“Brew” Blog yesterday asked: “Why do People Drink Imports?”

The blog and a related monthly magazine (download it at no charge) are from Miller Brewing, and Miller recently conducted research to understand why people pick up the imports they choose.

A lot to look at but here are a few bullet points suggesting how people choose their imports, and that they may have very different reasons.

• Fun. Sometimes people want to celebrate a special occasion – and “special” can mean anything from a pick-up game to a party to a vacation – by paying a little more for a beer. During times like these, people tend to pick up brands such as Corona Extra, Foster’s or Modelo Especial.

• Discernment. Some people want to seek out unique-tasting beers (think lambics) or beers that offer a distinct taste experience (hoppier beers). But the taste is the most important thing. For the more luxury inclined person, this could mean ordering a Chimay. Someone hanging out with friends in a beer garden on a sunny day might opt for a Pilsner Urquell.

• Status. Green-bottled European lagers are the beers of choice for people seeking a badge that says they’re sophisticated and accomplished – or who just want a refreshing beer. Hence the number of green bottles at high-end lounges or restaurants. Beers for these settings include Heineken, Stella Artois and Peroni Nastro Azzurro.

You’ve probably already figured out what’s missing here. Craft beers, microbrews, whatever you call them. Mostly American, but also the imports that aren’t distributed by giant brewing companies.

Yep, we drink them for fun, discernment and, to be honest, status. Although that doesn’t have to come in a green bottle.

The Ann Arbor News does a quick Q&A with Ron Jeffries of Jolly Pumpkin Ales: Serving humanity via better beer. Give Ron an opportunity to wax philosophic and he will.

Consider the last question: What makes a great beer?

That is a question that is impossible to answer because its entirely subjective. A really great beer is going to be different for every individual, and not only every individual, but every moment of your day and every day of your life because there are so many different flavors out there within different beers that go with so many different foods or different weather. There’s no answer to that question.

Nice answer.

Also got me wondering if flipping two words makes it a different question: What makes a beer great?

Too subtle? Perhaps. It could be the setting, a different sort of “moment” than Ron refers to, the pour, when the cask was broached, whatever.

All reasons that sometimes you drink a good-excellent-just fair beer and think “great,” and sometimes you pour a “great” beer and it isn’t.