# If beer had no alcohol, would you still drink it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277 "2013-05-02T00:47:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/41 "2013-05-02T18:30:27Z")
All things being equal; if during the day, you offer me a hundred varieties of soda, I will take the one with caffeine every time. At night, if you offer me a hundred types drinks, I will take the one with alcohol every time. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/42 "2013-05-02T18:48:03Z")
I would still drink it, though not as much. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/43 "2013-05-02T18:54:59Z")
The Russians have a kind of near beer called _kvas_, made from fermented rye bread. Cold in the summertime, it’s very refreshing. It also gives you the runs. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/44 "2013-05-02T18:58:49Z")
Since I don’t like the taste of beer now, I seriously doubt I would take it up sans alcohol. My friends say “It’s an acquired taste.” I reply “So, I imagine, is horse piss. I don’t want to force down enough of either to like it.” ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/45 "2013-05-03T00:21:17Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The Russians have a kind of near beer called _kvas_, made from fermented rye bread. > > Cold in the summertime, it’s very refreshing. It also gives you the runs. ☹ I was just coming in this thread to mention kvass. It’s kind of like non-alcholic beer and very popular in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/46 "2013-05-03T00:33:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I wouldn’t drink nonalcoholic beer any more than I’d drink decaf coffee. > > I needs my drugs of choice. I agree 100%. Otherwise I’ll stick with Arnold Palmers. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/47 "2013-05-03T00:49:59Z")
No absolutely not. Beer is good only for the buzz. The taste and smell is awful. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/48 "2013-05-03T01:13:20Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Since I don’t like the taste of beer now, I seriously doubt I would take it up sans alcohol. > > My friends say “It’s an acquired taste.” I reply “So, I imagine, is horse piss. I don’t want to force down enough of either to like it.” Huh, the funny thing is, I never felt it was. I always liked the taste of beer. Go figure. (Probably because when we were little, the adults in our family used to let me and my cousins have a sip sometimes if we asked. Yeah, that’s how we rolled in my family.) ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/49 "2013-05-03T02:49:26Z")
Yes, but I’d cut out all the macrobrews. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/50 "2013-05-03T04:10:38Z")
Yes, I love the taste of a lot of beers. I’m not a big beer drinker, though, because I can’t handle downing that amount of liquid in an attempt to feel tipsy. I need at least three drinks to feel much from it. I stick to liquor most of the time. Also, it’s not the best on my digestion. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/51 "2013-05-03T04:30:27Z")
Yes, I would drink beer without alcohol. Alcohol is the devils brew. At least if feels that way when I drink it. No chance of me becoming an alcoholic so maybe that’s a painful blessing. Nothing like an ice cold beer after mowing the lawn though. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/52 "2013-05-03T04:42:22Z")
Beer is is to “acquired taste” as being kidnapped is to “Stockholm Syndrome” Hint: Both are psychological mechanisms for coping with something that is truly terrible. I contend that the taste of beer is actually worse than the kidnapping, so the analogy only goes so far. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/53 "2013-05-06T05:31:47Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Beer is is to “acquired taste” as being kidnapped is to “Stockholm Syndrome” > > Hint: Both are psychological mechanisms for coping with something that is truly terrible. I contend that the taste of beer is actually worse than the kidnapping, so the analogy only goes so far. So why bother with beer? I seriously don’t get why people would drink beer if they hate it so much. It’s not like beer is the only alcoholic substance available. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/54 "2013-05-06T08:39:51Z")
Yeah, if you hate beer don’t drink it. There are all kinds of drinks out there for people who don’t like beer: hard lemonade, wine, spritzers, hard liquor, etc. You may not believe it, but there are people who do like beer, why else would there be different styles? ---
**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 6, 2013, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/55 "2013-05-06T09:02:24Z")
I like beer, but I wouldn’t drink it if it was alcohol free. I won’t drink low alcohol beers, either. I feel the same way about wine, even expensive wine - I enjoy it, but not so much that I’d drink it for the taste. My cheap-ish drink of choice is cider, nowadays, since they’ve managed to make cider that isn’t cloyingly sweet. Even then, I wouldn’t drink cider if it wasn’t alcoholic. If I’m not drinking booze, I drink water. It’s the best choice; soft drinks (“sodas” in American) are for children and I don’t drink coffee and only drink tea in Asian restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/56 "2013-05-06T12:47:08Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Let’s assume that the taste of beer would be exactly the same as before, but there would be no alcohol. Would you still drink it, or does the taste of beer by itself not that good? I would still drink it, absolutely. I have always liked the taste of beer from my very first mug of it, but dislike of being intoxicated keeps me from indulging more often. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/57 "2013-05-06T14:01:16Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > So why bother with beer? I seriously don’t get why people would drink beer if they hate it so much. It’s not like beer is the only alcoholic substance available. Indeed. As I posted earlier, beer is only to be imbibed when there aren’t any spirits around. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277/58 "2013-05-06T14:20:12Z")
No. I don’t drink much anyway, anymore, but no. Beer tastes fine, but if there’s no buzz, fuck it, give me water. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-beer-had-no-alcohol-would-you-still-drink-it/657277.md?page=2)