• Swarfega@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    In the UK, John Smiths is a fucking awful beer. There are so many independent breweries that there are many good beers to choose from. John Smiths is literally the bottom of the list!

  • kozy138@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    Most of there are one of the cheapest beers you can get. I’m sure that is a major factor.

  • jqubed@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    It might be interesting to look at the parent brands and see if this more a matter of who has the most resources for marketing and export sales.

    • neidu2@feddit.nl
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      8 months ago

      I can attest that the one for norway certainly matches what you might be hinting at. Ringnes is by far the biggest brewer in norway. And while they do own some relatively OKish brands, the one pictured here is by far the blandest one that is not that far removed from water. It’s only popular because it’s cheap. And its cheap for a reason.

      It wouldn’t surprise me if a dane would chime in with a similar statement about Carlsberg, although that sentiment could be more suitable for Tuborg. I’ll defer to Danish input on this.

  • Darkard@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    No fucking way is John Smiths the most popular UK beer.

    My parents and in-laws dri… Okay, nevermind

    • hydrospanner@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      That’s the part so many people miss with crap like this: they’re not saying it’s the best, or that it’s the favorite, only that it has broad general appeal.

      In the US, Miller Lite is nobody’s favorite beer (outside of a handful of devotees, I’m sure), but it’s a beer that any beer drinker can fall back on and locate just about anywhere. It’s not excessively high ABV, not overly hoppy, not sweet, low calories, doesn’t sit heavy, isn’t strictly for warm or cool weather, and reasonably priced.

      Demographically, it is drank by college kids, sports spectators/tailgaters, old guys down at the social club, golfers, rednecks, wannabe rednecks from the suburbs, bachelorette parties, rock show attendees, and pretty much anyone anywhere beer is being served.

      For those reasons, it’s likely one of the top 5 “most popular” beers in the US.

      Everyone saying they’re local regional favorite or specialty craft brew is better are just missing the point.

  • K4mpfie@feddit.de
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    8 months ago

    Looking how I got a Stiegl even in bumfuck nowhere, Canada, it’s kinda hard to belive that Gösser is the most popular. What’s the source for that? Edit: Ah source is “trust me, bro” Or rather a cursory internet search

  • kindenough@kbin.social
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    8 months ago

    Here in South Netherlands Heineken is not very popular. We drink the local brands. Alfa, Gulpener, Brand. I don’t drink Heineken, if I drink beer it is mostly local, German Kölsch or Belgian Trappist beer.

      • TwoCubed@feddit.de
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        8 months ago

        It actually is. I mean of course it’s all about personal taste, but from a brewer’s perspective, it’s one of the worst actually.

        • hydrospanner@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Having worked in the industry, and with the company that owns the Guinness brand specifically, it’s really not. Again, you may not personally be a fan, but you seem to struggle with objectivity on this one.

          Even many of the others aren’t that bad. Light lagers are surprisingly tricky to produce consistently, since their lighter flavors mean that any flaws are much harder to hide.

          • TwoCubed@feddit.de
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            8 months ago

            Edit: I redacted my comment as I don’t want to expose too much. Let’s just say most brewer’s I work together with have a passionate distaste for Guinness, mainly for the brewing process. But that may also be the elitist mindset of German brewers.

            I agree with the light lagers sentiment though. I personally despise them but the brewing knowhow behind them is pretty extensive.

            Anywho, it all boils down to personal taste and I can find better beers in most of these regions (haven’t been to all yet).

            • hydrospanner@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              So it’s literally that you just cannot work your mind around separating personal preferences from more objective statements. Good to know.

              • TwoCubed@feddit.de
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                8 months ago

                Sure.

                Guinness isn’t considered good in the industry, plus I dislike the taste. I like the company behind it though. There we go. Shit like the American Budweiser or Beck’s is difficult to brew, but tastes like shit. Taste can be an objective thing too, hence why there are beer sommeliers. But sure, if insulting me makes you happy, I’m fine with that. Have a pleasant day mate!

                • Hamartia@lemmy.world
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                  8 months ago

                  I agree that, of those shown here that I have tried, these beers are mostly in the inoffensive 4-6 out of 10 range. Like most things produced primarily for popularity over the art of the craft they intentionally do not push any boundries.

                  Would you list off some beers that you think are good representations of the brewing art from your perspective.

  • MicrowavedTea@infosec.pub
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    8 months ago

    I’m not from Spain and always saw Estrella as “the spanish beer”. Really surprised it isn’t here. What is Mahou?

      • MicrowavedTea@infosec.pub
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        8 months ago

        I want to say Estrella Galicia but I’ve probably seen Estrella Damm in more places. I think I’ve had both outside of Spain

        • h3rm17@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          Estrella Galicia tastes way better (subjective, lol), and has been increadingly gaining popularity all over Spain for the past 6/7 years (it was known before, but now it is more commonplace).

          Also, Mahou is quite common in Madrid. A bit of a shit beer, but better than Damm and, for example, Cruzcampo.

          Still, they put anlot of money into marketing, festivals and stuff like that, so that might have to do with it (most beers do, though)

  • kindenough@kbin.social
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    8 months ago

    And I thought the most popular piwo brand in Poland is Wyborowa.

    My Polish friends from when I lived in Amsterdam liked Grolsch out of the green bottle with flip top.

  • ritos@startrek.website
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    8 months ago

    Carlsberg has a special place in my heart because on a trip to Malawi (Sub-Saharan Africa, not Hawaii) it was the only beer available most places. The best part was that all the Carlsberg ads on the bars and shops said “Probably the best beer in the world,” like they weren’t really sure.

    • TeNppa@sopuli.xyz
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      8 months ago

      Liking beer’s taste is a Stockholm syndrome. Never have I ever met a person who has liked beer’s taste at first. But when you’re young and don’t have a lot of money, beer is the cheapest alcoholic beverage so you’re almost forced to drink that in some point.

      Then after a while you start to “like” the taste and soon you’re like “this is good” but you’re still lying to yourself until one day you really start to like it.

      Then you start to try different beers and they taste different to each other but they really aren’t as good tasting as good ciders or long drinks, but you keep on drinking and tasting.

      So just keep on trying to like the taste and some day you might.

    • Nakedmole@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Try a lager, like Ratsherren Hamburg Lager. It’s beer for people who do not like beer (source: I do not like beer but most lagers). If you like it sweet you could also try porters, like Lausitzer Porter but that stuff is sweet af.