Why do Americans like their beer cold?

I started this thread:

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188002

On much the same subject just a few days ago. Consensus of beer-related sites is that most "popular" beers are devoid of flavor, or just taste bad, and the extreme cold numbs the old taste-buds so you don't notice.
I refer to these as watery beer-like beverages.

The consensus is also that lighter beers in general should be served somewhat colder than heavier, darker brews, but that the optimum temperature is still considerably above the "coldest beer in town" level.
Even our local giant brewer, Anheuser-Busch, specifies that it's premium Michelob be served at between 45-50 degrees.
 
Why do Americans like their beer cold? Probably for the same reason that the Japanese like thier beer cold: it tastes better that way, especially on a hot day.

Another explanation is just that that's how we acquired the taste. Most people don't start out liking the taste of beer, they acquire it. If you aquire it by drinking cold beer, then you will probaly always prefer it that way.
 
Jack by the hedge said:
Almost anything except lager style beers. "Warm" is cellar temperature. Around 15°C or 59°F. So it's only relatively warm compared to beer that's chilled.

I remember reading an article by a publican who had an old "Guinness" branded cellar thermometer, which had (IIRC) 59°F marked as "perfect" cellar temperature. He was bemoaning the fact that the Guinness rep now insisted on a much colder temperature for his product. If the publican didn't comply, he'd have his supply withdrawn. He tried to keep an unchilled barrel for some regulars who still liked their Guinness warm, but woe betide him if the rep ever found out.

Nowadays Guinness in UK pubs is served chilled as "Guinness" or even more chilled as "Guinness Extra Cold". I think they find they sell more to young drinkers who like the brand image but don't like the taste. Serve it freezing cold and you can't taste a thing.
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Thanks Jack. I was trying to get Bloodtoes to answer this. He may have had a beer at true room temperature (around 70 F). That probably wouldn't taste very good, but that isn't the right temperature for that beer. Wiki has some good info about beer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer. This is from the Wiki article

Beer writer Michael Jackson proposed a five-level scale for serving temperatures: well chilled (7 °C/45 °F) for "light" beers (pale lagers); chilled (8 °C/46 °F) for Berliner Weisse and other wheat beers; lightly chilled (9 °C/48 °F) for all dark lagers, altbier and German wheat beers; cellar temperature (13 °C/55 °F) for regular British ale, stout and most Belgian specialities; and room temperature (15.5 °C/59.9 °F) for strong dark ales (especially trappist beer) and barley wine.[136]​

I don't consider any of those temeratures "warm." I guess that is just a pet peave for me. You're right about cold beer. It's funny that people like to drink their beer so cold that it loses much of its flavor.
 
IMST said:
1 year ago, and damn near every bitter and IPA I could find, in failed hopes of finding one with hops, almost exclusively at pubs. Our hosts were cider and lager/pilsner drinkers, so supermarket runs were not helpful.

ETA: And it's not like I went over there with an agenda, either. It was quite the unpleasant surprise when I kept trying ales to keep not liking them. I believe the term "sheer bloodymindedness" is the phrase for why I kept ordering them.
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I honestly can't understand this. Most 'house' bitters (meaning what you'll get if you ask for a pint of bitter) will be between 3.5% and 4%. Pretty much anything else is in the 4% to 5.5% range. IPAs particularly, with the exception of standard (non export) Greene King should be around 6%, and should be adequately hoppy. Evidently you were either going to the wrong pubs (ones that I've never encountered) or going with the wrong people.
 
I cannot presume to speak for anyone else, but I live in Texas. It's blazing hot down here 5 months out of the year (May-September) and uncomfortably warm for another 2 (April and October). Cold beer is refreshing, and takes the edge off the heat.

This "American beer tastes like water/piss/whatever rancid liquid I can think of that sounds funny" meme is about to go the way of the giant tree sloth. 'Cause it's dumb.

We have a lot of microbreweries in central Texas that produce some really fine beers. St. Arnolds, Live Oak and Blue Moon are three that come to mind, but there are many more. The three I listed are freaking delicious. Also, Shiner Bock is made here, and I understand that's getting some national exposure. It's a bit hairy but man that stuff is tasty. I just had one with dinner and I feel fine!

YMMV.
 
John Jones said:
Who me?

Yes, I have been guilty of that. Is it a violation of the MA or something?
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Yes, you.

No, not a MA violation.

Yes, a cause to make fun of you/at least point it out.
 
Rat said:
I honestly can't understand this. Most 'house' bitters (meaning what you'll get if you ask for a pint of bitter) will be between 3.5% and 4%. Pretty much anything else is in the 4% to 5.5% range. IPAs particularly, with the exception of standard (non export) Greene King should be around 6%, and should be adequately hoppy. Evidently you were either going to the wrong pubs (ones that I've never encountered) or going with the wrong people.
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That last part is certainly a possibility.
Maybe I'm taking a small number of house bitters at around 3 that caught my attention and I wrongly extrapolated through retelling of the unpleasantness.
Honestly, though, the alcohol content was the most minor of my 3 unexpected complaints.
No hops, very flat. Both bigger problems. Cellar temperature was not welcome, but was expected.
 
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IMST said:
Yes, you.

No, not a MA violation.

Yes, a cause to make fun of you/at least point it out.
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When did you make fun of me?

I have a great sense of humor when I'm around funny people. Maybe you know some?

:-)
 
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Here's an American beer that is as far from piss water as you can get. If anyone gets a chance, try out this Old Rasputin Imperial Stout.

http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/beer-rasputin.htm

Mostly west coast I think unfortunetly.

Edit: To keep this somewhat on topic (sorry), I'm in agreeance with most of the others: have light beer colder, but not ice cold. Of course my relatives, being the "red-blooded Americans" that they are, stick to Budweiser and Millers as cold as they can get it. :rolleyes:
 
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drkitten said:
American beer doesn't taste very good, so you have to drink it cold.
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This is a bogus argument.

Taste is subjective. To say American beer tastes bad if you drink it at room temperature doesn't make sense so you have to drink it cold, because American beer is meant to be drunk cold.

It's no more accurate a claim to say that American doesn't taste very good (at room temperature) so you have to drink it cold than it is to say that English beer doesn't taste very good (cold) so you have to serve it at room temperature.

I know plenty of beer drinkers who enjoy their cold American beer.

(Full disclosure: I don't drink beer at all. I'm arguing from a fairly objective point of view.)

I suspect gazpacho soup would taste bad hot, and chicken noodle soup would taste bad cold. But neither is meant to be served that way, so it's a silly observation.
 
The kids gifted me with a "beer of the month" club subscription last year for Xmas. So far, I've gotten 6 samples from a different microbrewery every month, and all have been excellent.
So the notion that "American" beer is not worthy is silly.
What is true (at least, IMHO) is that the mass-marketed "popular" beers like the ubiquitous Bud Light are little more than watery swill.
Since we often visit the kids and their friends, I have learned to take my own along; if offered a beer I will politely decline....

One of the better lines I recall is from Monty Python's Hollywood Bowl concert...
"Drinking American beer is like making love in a canoe."

(******* close to water....)
 
Bikewer said:
The kids gifted me with a "beer of the month" club subscription last year for Xmas. So far, I've gotten 6 samples from a different microbrewery every month, and all have been excellent.
So the notion that "American" beer is not worthy is silly.
What is true (at least, IMHO) is that the mass-marketed "popular" beers like the ubiquitous Bud Light are little more than watery swill.
Since we often visit the kids and their friends, I have learned to take my own along; if offered a beer I will politely decline....

One of the better lines I recall is from Monty Python's Hollywood Bowl concert...
"Drinking American beer is like making love in a canoe."

(******* close to water....)
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I have to assume that much mass-marketed beer in the US is actually aimed at people who don't like the taste of beer. This applies to "light" beers and especially "dry" beers. For those who do really like beer, there is an endless selection of local, regional and national brands of excellent American beer.

Personally, I like Grolsch (from Holland). It has intense malty notes.
 
drkitten said:
American beer doesn't taste very good, so you have to drink it cold.
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Alternatively, it's half as strong as proper, European beers, so you have to drink 2x before you no longer care what it tastes like, so the coldness helps.
 
drkitten said:
American beer doesn't taste very good, so you have to drink it cold. And it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle; when you make your beer to be served cold, it doesn't need to taste very good, so you might as well use cheap(er) ingredients and less of them...
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For the win!

I always wondered why American beer tastes like watered-down yeast broth, while European beer (Harps Stout!) tastes like liquid ambrosia.

And no, Mr. Coors, adding caramel color to your canned mountain-goat sweat does not improve its taste!
 
Mark6 said:
When the weather is very hot, ice-cold drink is actually not good for you as it administers shock to your throat -- tepid water (or whatever) is much healthier.
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My grandmother says things like this a lot. She also says that not wearing a jacket when the air temperature is less than 60F will cause you to catch a cold. I can't say I've seen evidence that either is actually true.
 
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