# Are there some people who will just never acquire a taste for beer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [May 24, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073 "2011-05-24T21:51:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/41 "2011-05-25T04:45:29Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > (At least Americans drink it cold; warm beer is an abomination.) The warmest you’ll usually find anywhere in the world is cellar temp (50-55F) for certain ales, which can be a value of “warm” I suppose. But beer is unambiguously “cold” in most of the world in my experience. The English come closest to drinking anything that might be considered “warm” by American standards. Personally, I find their ales served “cool” and the lagers served “cold” to “ice cold.” I remember some stereotype about Germans enjoying warm beer. I have no idea what this refers to or what beers in Germany might be enjoyed cold, because in my experiences across that country, I have never encountered any beer that could be described as “warm” by any person. I can’t even think of any beers that I’d describe simply as “cool.” ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/42 "2011-05-25T05:08:24Z")
what was that joke about stinky cheese? when people insist you try something nasty like stinky cheese, they would invariably assert that you’ll get used to the stench and come to like it. the correct response should be bafflement - why would anyone want to get used to stinky cheese? 😕 sure, different people have different palates and your own might change over time, but if it (right now) smells as bad as it tastes, why would you want to get used to something that smells like stinky feet? but then of course, somebody like Craig Ferguson for example, might say that nobody ever drinks beer for the _taste_, you drink them to get pissed. 😃 /finger steeple ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/43 "2011-05-25T05:18:55Z")
You know, you might find you have a taste for cheaper beer. God Help Me, but might I suggest some Cream Ale? Little Kings perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/44 "2011-05-25T06:13:53Z")
Tried it, never liked it. Now that I’m on a bunch of psych meds, I can’t drink at all and even the smell of beer makes me ill. Which is kind of a bummer as I have a couple of friends who are homebrewers and my hubby really likes their stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/45 "2011-05-25T13:32:04Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > Try A.Keiths, Sleemans or Kilkenny. If you don’t like anyone of those beers your shit out of luck. > > Enjoy your fremented grapes. I’m not a big wine-drinker, I stick to hard liquor and mixed drinks. For what it’s worth, I can chug warm jagermeister and it tastes delicious to me. I can drink the hardest vodka, straight up. But beer, I just cannot make myself do it. Cannot do cider because it tastes beer-y, but I see now that that’s kind of an American thing. Maybe some British cider is the way to go. As to why I’m trying to “make” myself like beer, well… it seems like I’m really missing out on something that brings a lot of other people pleasure, and it makes me a little sad. Plus, beer is cheaper than the stuff I drink now. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/46 "2011-05-25T13:45:16Z")
I too have tried all kinds of beer and can’t stand a one, and have just about given up. I think you have to develop the liking for it young. I never drank any beer at all until I was past twenty-one (I don’t remember when, but it was sometime in college) and it has always been nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/47 "2011-05-25T13:47:03Z")
I hate the taste of alcohol. I fail to see why I should keep drinking it to acquire a taste so I can hang out with people who drink. Thankfully, I have friends who don’t care whether or not I drink, so it’s not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/48 "2011-05-25T13:59:29Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I’ve never liked beer, and I’m a 40-plus-years-old Canadian. 😉 Same here. I had a Coors Light a few days ago because a buddy bought a round after getting promoted, but prior to that my last beer may have been years ago - I can’t recall. The only alcoholic beverage I do like, aside from the occasional red wine, is ice-cold Bailey’s. Even then, I’ve probably averaged less than one alcoholic drink a month over my adult life. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/49 "2011-05-25T14:18:27Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > I hate the taste of alcohol. I fail to see why I should keep drinking it to acquire a taste so I can hang out with people who drink. Thankfully, I have friends who don’t care whether or not I drink, so it’s not an issue. But I do like non-beer alcohol, so it’s not really comparable. And I don’t drink to hang out with people who drink, either. I tend to drink a couple times a month, by myself. I don’t care for bars and I don’t have friends. Moreover, most adult relationships are not contingent on consumption of alcohol. You’re really reaching, here, and sound obnoxiously self-righteous about it. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/50 "2011-05-25T14:22:06Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > As to why I’m trying to “make” myself like beer, well… it seems like I’m really missing out on something that brings a lot of other people pleasure, and it makes me a little sad. Plus, beer is cheaper than the stuff I drink now. I can appreciate that - I’m also of the school that likes to experience as much as possible. My position is that, you give a pleasure a good try - but if that doesn’t work out, it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/51 "2011-05-25T14:31:59Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > But I do like non-beer alcohol, so it’s not really comparable. And I don’t drink to hang out with people who drink, either. I tend to drink a couple times a month, by myself. I don’t care for bars and I don’t have friends. > > Moreover, most adult relationships are not contingent on consumption of alcohol. You’re really reaching, here, and sound obnoxiously self-righteous about it. I didn’t get that from Patch’s post, and I, as a person who doesn’t drink very often, have been pressured heavily to drink more. So I got the feeling she has just had some of those experiences. I get mocked for drinking lightly and only drinking foofoo drinks and people ask me flat out how I can possibly enjoy myself without drinking. But I’m 35 and long past the age where I succumbed to peer pressure so I’ll continue drinking my one margarita or grasshopper and being perfectly happy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/52 "2011-05-25T15:02:57Z")
I like beer. I’m not as gaga over the stuff as some people, but I do enjoy it. Coffee, however, is nasty stinky stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/53 "2011-05-25T15:12:30Z")
Answering the OP title’s question: Yes. My wife, for example, seems to be a “supersmeller” and I can guarantee you she will never be able to gulp down even the tiniest bit of beer. You were probably talking about people with more normal-range sense sensitivies, though. As to that, I suspect with enough positive reinforcement anyone could be brought to enjoy just about any taste. But I have nothing to back that up. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/54 "2011-05-25T19:06:39Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Answering the OP title’s question: > > Yes. My wife, for example, seems to be a “supersmeller” and I can guarantee you she will never be able to gulp down even the tiniest bit of beer. > > You were probably talking about people with more normal-range sense sensitivies, though. As to that, I suspect with enough positive reinforcement anyone could be brought to enjoy just about any taste. But I have nothing to back that up. I’m a supersmeller and supertaster as well. That’s interesting. I also love cilantro. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/55 "2011-05-25T19:10:48Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Heh, I too dislike both beer and \*\*coffee \*\*(though I like coffee-flavoured stuff). Interesting. > [@JohnT](#): > > \<– doesn’t like beer or \*\*coffee \*\*either. (bolding mine) :eek: That’s crazy talk. Athena gave us coffee because she is merciful and knew the other gods were all going to spend their time tormenting us. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/56 "2011-05-25T20:29:51Z")
In college, I made a concerted effort to find a beer I could at least tolerate. There was a bar that offered over fifty different kinds of beer, from dozens of countries. I tried every kind they had. The best were offensive; the worst were horrifying. I still find even the smell of beer repulsive, and at this point, I don’t expect that to ever change. I like good (non-beery) apple and pear cider, mead, mixed drinks, some liquors neat, and some wines. If beer is the only booze available, though, I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/57 "2011-05-25T20:45:39Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > In college, I made a concerted effort to find a beer I could at least tolerate. There was a bar that offered over fifty different kinds of beer, from dozens of countries. I tried every kind they had. The best were offensive; the worst were horrifying. I still find even the smell of beer repulsive, and at this point, I don’t expect that to ever change. > > I like good (non-beery) apple and pear cider, mead, mixed drinks, some liquors neat, and some wines. If beer is the only booze available, though, I’ll pass. If you tried all fifty beers in one sitting, no wonder you don’t like beer today. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/58 "2011-05-25T20:47:58Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > If you tried all fifty beers in one sitting, no wonder you don’t like beer today. 😉 I was thinking the same thing! Good gods. ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/59 "2011-05-25T23:57:42Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I have tried chocolate beer, butterscotch beer, raspberry ale \ and all the usual types of beer. I don’t like beer, period. Maybe it’s the hops; dunno, don’t care. Tried for about 20 years to like beer, in states with LOTS of microbreweries, but, bottled or fresh-brewed, nope. Can’t stand it. mmmm…would happen to remember the name of the butterscotch beer? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073/60 "2011-05-26T00:08:49Z")
I don’t like Beer or Coffee, either. I’ve tried many beers, but nothing appeals to me. Pepper Mill, my wife, doesn’t like coffee, either (although she _loves_ the smell of a coffeeshop). She says that she’ll drink beer, but I’ve never seen her do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-some-people-who-will-just-never-acquire-a-taste-for-beer/583073.md?page=4)