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It has come to my attention that millennials drink different brews from the older generation. Whereas the older generation drinks traditional malt liquors and mainstream beers, millennials under 40 drink lighter and ice beers.
I'm not just talking about PBR. When I see people under 40 drinking beers in the lobby of my NYC apartment building, it's usually a Keystone Light / Ice or a Natural Light / Ice in the 25 oz size. Most of us drink 2 25s instead of 1 42 oz beer because the 25s stay cold. More young people drink Tecate with Mexican food, than Corona.
A small share of older millennials drink craft beer but it's a fringe interest in my area. I tried IPA but it tasted horrible to me.
My neighbor drank Old E every morning before she moved, but she's in her 50s. Colt 45 and Mickeys are associated with those over age 40 in my opinion. Another old people drink is whiskey, like Black Velvet, or Jim Beam. Hennessy crosses age boundaries but is more of an old people thing too. Do you notice this as well?
Keystone light or Natural light is barely considered to actually be beer at all in parts of the midwest, they are so watered down LOL.
I see milennials around Chicago drinking all sorts of decent beers, btw. Not just cess. This includes a lot of IPAs and sour beers. I guess it depends on demographics/what circles you frequent.
Try some of the ‘hazy’ style IPAs. They taste better IMNSHO.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Not here. When I go to the brewpubs I see everyone, including the millennials drinking craft beer. It’s IPAs, Mac & Jack, Fat Tire, Dogfish Head. Probably the most mainstream beer I see is Blue Moon. No one drinks lite or the old tasteless Bud/Coors type beers any more except at sports events, and only because it’s cheaper.
Not here. When I go to the brewpubs I see everyone, including the millennials drinking craft beer. It’s IPAs, Mac & Jack, Fat Tire, Dogfish Head. Probably the most mainstream beer I see is Blue Moon. No one drinks lite or the old tasteless Bud/Coors type beers any more except at sports events, and only because it’s cheaper.
Maybe it's an NYC thing. A lot of people drink Keystone Ice in the lobby of my building as well as on public transportation.
It's perspective. I'm a craft-beer guy, so I go to craft-beer places and see people drinking craft beers. If you don't, then your perspective will be different from mine.
FWIW, I remember "everyone" drinking keystone light types of beers when I was in my late teens/early 20s (tried one once, poured 90% of it out the window and abstained from beer for about 4~5 years till I met someone who got me into craft beers). Again, just perspective.... don't worry too much about it.
And as a beer geek, I find IPA's to be way over-represented. To me, it's what people who have no idea about craft beers latches onto because it's the only thing they recognize. They have their place, but it's in a slot just above BMC ~ something that needs to be nearly frozen to kill the taste just so you can get it down. Great in the middle of the summer when you're sweating after some hard labor, but it's more about the cold than anything else.
And as a beer geek, I find IPA's to be way over-represented. To me, it's what people who have no idea about craft beers latches onto because it's the only thing they recognize. They have their place, but it's in a slot just above BMC ~ something that needs to be nearly frozen to kill the taste just so you can get it down. Great in the middle of the summer when you're sweating after some hard labor, but it's more about the cold than anything else.
A good IPA actually shouldn't be ice-cold. That only dulls the finer notes in the hops, leaving plain old bitterness. In my experience, IPA's taste best fresh out of the refrigerator, as opposed to the ice bucket or freezer. And they're not something you drink with a nice meal. It's more of a laid-back post-college party beer, where getting drunk isn't the focus, and you want something better than Heineken et al.
Domestics, on the other hand, are only good for getting buzzed on a budget, like something to pre-game with. Although if you want to get really buzzed on a really small budget, Steel Reserve is your go-to.
I've noticed that youngsters tend to go for light beer of various brands.
This is actually true. It takes living to get good at enjoying bitter tastes. People can appreciate a sweet taste pretty much since birth. Then salty. (Think of little kids liking Doritos.) Then sour. (Think of middle school kids liking Warheads candy.) Bitter tastes don't get much love until age 16 to 25. This includes IPA's. But also foods like black coffee.
Broccoli, for example, has a slightly bitter taste. That's why most kids hate it. Also why many 21-year-olds might choose a Blue Moon over a Two Brothers Wobble IPA.
When I go out to restaurant or a brew pub I see quite the age cross section of those drinking beer. And the choices are quite varied across ages.
I'm of the 'older' generation and I'm all about craft beer; can't stand the malt liquors and mainstream beers.
Heck even my dad who is 89 doesn't drink mainstream.
If I had to make gross generalizations; geographic region will be a better indicator as to what beer is favored.
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