# Why does the most popular beer in almost any country always suck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [February 25, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163 "2019-02-25T04:53:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/1 "2019-02-25T04:53:12Z")
Take a look at this map, which shows the most popular beer in every country in the world (that has a preference or that they have data for): [![](https://vinepair.com/features/external/beer-world-map-3000-full-web.jpg) ](https://vinepair.com/features/external/beer-world-map-3000-full-web.jpg) Of nearly all the beers pictured on that map that I’ve had, they were almost all essentially indistinguishable from an American Budweiser or Bud Light, and I’m willing to bet that holds true for a vast majority of the ones I’ve not tried. Why is this? My WAG is the vast majority of them are simply copying Budweiser because it’s a proven hit. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/2 "2019-02-25T05:16:44Z")
My WAG is that people actually like that type of beer. Just because you prefer a different type of beer that doesn’t mean other styles suck. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/3 "2019-02-25T05:18:43Z")
Well, as most people I’ve discussed brewing that type of beer point out, it’s an inoffensive style. It doesn’t have much flavor to recommend it, but it also doesn’t have much to offend, either. It’s a mildly sweet, mildly bitter style. I’d prefer it if the trend was to a drier beer, but they’re obviously not asking me. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/4 "2019-02-25T05:20:43Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > My WAG is the vast majority of them are simply copying Budweiser because it’s a proven hit. There’s a certain amount of cognitive dissonance with equating “proven hit” = “it sucks.” ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/5 "2019-02-25T05:40:04Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There’s a certain amount of cognitive dissonance with equating “proven hit” = “it sucks.” I think he was clear. Point 1. They all taste the same. Point 2 They all suck. Clearly the OP doesn’t care for this flavor of beer. Sometimes you’re with the masses and sometimes you’re a unicorn.😃 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/6 "2019-02-25T06:11:55Z")
Corona and Heineken are the worst, change my view. Guinness isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly unique in this category. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/7 "2019-02-25T06:16:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > My WAG is that people actually like that type of beer. > > Just because you prefer a different type of beer that doesn’t mean other styles suck. My wag is the vast majority are just philistines that either dont know any better or just dont give a fuck for some reason. Liking or not liking isn’t even part of the equation to them. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/8 "2019-02-25T07:08:48Z")
its all or mostly pilsner …… its about as adventurous as the American frankfurter……… ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/9 "2019-02-25T07:53:04Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Corona and Heineken are the worst, change my view. > > Guinness isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly unique in this category. Hmm, Heineken vs Bud Light as the bottom brew? I can’t say that I can come up with an objective argument, but I know which one I would pick if they were the only two options. I prefer skunked beer to beer that was almost designed to taste nasty. That’s not to say there aren’t some damn nice pilsners out there, but they don’t seem to be mega popular. And yeah, Guinness is a nice, middle of the road, non-offensive stout. I’m glad the Irish have hung on to it being their go-to beer and not followed the march to sweet beers. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/10 "2019-02-25T08:05:15Z")
They sell because they are cheap and generic (no strong flavours to challenge young taste buds). I find it doubtful that they are copying an American beer. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/11 "2019-02-25T08:27:06Z")
It’s not just beer. I think the majority of people prefer bland, boring food in general. Anything a little different freaks them out. However, > [@DCnDC](#): > > . . . and I’m willing to bet that holds true for a vast majority of the ones I’ve not tried… I wouldn’t make that bet, myself. Yeah, Corona tastes like crap, but I’ve tried the one in Switzerland, and many other Swiss beers. Nothing there comes close to being as flavorless and cardboard-tasting as Bud Light. And Poker definitely is better. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/12 "2019-02-25T08:37:30Z")
And Singha in Thailand? It’s nothing at all like Budweiser–it has real flavor. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2019, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/13 "2019-02-25T08:53:50Z")
Oh, Budweiser has a flavor - I just wouldn’t call it the flavor of a great (or even good) beer. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/14 "2019-02-25T09:13:12Z")
By definition, a country’s most popular beer will be mass-produced and probably reasonably-priced. As cheap mass-produced beers go, some of those is OK. Tuborg is decent enough, as is my own country’s favorite, Goldstar. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/15 "2019-02-25T09:49:16Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > By definition, a country’s most popular beer will be mass-produced and probably reasonably-priced. As cheap mass-produced beers go, some of those is OK. Tuborg is decent enough, as is my own country’s favorite, Goldstar. … and probably a brand owned by one of several conglomerates, such as AB InBev, with the associated massive marketing spend to _make_ the brand popular. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/16 "2019-02-25T10:10:38Z")
I’ve been all over the world and have had most beers on that map. I have over 1000 ratings on [Ratebeer.com](http://Ratebeer.com) as well. I wouldn’t go so far as to say those beers suck, but they are truly for the masses and most of them mediocre at best. Whenever I travel to a foreign land I try to find the cheapest brew available. You know, the “Milwaukee Best” of that locale. Something that would never get imported into the USA. I find that whatever it is it’s usually better than our premium beers. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/17 "2019-02-25T10:53:36Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > My WAG is the vast majority of them are simply copying Budweiser because it’s a proven hit. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Guinness isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly unique in this category. Yeah, of mass-produced beers, I’ve only had Bud, Peroni, and Guiness, and Guiness certainly doesn’t taste like the other two. Peroni tastes like a good version of Bud. If I had to choose between a craft IPA and the other three I’d choose Guiness, Peroni, then the IPA, then the Bud at the bottom. I’ve had some craft non-IPA that were okay but I’d still prefer the Guiness for drinkability. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/18 "2019-02-25T10:54:31Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > My WAG is the vast majority of them are simply copying Budweiser because it’s a proven hit. While the rest of your post is open to taste, (I quite enjoy some of the beers on that map) the idea that they’re copying Bud is hilarious. They original makers of Bud based it of a pre-existing Czech recipe, hence using the Budweiser name. (Which FYI they’re not allowed to use in the EU) Many of the Euro beers on the map predate Bud by anything from a couple of decades to centuries. (Although admittedly no idea if the older ones still use the same recipe) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/19 "2019-02-25T11:26:14Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > … and probably a brand owned by one of several conglomerates, such as AB InBev, with the associated massive marketing spend to _make_ the brand popular. Sure, but bear in mind that we’re talking about the most \*popular \*beer in each country, not the most beloved. The most popular means the one consumed the most, which means the one produced at the largest volume, which means that it’s a mass-produced beer, which means that whoever owns it is by definition a large company. A really good beer can’t be the most popular beer, because really good beers aren’t mass produced by large companies. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163/20 "2019-02-25T11:59:49Z")
I’m more surprised that they list a most popular beer for Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is illegal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-most-popular-beer-in-almost-any-country-always-suck/830163.md?page=2)