Does stronger beer taste better?

[Matplat]

I have generally found with mega-swill that 'light in alcohol' generally correlates pretty closely with 'light in flavour'. However there are definitely exceptions to this which prove that this need not be the case, the aforementioned Rogers being the first one that comes to mind.

I have been meaning to make something closer to the 4% mark to test myself in this region of brewing, but for some reason my beers keep coming out at 5% and up (over attenuation, weighing ingredients etc.)

 

[Bribie G]

Some of the earlier Australian Lite beers were 100% malt and maybe some of them still are, a good example being Carlton LA 2.1 from the 1980s that was actually quite tasty but of course didn't deliver any sort of buzz.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Coopers are about the only ones who make a decent "lite" and "Mid"... they both pack lots of flavor

Rogers is one of my fav beers as well

Big beers dont always taste better, just different. The issue is with the lite & mid strength beers. You can make them with decent flavor and taste, but it is harder to do than for a more reguiar beer in the 5% ish range

Lites & Mid's are a challenge to brew but the rewards are definitely worth it

 

[welly2]

I've never actually tried Rogers. Perhaps I'll do so this week. Tonight maybe, or sooner if possible.

 

[Vini2ton]

English ales at around 4% are bloody tasty but as far as my brewing goes I like them to be around 6%. It's a taste thing for me with beer. The tongue warming sort of nose fume thingo ( ok 7% ) is the go. Mates tell me I brew good but strong beer. Drinking 4 or 5 tasty strongish stubbies is one of life's great pleasures. High alcohol wines can be stripped of flavour after a while of cellaring, and so as with beer, tannins and other wonderous substances come into play. It's all about "balance" they tell me.

 

[wide eyed and legless]

I think that most would like to drink and enjoy stronger beers/ales but the fact that one can't have a good session on the stronger beer/ales, and the fact that the alcoholic volume has a big impact on health implications only gives credence that a tasty lower ABV beverage would be the more sensible.

 

[JDW81]

No, good beer, made with quality ingredients, with well formulated recipes, and that are fermented with healthy yeast, at temperatures appropriate to the strain, and packaged and stored with care taste better. Strength has nothing to do with it.

Had a smoked mild at 3% recently that was one of the most flavourful beers I've ever tasted. Had an double IPA the other day that was *****.

JD

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

When you brew Mid's and Lite's you have to adjust your brew thinking a bit. The balance of hops/grain bill/mash temp needs to be altered slightly. BAck the hops off just a fraction and bump up the mash temp. Mids & lite lacks the mouthfell from the alcohol so you need to compensate for that, otherwise it just watery piss

I loved making milds & lites. A good way to learn how things work at the other end of the scale to a RIS

 

[Grott]

Although not a Pom ( and nothing wrong with that) I love English ales. I like to pour at 3 to 4 degrees, but allow to sit a bit for the flavours to really come through. Great "session" drops at around 4%.

Lots of flavour with certain brews can be lost by drinking to cold, then there a some commercial brews you need to drink cold to avoid the flavour.
Cheers

 

[Mattrox]

I love Pirate Life IIPA and War Hog, but Stone's Ruination I didn't enjoy so much.

But I love quite a number of the SN offerings that are not high in alcohol.

I think the OP is becoming a hop head. Time to cultivate that hipster beard! :beerbang:

 

[welly2]

It's a fair comment about English bitters and ales. And actually, being a pom, I pretty much grew up on 4% bitters. I made a bitter recipe last night as I've not had a proper English bitter in many years now (and the bottle of Well's Banana Bread Beer I had before Christmas doesn't count) so going to cook one of those up this weekend and with a bit of luck get my hand pump into action.

I think the OP is becoming a hop head. Time to cultivate that hipster beard! :beerbang:

I think you're right and it's a concern! Need to expand my horizons a bit!

 

[Grott]

with a bit of luck get my hand pump into action.


mmmm...........now that's a worry :huh:
​

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Keg lube will help fix that

 

[Killer Brew]

Pirate Life Throwback is a mid strength and came in at #11 in the Hottest 100 last week. Great flavour although a little light in the body for mine.