We admit having once to oblige a friend from the fatherland tasted this repulsive drink and while we acknowledge our present friendship for choice Havana we are truly thankful that our aversion for lager bier has remained permanent from the first mouthful.

That quote comes from an article in the June 1856 edition of the United States magazine of science, art, manufactures, agriculture, commerce and trade and shows that lager loathing is not a new phenomenon. The article described how lager bier “a nauseating drink” had taken over New York.

Lager came to New York in the 1840s brought and encouraged by German immigrants, but soon it became popular with the locals as well. Not much change there then.

The appetite for lager bier is daily acquired by hundreds rich and poor, young and old, high and low natives and foreigners on all sides are imbibing immense quantities of this lately introduced liquid. Physicians prescribe it for our wives and instead of being asked to smile as of old we are now familiarly invited to take a little lager. In short a nauseating drink that before was scarcely known even by name has within five years become the favorite beverage not only of New Yorkers but a large portion of our fellow citizens in all directions

Source: United States magazine of science, art, manufactures, agriculture, commerce and trade