What do you do when you open a beer you don't like?

Drain pour it. It's a beer, not some religious artifact or family heirloom. Why would I continue to drink something I don't like?

 

Immediately dump it out. It isn't worth the carbs or alcohol intake if it is something you do not enjoy.

 

Good question. I go back and forth on this - dumping a beer I don't like - mostly from a waste standpoint. I mean, I paid 10 bucks for sixer and if I don't like it, do I just dump the bottle/can and ignore the five others? But then I remember this is my hobby and dumping a beer is the risk you run with an agricultural hobby, you know? So yes, I usually give a beer about 6 or 7 ounces to make an impression, and if I don't dig it, I dump it - not worth the calories. I usually have other beers in the fridge at all times, so I simply make a substitution.

However, just because I didn't dig those 7 ounces in that moment doesn't mean I won't come to appreciate them later, so I'll usually crack another bottle of the same beer a few weeks after that initial tasting to see if it was me or the beer - sometimes it's me (NB's Side Trip) and sometimes it's the beer (Bent River's Blueberry Stout).

 

I opened up a 1 year old IPA that someone sold my daughter instead of intended beer, it met the sink after a sip. Knew it was old, but had to try it to see how it held up

 

I have yet to waiver on my opinion that beer (to me at least) serves as a hobby and place of enjoyment. For this reason, I refuse to endure something I do not like. I can't undo the fact that I bought something (for the "paid good money" argument) but I do respect the theory of sunk cost and don't want to throw good liver after bad money!

 

Give it to my brother in law.

 

Certainly if it's a beer that you don't like, it needs to be discarded. But did you give it a chance to warm up to see if the taste character changed? Is it a moderate to high-rated beer? Others can't be wrong in their ratings of the beer if it is well rated, so you may want to question whether your taste buds were off for that drinking session. If you have more cans/bottles, try another one later. Or is it possible that it is spoiled from improper storage along the way, or you suspect an infection? If so, and if you have more of them, I'd take them back to the store.

 

I drink it. FFS, it's only beer. You're likely going to drink thousands and thousands of beers throughout your life, 1 beer, for better or worse, is going to make zero fucking difference. Just drink the damn thing.

 

It doesn't happen very often that I open a beer I don't like. Usually it's at a festival or at a tasting with a group. Then, either someone else likes it or we drain it into the so-called "master blend" which is a euphemism for the blend of all the drain pours / leftovers (that hopefully nobody will ever try).

If I am alone, I drain pour it. But that's rare. Usually I sorta preselect the beers I buy, so even if I don't *love* the beer, I usually enjoy it.

 

It has to be pretty bad for me to dump it. I usually drink it unless its horrible.

 

See if the dog likes it.... if he doesn't like it, it's a drain pour for sure.

 

If i don't feel sick ill drink it. but some beers have made my body shudder. I dump those. Less than a handlful have done that though.

 

The only beer i've ever disliked enough to drain pour is Bud Light Chelada. I don't like Caesars or Bloody Mary's so should have expected to hate it but it truly set off my gag reflex.

 

Have to agree with all. I drink beer (good beer) because I enjoy it. I don't drink anything just because it has alcohol in it. I recently tried Sam Adams Nitro IPA and I thought it was horrible. I split the first of a 4 pack with my wife. She also disliked it. Several days later I tried it again. After one sip, my mind was unchanged. Poured out the rest as well as the last 2.
Life is too short to drink bad beer.

 

Do you own a dog?

I used to give crappy Lagers to my German Shepherd... now I just don't buy them and get him a cheap Pilsner every now and then, he likes Pilsners.