Beer Burnout

There comes a time in every beer lover’s experience when their interest in the subject starts to flag a bit. When a once favorite beer no longer sparks pangs of excitement, anticipation and ultimately satisfaction.

Perhaps it comes after years of constantly and exhaustively seeking out the new, or after spending too much time with a single style. Regardless of the reason, a drop in passion is a frightening if unavoidable thing. And when the inevitable happens, you can either accept it and hope it passes, or lean in and try to kick-start your passion anew.

In my beer drinking adventures, I’ve experienced the doldrums of disinterest on a few disconcerting occasions. During the first bout, a small panic set in. Doubts advanced and flanked me on all sides. What if I never get excited about beer as I once did? What if I only want to drink one brand or style forever? What if that style is Amber Ale? Panic. Sheer terror.

During this first depressive beer episode, I didn’t do anything to counter it. I now know that was a mistake. It took several months for my interest to regenerate and this only occurred after I took affirmative steps to address the situation. When beer depression sets in, I recommend enjoying a short reprieve. Hydrate, breathe and rest. But there should come a time when you get back on that bar stool and order the next round. Here’s some advice on how to do just that.

A lot of beer burnout these days stems from our near incessant need to seek out the new, the exciting, the fresh and undiscovered in beer. As with adult relationships, this pattern of promiscuity ultimately leads to an inability to forge a real, lasting connection with a single, satisfying brand. The first step in breaking this speed dating cycle is to simply focus. Stop going to bars where all of the taps change daily and you experience anxiety poring over dozens of new options during every visit. Try hitting up a place that takes a more brand loyal approach in selecting its lines.

Another culprit in beer depression is the unintentional curation of a monotony of taste. With the explosive dominance of juicy, dry and hop-forward IPAs, it has become increasingly easy to fall into a pattern of only drinking hoppy beers. If your interest in beer flags, take an IPA hiatus. Spend a few weeks exploring less appreciated styles, including often forgotten classics. A return to your beer roots, whether in the form of Brown Ales, Pilsners, or Hefeweizens can remind you of the diverse flavor palette that craft brewers create from.

Focus can be a great interest clarifier, too. Concentrating on a single brewer’s beers or only drinking bottled beer in an often ignored style can be fun exploration tools.

Beyond these options, other restorative methods include honing your tasting abilities through concentrated note taking or blind tastings with friends. Taking a deeper look into a small number of beers, especially when mixed with the excitement of not knowing what you’re drinking, can jump-start seemingly moribund interest. Or try a road trip to a nearby city to check out its beer scene.

If these steps don’t work, it might be time to seek out professional help. Not in the form of a therapist, mind you. I’d recommend visiting your favorite local bartender or bottle shop employee and ask what’s exciting them lately. Sometimes it just takes the strength to ask for a little help. ■