There was a while when everything was watery beer, Bud Light, Coors etc. Then there was a sort of golden era, with lots of variety and lots of companies. There was certainly a good bit of crap, but the huge variety meant that there was always something good to drink. Now we’ve gone back to consolidation, with only two companies in the entire world, and only one kind of beer: poorly done IPAs. Monopolies are bad for consumers. No one wants to buy this piss.
Your area sucks then. Still not sure what any of this has to do with consolidation and monopoly.
Where I live there are microbreweries every where. While every single one sells an IPA they are also making different styles as well. Sours are taking off in my area.
Yeah, IPAs are way too popular. The issue is the people who “like IPAs” aren’t willing to try anything else. They’ll try a hazy or double IPA, even though those are very different from a west coast IPA, but they won’t try the saison, barleywine, or anything else. It forces breweries to cater to them because more adventurous beer drinkers will still drink an IPA.
It’s better where I am (VA), but IPAs still rule. There’s one brewery in particular that has somewhere around 20 taps, but there’s only at most 10 non-IPAs, usually fewer. I don’t go there very often.
I’ve written off IPAs entirely at this point, give me literally anything but lol. It just ends up always being tart/sour/fruity with almost a grittiness to them. I’ve never been the biggest fan of ciders which is what IPAs reminded me of when they first started getting popular in my area around 2015-2016. Never liked them then but I’d try one every once in a while cause people are always raving about one.
Same here and everywhere I visit in the US. One brewery will have 5 different IPAs. And the people in the comments here - “There’s variety! The stores are full of different IPAs!”
Last time I was at a Walmart/Target/Publix/Ingles/etc all that shit watery beer is still there plus the largest selection of ales lagers and IPAs that there has ever been. Not to mention the ciders and seltzer that are huge now too.
Just wanted to chime in that I wholly disagree with this “beer was better back then” bullshit.
I’ve been all over the US and my impression is there are more local and regional craft breweries than ever. Sure some of them get gobbled up by the InBev monster but not all. Personally I’m only looking for a bottle or two per week during football season or maybe an occasional tap pint. In those small quantities you barely feel the price difference between Bud/Coors and better beers. Might as well drink the better stuff that isn’t owned by an evil multinational conglomerate.
There was a while when everything was watery beer, Bud Light, Coors etc. Then there was a sort of golden era, with lots of variety and lots of companies. There was certainly a good bit of crap, but the huge variety meant that there was always something good to drink. Now we’ve gone back to consolidation, with only two companies in the entire world, and only one kind of beer: poorly done IPAs. Monopolies are bad for consumers. No one wants to buy this piss.
Wat? We did? When did this happen?
Where I live there are microbreweries all over the place. As far as I can see we are still in the golden era and it’s only getting better.
I’m in the PNW and it’s just shitty IPA’s everywhere. I also seem to get judged every time I ask if there’s a stout, or really any dark beer, on tap.
Even going to visit other areas with more microbreweries around, there are more options… still wading through IPA’s though.
Edit: while I’m at it, sour beers suck.
Your area sucks then. Still not sure what any of this has to do with consolidation and monopoly.
Where I live there are microbreweries every where. While every single one sells an IPA they are also making different styles as well. Sours are taking off in my area.
Yeah, IPAs are way too popular. The issue is the people who “like IPAs” aren’t willing to try anything else. They’ll try a hazy or double IPA, even though those are very different from a west coast IPA, but they won’t try the saison, barleywine, or anything else. It forces breweries to cater to them because more adventurous beer drinkers will still drink an IPA.
It’s better where I am (VA), but IPAs still rule. There’s one brewery in particular that has somewhere around 20 taps, but there’s only at most 10 non-IPAs, usually fewer. I don’t go there very often.
I’ve written off IPAs entirely at this point, give me literally anything but lol. It just ends up always being tart/sour/fruity with almost a grittiness to them. I’ve never been the biggest fan of ciders which is what IPAs reminded me of when they first started getting popular in my area around 2015-2016. Never liked them then but I’d try one every once in a while cause people are always raving about one.
Same here and everywhere I visit in the US. One brewery will have 5 different IPAs. And the people in the comments here - “There’s variety! The stores are full of different IPAs!”
I usually say “Yeah, i used to like IPA but i got bored of it. Do you have anything else than hoppy beers?” Then, they come up with the sours…
I went somewhere last week that I’m not even sure if they knew what a porter was.
Thankfully they had a decent lager
Are you shopping at the Dollar General?
Last time I was at a Walmart/Target/Publix/Ingles/etc all that shit watery beer is still there plus the largest selection of ales lagers and IPAs that there has ever been. Not to mention the ciders and seltzer that are huge now too.
Just wanted to chime in that I wholly disagree with this “beer was better back then” bullshit.
I’ve been all over the US and my impression is there are more local and regional craft breweries than ever. Sure some of them get gobbled up by the InBev monster but not all. Personally I’m only looking for a bottle or two per week during football season or maybe an occasional tap pint. In those small quantities you barely feel the price difference between Bud/Coors and better beers. Might as well drink the better stuff that isn’t owned by an evil multinational conglomerate.