I usually assume when Europeans complain about American beers, they just are complaining about our "domestic" beers like Bud Light, Coors, PBR, etc. which makes sense, they are our bottom shelf beers.
I recently chatted with someone at a party who said "no, all American beers are bad" including microbrewery beers.
I've never been to Europe so I wouldn't know, but I do like my Left Handed Milk Stout, NWPAs, and hell even the hipstered out IPAs.
Full disclosure, I'm a Seattle born beer enjoyed so I mainly drink microbrews, or what some folks have told me is "fancy beer".
My parents moved to the PNW from California in the 80s, and they were amazed at the sheer amount of options. Back then it really was just Bud, Coors, and PBR, but even back then the microbrew scene was budding in Portland and Seattle. My dad would tell me how when they would go back to visit old friends in California, it was either amazing wine of shit beer. People's minds were blown when they would bring some stuff down from up north to the party.