Dark Beer is Bitter Beer?
Jan29
Hey BrewDad peeps got a question and was hoping you can help. I get a lot of people/customers at work who say “Dark Beer = Bitter Beer.” I know and you know the truth but how and why do they come up with this? What am I missing? I have asked a few. What do you mean it’s bitter? Some are stumped and some say because it is dark and strong.
So I am asking what do you think? How should I answer this so they may understand and be educated in a good manner? Ideas, thoughts, concerns???? Send me your thoughts or add below in the comments all lines are open.
i think that it is something that people who mainly drink big brews like coorse or bud are the ones who think this. before i started brewing my own beer i only drank land shark or budwiser. once i started brewing i started trying different beers and learned that there is so much more to it than dark and light and bitter. maybe offer them a sample of a dark beer that you know they might enjoy and see what they think. (i know getting people to trya ‘new’ thing is a challenge, even my own family hesitates trying my beer) but tell them the worst thing that can happen is they like or they dont and they can continue drinking ‘pabst’ or whatever floats their boat.
Some darker beers, mainly stouts and porters, may have certain roasted malts that have some coffee like bitterness to them. People not used to drinking those beers may be overly sensitive to that type of bitterness. Other darker beer types have no bitterness whatsoever. Get them to try a Scottish ale or Belgian dubbel and see if that changes their perception.
Scotch ales, cream stouts or bocks will change the opinions of these fearful customers… the issue may be getting them to try! Amanda is probably right: these are likely lager drinkers. I knew nothing about dark beers a decade ago and was shocked to find out how much I’d love them. The best course of action? Samples! Offer a taste of a smooth dark beer followed by a taste of an IPA for contrast. Even better, a pairing event for both types to show how well beer (bitter or no) can complement an everyday meal. The more experiences new beer drinkers have, the better!
Many examples of the Schwarzbier style, a dark yet relatively light-bodied lager style that originated in Germany, will be a pleasant surprise to the “I don’t like dark beers” folks. Usually well-balanced and highly drinkable, there are multiple beers available that are inspired by this style, including Uinta Baba Black Lager, Xingu Black Beer, Full Sail Session Black Lager, Samuel Adams Black Lager, Monchshof Schwarzbier, and more.