Cheap Beer

As I may have previously stated, I am not much of a boozer. I have a host of other vices. I will have an occasional vodka greyhound, or shot of tequila during a blue moon but I am a decided amateur. Alcohol sort of dumbs me down. Except for a good big cabernet sauvignon, which actually makes me smarter. But that is another story.

Even though I am not a big drinker, I have a perverse fascination with alcoholics and heavy drinkers and really enjoy their company at my local fraternal organization.

Now if I have to down a beer, I tend to like crafted beers or Smithwicks, the national beer of Ireland. Sierra Nevada and Samuel Adams aren't too bad, either. Usually I get a hard look from the professionals if I order one of these.

What I find fascinating, and the point of this rant, is that all the hardcore beer drinkers I know drink what to my taste are the shittiest tasting american beers. Primarily Coors and Bud actually, with the accompanying light.

Now I have been canvassing my test subjects as to the reason for this, even offering to buy them frosty mugs of expensive draft beer and they just won't have it. I asked a person I will call Joe, a friend who can easily put away a case or two, the reason for his choosing weak, diluted, american piss flavored beer and received the following answer:

Joe says people drink beer for two reasons, taste and buzz. He drinks coors for taste, but then he went on to say actually for it's lack of taste. You can pass more of the lager down the gullet faster because it doesn't have much of a taste. 12 oz. alcohol delivery system - voila! Serious Buzz. And they are cheaper.

Don't take my word for this - find your favorite beer drinker and offer to buy them a nice draft of Guinness or Boddington's and watch them wince. I would be interested in your collective thoughts on the subject.