Does anyone buy mediocre beer just because it's local?

Also many folks who might answer yes are not part of the BA crowd who participate in the forums or even on BA in the first place.

 

And I highly suspect that many (most?) of those non-BAs who prefer to drink local would actually describe the local beers they are drinking using the word "mediocre". I highly suspect they enjoy drinking the beers they drink.

Cheers!

 

I buy mostly very good to excellent local beers. I usually choose local beer over non-local, even if I may like the non-local beer a little better. But at the end of the day, I like the local beers that I buy. Life is good.

 

As a beer industry employee in a heavily "buy local" populated market, I buy local alot to keep up with what's out there. I know Boise has alot of mediocre beer/brewerys, but I'd argue we have more good beer than bad. So I can't complain.

 

Boy, how missing a word can really screw up a message.

What I meant to say above was: And I highly suspect that many (most?) of those non-BAs who prefer to drink local would not actually describe the local beers they are drinking using the word "mediocre".

Non-Cheers to me.

 

Inadvertently on occasion

 

In produce local source will typically include things from a couple of hundred miles away. Here in the DC area stores will call anything from NC to PA and NJ "local". In say coffee local usually means in the same metro. It kind of depends on the goal - to reduce ton milES of freight? To create direct contact between consumer and food producer? To encourage smaller scale production? To keep monet in a particular community? All are aspects of the local food movement, and all have somewhat different implications for the definition of local.

In beer where state focused distribution patterns seem very important, I think there is a greater tendency to do it by state, except in the largest states.

 

I live about 40 miles away from the Heineken brewery. Heineken tends to be on sale a lot here. In that way it works out, yeah.

 

Mediocre. No, and it's my belief that such beer isn't worth buying -- even if it's to: "show support to the 'little guy' local! Give them some love in the form of money, in order that they might eventually improve their game!"

I don't believe that to be a very good strategy, and frankly, I'm pretty stingy when it comes to such things.

 

There are a bunch of FL breweries that have been around for < 3 years that are rushing cans to market. And from the big grocers to the local "organic market" types, "Buy Local" is a big deal in the beer aisle. But you really have only 2, maybe 3 breweries that put out consistently good bottle / can to statewide distribution, so there is plenty to avoid and/or grab only a single of for try / tick purposes.

That said, if I want a Kolsch and the choice is between a mediocre local 6er, a mediocre national 6er, and a 2 year old 500ml German import, I will pick the local. But for more competitive styles, mediocre is losing out every time.

 

There's a ton of garbage breweries here in San Diego and I won't support them just because they're local.

 

I'll always try a new local beer without knowing it's quality, but I wouldn't purchase a mediocre beer just because it's local. Sorry, but you have to brew quality stuff for me to purchase the second time around.

 

That's how I feel about it.
Unfortunately, nothing in my local area has ever warranted a second purchase. Some of it is competent or just "ok", some is actually embarrassing, but nothing in this neck of the woods is really particularly compelling (or worth the high prices some of these things fetch).
I'm always willing (and even hopeful) to be proven wrong, however.
I will admit to being jaded.

 

IMO- if you don't try local, you're not supporting craft beer. Give it a try and supply feedback. You may get the next best product available. Enjoy!

 

In short, I don't have the same passion for "Ticking" beer that I did when I was in my twenties.

Back then I was too busy trying new stuff to worry about whether or not the next one would be mediocre, much less worth my money. I spent most of my income sampling the latest local brews at bars, buying cases of foreign brands to sample with roommates, or even far-flung regional brands like "Alpha King*" for the occasional party with my friends.

Eventually I learned that there was mediocre beer (and it's not all local), learned about the beverage trade, and learned about my own palate. I even learned that spending money frivolously was of little benefit to me.

But to this day I gravitate toward Summit E.P.A. when I'm out, and that's a brand which the local, hardcore Craft Beer lifestylers consider the epitome of mediocre! Me? I find it to be "good", rather than simply "good enough".

But back to an earlier point I mentioned: There are at least ten times as many Craft breweries in the local market now, and since I know what I like in a beer, I have a choice of go-to brands from long established local and regional breweries.

Should I support a new, local brewery simply because they are brewing a beer in the same style as one of my go-to brands? I could do that, but I'm somewhere in between stuck in a rut and set in my ways.

Besides: I can wait for one of the younger, more zealous local "Tickers" to tell me whether or not the new brand is better than or equal to my go-to. Or even if it's simply mediocre.

*This was back when there was no draught available -- and Zombie Dust was not yet a brand.

 

I buy mediocre beer due to its being local, but only before I have tried it. Once I learn first-hand that it's mediocre, I no longer buy it.

 

If anything, I hardly buy local because the majority of it is mediocre, cheers

 

What town in MA do you live? I could point you in the right direction. Tried the Ipswich rt 101? Nightshift whirlpool?

 

I'll try new beer that's local, but if it is mediocre, I won't buy it again.

I can't speak to other areas but NE has enough great local places that this hasn't been an issue for some time.

 

I haven't tried the Ipswich 101, but I like the Oatmeal Stout. I've seen the 101 just never got it. I love Whirlpool, probably my favorite pale ale. I'm in Revere. My closest breweries are Mystic and Night Shift.