Depends on the style. I like to see through and IPA. Strong ales are nice translucent as well. A hefe? There better be no light passing though that sucker.

quote: Originally posted by jlozier Depends on the style. I like to see through and IPA. Strong ales are nice translucent as well. A hefe? There better be no light passing though that sucker.

I only care about a beer being clear if it's some type of lighter lager.

Murky brew don't bother me as long as it isn't full of suspended floaties. Columbus Brewing makes an unfiltered IPA and it's delicious. I'd rather have a cloudy beer full of character than a clear beer that's had the life sucked out of it.

as Southern Star Brewing says "Clarity is Overrated"

quote: Originally posted by mattfungus Is beer being clear a requirement.

Some styles require filtering (who wants a cloudy pilsner?) or when a brewer uses a yeast that doesn't flocculate too well. Unfortunately, filtering also gives a beer that over-processed/stripped flavor. If I have an option, don't filter. A lot of the time, brewpubs are often too small or don't have the time and money to have a filter. These are the beers I have grown to love. Because of this, it's influenced my taste and love of unfiltered beers...I associate it my local guy/gal and that makes me happy. To me, an filtered IPA at a brewpub seems wrong. Guess I prefer it old school. An unfiltered IPA seems to be more bitter. I have no scientific proof to back it up...just my tastebros telling me it's more bitter. I guess, for me, very few styles should be filtered.

I tend to like beers that can block out the sun. [:D]

Depends on style for me. Recently got a cloudy barleywine and first thing I said was oh no here we go. And yup it sucked. Some styles like wheat beer and some belgians I kind of expect to be cloudy.