How Do You Choose Beer In The Store?

1)Are there are limited releases out?
2)Do any of the breweries I like have anything new out?
3)Do any of the breweries I like have a regular I've never tried (is that regular fresh?)
4)Because I'm moving soon what small local breweries are out there that I wont be able to get in a month?

And that usually fills a mix a six along with a bomber or two.

 

Shopping for beer is the only time I wish I had a smartphone.

 

No one else uses their smart phone to check BA ratings for unknown beers?

 

I look for specific things when I know they've been released, but otherwise I just poke around for anything new that came in. If there's nothing new, I'll either go home and have some homebrew or get something local I've had a dozen times.

 

None of you guys ask the beer guy? Usually wherever I go I assume the beer buyer knows whats good, fresh, rare, or might be hiding in the back that hasn't been put out yet. Maybe this is just a California thing.

 

My algorithm looks something like this. I tend to have a good sense of what I like, so I know that any good examples for those styles will be good, and I've got a mental picture of how various beers relate on the hoppy/malty/funky/yeasty axes. I try to keep my "cellar" about as tiny as possible, both because of space constraints and also because I only drink a couple beers a week and I don't want the hoppy stuff getting old.

1. Cross off any bombers of styles available in 4/6pks (basically, anything not sour/funky)
2. Are there any season 4/6pks that interest me? Something like Nugget Nectar. If so, buy, unless a) it's hoppy and b) I've already got a sizable stash of hoppy beer at home.
3. Do I have any IPAs in the house? If not, buy a 6pk of high-ish ABV IPA with a good date. Union Jack, 2XIPA, Flower Power, Little Sumpin Sumpin, etc.
4. Do I have any funky beer in the house? If not, buy Orval, Gueuze Fond Tradition, Jolly Pumpkin, etc.
5. Do I have any porters/stouts in the house? If not, buy Smuttynose Robust Porter, Founders, SN, Brooklyn BCS, Old Rasputin, etc.
6. Are there other beers I've heard of / want to try / have limited availability? If so, and it won't result in overstocking the hoppy stuff, buy.

 

I go to Ton Overmaas, fill my bags with St Bernardus Abt and Prior, then walk home.