🍺 The 10 Biggest Beer Myths Busted
Beer is simple. Beer is complex. Beer is misunderstood.
As a beer sommelier, I hear a lot of strange things about beer at tastings, at bars, even from industry folks. Most of it comes from well meaning tradition or clever marketing. But myths, once they take root, tend to stick around far too long. It’s easier to remember a myth that the truth, they are usually more fun.
Here are 10 of the most persistent myths about beer and the truths that every beer lover (or skeptic) deserves to know.
1. "Beer should be ice cold"
The myth: The colder it is, the better it tastes.
Why it sticks: Advertising. Those frosty mugs, drinking a refreshing cold drink under the summer heat taught us that refreshment equals cold.
The truth: Cold suppresses aroma and flavor which is fine for ‘‘bland’’ beers, but a tragedy for complex ones.
Different styles have different serving temperatures:
Pilsner: 4–7°C
Pale Ale or IPA: 7–10°C
Belgian Dubbel or Imperial Stout: 10–13°C
Colder = duller. A cellar-temp IPA often smells like a fruit salad. An ice-cold one? Just cold.
2. "Dark beer is stronger than light beer"
The myth: A dark beer is always heavier, stronger, and more alcoholic.
Why it sticks: Dark roasts look like they mean business.
The truth: Color comes from the type of malt used, not from how much alcohol the beer contains.
Guinness Draught: Just 4.2% ABV and incredibly light-bodied.
Duvel: Belgian Pale blonde, but a sneaky 8.5% ABV.
Dark just means roasted. It might be chocolatey, nutty, or smoky but not necessarily strong.
3. "Cans are for cheap beer, bottles are premium"
The myth: Real beer comes in glass. Cans are for sports stadiums and convenience stores.
Why it sticks: Bottled beer used to be the norm for higher-end brands. Cans were associated with macro lagers.
The truth: Modern cans protect beer better than bottles.
Cans keep out light and oxygen the two enemies of beer freshness. They’re lighter, more portable, and more recyclable. Today, many top-tier craft breweries (like The Alchemist or Beavertown) can or keg (a large can) exclusively.
Bonus: No risk of skunky “lightstruck” flavors in a can.
4. "Fruit and flavored beers aren’t real beer"
The myth: Beer should be hops, malt, water, yeast — full stop.
Why it sticks: Purist traditions like the German Reinheitsgebot influenced global beer culture.
The truth: Historically, beer included spices, fruit, herbs, and even bread.
Belgian Lambics use cherries (Kriek), raspberries (Framboise), or peaches.
Goses and Wits often include coriander, citrus peel, or salt.
Modern brewers experiment with mango, coffee, chili, vanilla, and more.
Flavored doesn’t mean fake. It can mean layered, playful, or traditional.
5. "Too much foam is a bad pour"
The myth: You’re wasting beer with all that head!
Why it sticks: People feel cheated if there’s "less liquid" in the glass.
The truth: Foam is part of the beer experience.
A good head:
Releases aroma
Softens mouthfeel
Protects the beer from oxygen
Shows quality ingredients and clean glassware
A pour with zero foam usually means: dirty glass, no carbonation, or poor technique.
6. "Beer contains preservatives and chemicals"
The myth: Especially in big-brand beers, there must be nasty additives.
Why it sticks: Vague fears around "processed" food and drink.
The truth: Most beer contains four things: water, malt, hops, and yeast.
Some beers are pasteurized or filtered, but those aren’t dangerous. In fact, beer is often more "natural" than soda, wine coolers, or some wines.
Want clean beer? Look at breweries that advertise short supply chains and unfiltered batches. But don’t assume "mass-produced" = unnatural.
7. "Beer gives you a beer belly"
The myth: Beer = gut. It’s even in the name.
Why it sticks: Many people who drink a lot of beer do gain weight especially with fried snacks on the side. Beer opens up your appetite and might make you eat more.
The truth: Calories cause weight gain not beer specifically.
Beer has calories, sure (about 150–300 per pint). But so do wine, juice, or a bag of chips. Moderate beer drinking, paired with an active lifestyle, won’t give you a belly on its own.
What matters is how much you drink and what else you eat with it. But let’s be honest: a beer and a burger are just a match made in heaven.
8. "Beer before liquor makes you sicker"
The myth: The order of drinks determines how bad your hangover will be.
Why it sticks: People like simple rules to avoid regrets.
The truth: What matters is total alcohol intake not order.
Drinking beer first might feel easier on your stomach, but once you're several units deep, it doesn't matter what came first. Mixing drinks can mask intoxication and cause over drinking, which leads to worse hangovers.
Drink less, drink slower, hydrate. That’s the secret not the sequence.
9. "Craft beer is always better than big beer"
The myth: Small = better. Big = bland.
Why it sticks: The romanticism of underdog brewers.
The truth: Many small breweries are excellent. Some make honestly terrible beer.
And many large breweries produce incredibly consistent and technically flawless beer even if it’s not “exciting.”
Craft isn’t a guarantee of quality. Look for:
Freshness
Clean fermentation
Balanced flavor
Proper handling
Size doesn’t make the beer. Skill does.
10. "Beer is a man’s drink"
The myth: Beer is for guys, wine and cocktails are for women.
Why it sticks: Gendered marketing and cultural stereotypes.
The truth: Historically, beer brewing was women’s work from Sumeria to medieval Europe.
Today, women are award-winning brewers, sommeliers, judges, and educators. Beer culture is (finally) becoming more inclusive. And honestly, gatekeeping who gets to enjoy beer is just outdated nonsense.
Final sip:
Beer is more diverse, nuanced, and rooted in history than most people realize. These myths have shaped how we drink and think about beer but it’s time we outgrow them.
The more we understand what’s in our glass, the more we can appreciate it. And maybe that next pint will taste even better for it.
🍻 Have you heard other beer myths that need debunking? Drop them in the comments or send me a message — let’s keep the conversation (and the beer) flowing.