How Did You Learn So Much About Craft Beer?

The Post a pic of your haul thread. Also, the regional forums help.

 

I hope that was a type should it be or instead of "of".

 

OGB here. ( Original Beer Gangsta) Started before there was good stuff available. Think Lowenbrau dark and Touborg gold. Like 1976 or so. Germany for a HS trip, Sam Adams in College, downhill ever since. Frequent your local(s) brewery and brewpubs. Try every beer in some flights( 5, 4 oz pours or so) Repeat as needed. Talk to the brewers. Start there.

 

This site is a good resource, but tread carefully in the forums. Sometimes there can be a lot of misinformation out there too. I personally came from a research background (Classics dork in college), so I approached learning about beer the same way and tore into the literature. Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher and The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian are good places to start. Michael Jackson and Stan Hieronymous wrote a number of good books too. The Oxford Companion to Beer is good as a reference source.

Also look into the BJCP style guidelines to get a feel for what to expect out of each beer style and learn a bit about the history of each one. These style guidelines also list a few recommended beers to try per style. That's a great place to start. Dig up some of these classic beers and taste them while referencing the style guidelines to get a feel for what's going on. Reading reviews from qualified and reputable reviewers can really help too.

You're on the right track by attending festivals and visiting breweries. It's a great way to network with knowledgeable people who work in different segments of the industry, and also a great way to learn about brewing equipment and the brewing process. If you have the time and interest, maybe consider volunteering at a brewery too. You could also look into Homebrewing clubs.

The one caveat I will offer is that you shouldn't obsess too much over the rare and hyped-up beers at this juncture. It can be fun to track down these brews, and many of them are fantastic. However, most tend to come from a narrow set of beer styles like Imperial Stouts, IPAs, lambic, etc. If you get wrapped up in drinking and obtaining only these beers you will severely limit your scope. There's so much more great beer out there that many people don't ever get around to trying just because it isn't rare or hyped. Try a broad range of styles to figure out where your own personal tastes lie. You also want to have a frame of reference for the beers you taste. You won't have that if you simply chase the hyped beer. The vast majority of new beer 'geeks' only drink what the hype dictates and basically only like what they're told to like based on BA and ratebeer reviews and rarity/hype. This is a damn shame. Don't be a lemming. First inform yourself and form your own tastes and opinions, then worry about the rest.

 

Besides drinking as many different beers as I can, I've gained a lot of knowledge through various medias (especially books). I've also learned a lot from surfing the forums here on BA.

 

Research, bottle shares, talking to beer managers, the cicerone program as well as the online beer forums. And Untappd.

 

I used my eyeballs!

 

I was super into food and wine when I was younger. Then I was stationed in Germany for 3 years.. Rest is history :-)

 

Before the internet, I had quite a few craft/foreign beer books/coffee table books that I wore out over time. There wasn't much out there, early on (starting around 1988 for me). Then the internet happened. Do a search for any question you may have, and...bingo. Oh and like other's here have said, beeradvocate.com. I've been a member for years and while I am not super consistent as far as posting/reviews, I have used the website continually for most of my beer research, ever since I joined. I like the layout the most and the level and type of smart assness here is just about right for me.

 

-went to monthly beer tastings curated by friendly, knowledgeable brewers and/or distributors
-stayed humble and listened to the more experienced guys talk and was never afraid to ask questions
-read a book or two about "beers of the world"
-tried every style I could find that I hadn't had before
-if smartphones had been around, I would have downloaded the BJCP style guide app (which I have now)
-started homebrewing

 

very perceptive olfactory system

 

WBAYDN

 

Join a homebrew club.

Forums, blogs, and websites are great - but are pale (pun intended) in comparison to being out there talking and experiencing!

 

Experience. Along side reading what some of the experts on here have to say

 

In 2011 I was in Milwaukee on business and spent my time exploring the local bars. The rest is history.

 

I work at a craft beer shop. Before I started, I thought lagers were the only type of beer that existed! Lol being around it often is a big help

 

For me it was BA and various books on beer styles and their history.

 

This awesome site