• by Nina Lentini  @Nina_Lentini, April 7, 2016

As the weather changes and the beer taps at bars switch over from winter drafts to spring seasonal brews, a new Harris Poll is out showing that nearly 9 in 10 beer drinkers think it’s a great time to be alive. It also happens to be National Beer Day.

Seventy percent of the more than 2,000 U.S. adults surveyed online say they like trying new types of beer and nearly two-thirds enjoy a local brew. The latter is especially true of craft beer drinkers, 86% of whom are fans of local beer, compared to 77% of those who prefer import beers and 60% of domestic non-craft beer drinkers.

When it comes to beer style, lagers are tops, with 30% of beer drinkers saying it's their preferred choice. However, 40% say their favorite beers change with the season. Millennials may welcome the change most as they're more likely than any other generation to modify their tastes with the seasons (56% vs. 42% Gen Xers, 26% Baby Boomers, 21% Matures).

Says Danelle Kosmal, VP of Nielsen's Beverage Alcohol practice, in a release: “Whether it's with a new session IPA, a farmhouse ale, or a refreshing summer flavor, there are plenty of reasons for beer lovers and brewers alike to be excited about their opportunities in beer."

But what about the snacks that go with that pint of suds? Pizza tops the list of foods that beer drinkers say is the best to eat while sipping a cold one (28%), which comes as no surprise since a separate Harris Poll found that pizza also ranked as the number one comfort food and beer beats out all other alcoholic beverages as the top alcoholic beverage to wash down a slice.

Burgers (10%) and wings (7%) round out the top three favorite foods to pair with a beer.