy and bitter. Or maybe you just like crappy beers. If Coors Light and Bud are getting crappy ratings it's not that people are beer snobs, just that they're smart enough to not drink swill.

 

[nutxo]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
Are beer lovers who rate beers on the internet more likely to be into hops, while simple beer-enjoyers just don't care enough to post to BA?

Please don't tell me I "hate real beer" or anything just because I'm not into the really bitter, strong stuff. There are a lot of beer varieties out there and I like many of them... but pale ale isn't among them.

The beer snob crowd tends to look down on people who like simple lagers and such. Why post and leave yourself open to attacks.

My favorite beer is Michelob. I catch so much hell from all my micro brew drinking friends.

 

[Kirby]

I don't like IPAs anyway.

 

[Titan]

I hate hops and IPAs

Switchback, made in VT, is awesome. Unfiltered, cloudy, yeast floating around in it. They can't keep it stocked in bars in the state, and don;t bottle or export it.

 

[nakedfrog]

I see a number of A rated hefeweizens there.

 

[vi edit]

Hop heads are freaks. Sort of like audiophiles.

Gimme a nice frothy belgian quad or rich & mellow stout over a mouth puckering IPA or other hop heavy style.

 

[evident]

while i really like hoppy IPAs, i regard other non hoppy beers pretty high too. there are some A rated pilsners, lagers and like nakedfrog said hefewiezens too.

I might be a hop nut but i regard st bernardus 12 as my favorite beer, and that's a belgian style quad.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
So I've discovered that there's an almost perfect correlation between how highly a beer is rated on BeerAdvocate and how hoppy it is. That is, every time I've tried a beer that was really hoppy, it's always gotten an A or A- on that site. Less-hoppy beer is always rated lower. Most of my favorite beers fall in the C through B- range. Above that, they tend to be too bitter for my taste.

Is there a particular reason for this? Is it the trendy thing now to only like hopped-up IPAs? Are beer lovers who rate beers on the internet more likely to be into hops, while simple beer-enjoyers just don't care enough to post to BA?

Please don't tell me I "hate real beer" or anything just because I'm not into the really bitter, strong stuff. There are a lot of beer varieties out there and I like many of them... but pale ale isn't among them.

You should either learn to read better or at least try to better understand different beer styles before you rant. There are thousands of highly rated beers that are sweet and malty rather than hoppy and bitter. Or maybe you just like crappy beers. If Coors Light and Bud are getting crappy ratings it's not that people are beer snobs, just that they're smart enough to not drink swill.

:roll:

1. I wasn't ranting, just making an anecdotal observation. I'm sure there are highly-rated beers on BA that aren't overloaded with hops, but I haven't run into them. What I can say for sure is that every time (without fail) I've tried a beer and disliked it because it was too hoppy for my own personal tastes, it's been highly rated on BA.

2. I never said I drink Coors Light or Bud or expect them to be ranked highly. Way to put words in my mouth, jackass. I don't really like those beers either. They're too watery and have sort of an off flavor to them, almost as though they are spoiled. I don't know. I'm not a beer expert.

3. I'm also not even mad at people for rating beers the way they do. I'm more confused because there seems to be a disproportionate number of hop lovers online, which seems to push out good beers that aren't IPAs.

 

[evident]

^ try to avoid IPA's and similar beers that are known for their hoppiness then.

if you like a pilsner try and get a rogue Uber Pils or victory prima pils. def not hoppy at all.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
So I've discovered that there's an almost perfect correlation between how highly a beer is rated on BeerAdvocate and how hoppy it is. That is, every time I've tried a beer that was really hoppy, it's always gotten an A or A- on that site. Less-hoppy beer is always rated lower. Most of my favorite beers fall in the C through B- range. Above that, they tend to be too bitter for my taste.

Is there a particular reason for this? Is it the trendy thing now to only like hopped-up IPAs? Are beer lovers who rate beers on the internet more likely to be into hops, while simple beer-enjoyers just don't care enough to post to BA?

Please don't tell me I "hate real beer" or anything just because I'm not into the really bitter, strong stuff. There are a lot of beer varieties out there and I like many of them... but pale ale isn't among them.

You should either learn to read better or at least try to better understand different beer styles before you rant. There are thousands of highly rated beers that are sweet and malty rather than hoppy and bitter. Or maybe you just like crappy beers. If Coors Light and Bud are getting crappy ratings it's not that people are beer snobs, just that they're smart enough to not drink swill.

Pretty much this. Many of my favorite beers are almost devoid of hop taste. Some of the best beer in the world is not based in the "hoppy" genre. Look at Belgians. Many, many people will agree that some of the best beer comes out of Belgium and quite a bit of it isn't hoppy tasting at all. Geuzes, Flemish Reds, Lambics.. many styles that are rated very highly lack that "hop" flavor.

 

[EvilYoda]

I think that a properly made STRONG hoppy beer is very difficult to achieve, so it gets rewarded with high praise...that said, I only drink IPAs occasionally, since I favor Belgian-style beers. BA loves those too...I'm headed to Papago Brewing tonight for dinner and they have Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout on tap, so I'm going to be a happy man.

note: yes, I'm aware that the Stone IRS isn't a Belgian-style beer.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I think that a properly made STRONG hoppy beer is very difficult to achieve, so it gets rewarded with high praise...that said, I only drink IPAs occasionally, since I favor Belgian-style beers. BA loves those too...I'm headed to Papago Brewing tonight for dinner and they have Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout on tap, so I'm going to be a happy man.

note: yes, I'm aware that the Stone IRS isn't a Belgian-style beer.

i have yet to have a bad beer from stone brewery!!

 

[SonnyDaze]

My neighbor used to home brew and had some good stuff but he favored the IPA. I didn't care much for it. But he did brew up some stouts and porters for the winter months that were superb.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I think that a properly made STRONG hoppy beer is very difficult to achieve, so it gets rewarded with high praise...that said, I only drink IPAs occasionally, since I favor Belgian-style beers. BA loves those too...I'm headed to Papago Brewing tonight for dinner and they have Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout on tap, so I'm going to be a happy man.

note: yes, I'm aware that the Stone IRS isn't a Belgian-style beer.

i have yet to have a bad beer from stone brewery!!

Stone may not put out a huge variety of styles .. but what they do, they do pretty damned well. I'm bummed I never managed to rustle up a bottle of the 12th, I really wanted to try it. I also have to say that I used to drink with the Stone northeast reps when they used to come into town, great guys, tons of fun.

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: TheVrolok

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I think that a properly made STRONG hoppy beer is very difficult to achieve, so it gets rewarded with high praise...that said, I only drink IPAs occasionally, since I favor Belgian-style beers. BA loves those too...I'm headed to Papago Brewing tonight for dinner and they have Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout on tap, so I'm going to be a happy man.

note: yes, I'm aware that the Stone IRS isn't a Belgian-style beer.

i have yet to have a bad beer from stone brewery!!

Stone may not put out a huge variety of styles .. but what they do, they do pretty damned well. I'm bummed I never managed to rustle up a bottle of the 12th, I really wanted to try it. I also have to say that I used to drink with the Stone northeast reps when they used to come into town, great guys, tons of fun.

Their new brewery location is beautiful! I took a tour a few months ago...I wish I had more time to spend there, but I'll probably go back. Stone's having their 13th Anniversary Celebration in August, so I'll be headed to SD just for that.

 

[Mo0o]

Hacker Pschorr Weiss isnt hoppy at all and it's rated really well. I would check that out if you haven't already

 

[jiggahertz]

Of BA's Top 25 beers 6 of them are IPAs and 12 are stouts.

 

[sao123]

ill never be a beer snob because yingling is dirt cheap.
besides:


mikes hard lime > *

 

[Kadarin]

I'm a "beer enthusiast" in that I get pretty enthusiastic about beer... However, I'm all about the Tecate and Corona and Coors Light.

Quantity > Quality

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Kadarin
I'm a "beer enthusiast" in that I get pretty enthusiastic about beer... However, I'm all about the Tecate and Corona and Coors Light.

Quantity > Quality

I'd rather take six shots than drink six lame beers. I won't have to pee as much, either

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: Kadarin
I'm a "beer enthusiast" in that I get pretty enthusiastic about beer... However, I'm all about the Tecate and Corona and Coors Light.

Quantity > Quality

i am sorry for your loss