I lean more toward wine. Beer feels sort of more substantial… like wine is a balanced accompaniment to food, but beer practically is a food. That’s totally irrational because they both have about the same amount of calories per serving, but it feels like beer has more “stuff” in it. For me, drinking one beer is about as filling as eating a slice of bread. With wine, it’s more like I can just effortlessly enjoy it.
Don’t get me wrong; I do really enjoy a good beer now and again. I really love Belgian and Belgian-style beers for all the funky, malty flavors. They’re really thick and hearty, so that goes back to the irrational thought that beer is a food. Some of my favorites are Delirium Tremens, Allagash Curieux, most everything by Unibroue, and Three Philosophers. The most recent thing I tried was totally different, Goose Island bourbon barrel-aged stout. It’s nearly 15% ABV, as dark as motor oil, and as thick as a port. Holy jebus. It was really interesting, but everything about it- the flavors, the weight, the bitterness, and the alcohol- was so intense that it took forever to finish just one.
For me, wine vs. beer is like reading a favorite novel where you know every word, vs. working your way through a challenging classic. Wine just “flows” better, but they’re both rewarding.