The beer question is a thought experiment in politics that attempts to measure authenticity and likability in politicians by asking or polling voters about which politicians they would prefer to drink beer with, as in, spending casual time "hanging out" with. The question has been discussed as far back as the 2000 United States presidential election, as well as in the context of fictional political works such as The West Wing. The question has been criticized for the gender bias implicit in referencing a predominantly male drinking culture, and some have questioned the relevance of likability in choosing candidates for public office.
The beer question, often utilized in opinion polling, asks respondents a simple question, generally along the lines of "With which candidate would you rather have a beer?" The question is generally thought to provide information on how voters perceive some combination of likability and authenticity in politicians, with Erica J. Seifert describing it in her book The Politics of Authenticity in Presidential Campaigns, 1976-2008 as "[combining] a battery of character and personality questions typically asked...
Poast Oak
Bread up, Bro
Kenny Blankenship
Wolfgirl in Wheatfield
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