How often are you trying something new?

I have come to this realization with my own drinking. I have gotten into a bad habit where I have to attend every new can release and try every new beer to pad my numbers. I am averaging about 50 new beers a month. Having said that, I have learned how silly it really is and it has taken a lot of the enjoyment out of craft beer,I have made a conscious effort to limit the chase of new beers. Its like modern day Pokemon, got to catch them all!

 

When I got into craft a year ago, everything was new and I was trying to narrow down what I like - which turned out to be stouts. About 6 months ago, I had started to exhaust the new stouts available here, so then built up a cellar of sixes and fours of my favorites. Now I keep about 8 beers in the fridge, a mixture of favorites and new. Sometimes a specific beer is calling to me all day, other times I open the fridge and grab what sounds best at the time. This works well for me - a balance of favorites and new.

 

used to be something new every night, back when i was new to craft and mix 6 were all i got. not to mention i had the time to drink a beer.

now years later, it probably averages out to one a week. i pretty much only drink on weekends now and am buying 6-packs and occasionally a bomber or single here and there. I think some of it has to do with where i now buy my beer.

I used to to the liquor store where there were more options but i've now shifted to getting beer at the grocery store. with the grocery store i go to now carrying the craft staples and even the local guys it saves me a trip at the cost of variety. Heck with my points/discount card its cheaper as well.

 

Kinda have to bury my head in shame, but I can't remember the last time I had a new beer. I won't buy sixers unless I'm sure I'd like it, and I don't really go to bars anymore. Theyre usually consistent with the offerings, and I'm sure right now they have 2-3 Pumpkin beers on which I don't like. I'm in a rut, I can't even remember the last IPA that I've had, mid July I suppose. I've been drinking nothing but Pils , Fest and AALs.

 

3-5 beers I drink per week are new, if not more. I keep a couple strong regulars in the fridge, but mostly try new stuff.

 

I probably have been getting too many new beers for a while. Need to throttle back a good amount.

 

If I go out to a bar, just about 100% percent of the time. At home I have found myself hitting up regulars from my favorite breweries more and more lately. I would say that the new stuff I have bought at home is closer to 30% of what I consume.

 

I guess I am abby-normal here. When I go out with friends to a brewery I always enjoy tasting new things, but at home I pretty much stick my favorites. Then again I don't drink that much anymore.

 

I buy beer only every 2-3 months or so, each stockup usually split 50/50 between new and familiar brews.

 

For the past year, I drank nothing but New England beers. Now that I've moved to the Midwest, I'm definitely looking forward to expanding my portfolio. Any suggestions besides the big boys (Perennial, 3Floyds, Toppling Goliath, Surly)? Im in Wisconsin so anything close (I can go as far as one state over) or disto'ed to that state would be awesome!

 

I supposed I am a ticker at heart so I am trying new beers every chance I can. It's not just to have another notch on BA but I just like trying new things. So I would say that 85-95% of what I drink is new to me.

 

That sounds nothing like a rut to me.

For the purposes of this thread, I probably average 2 to 3 new beers a month.

 

A ticker / reviewer at heart, (approaching 1,000 reviews in just over 3 years), I find myself enjoying beer as much as ever but the reviewing part of it significantly less than I used to. However, it pains me more not to write one, maybe I have some form of OCD?

Still try to get 3-4 new beers a week (1/5 of my consumption), however the great ones (WOW beers), seem to be increasingly farther apart from each other.

 

New Glarus

 

The benefit of having more than 4600 breweries in this country and living in the metropolitan Chicago area is the availability of new beers on a regular basis. Every week or two, I will try a new beer and thank you to all the BA's for your reviews.

 

I would love to do a poll on how many people are hooked to trying something new more than their old favorites. Its not that I don't like my old beers, but its sort of lost its thrill so to say over something I never had yet. The thrill of the hunt I guess.

 

I bought a beer I've never had before, waiting to try it. A big 10% Dipa from Highland in Asheville.

 

Every week or 2. Too many beers not to.

 

As often as possible. Everywhere we go I seek out New beers. We drive most places and always take coolers. Got a Tap n Fill in Idaho Falls a few months ago and I am really impressed with the beers they get. They also do a great job of getting new beers all the time and post them on their Facebook page as well as having tap take overs quite often. Love me some taster flights! Trying 8 New beers 4oz.at a time is a wonderful thing!

 

Depends. If I'm in a store, it's if a see something interesting. Same for a bar. In a brewery/brewpub, I'll ask what's new. My go to,Bangin' Banjo in Pompano Beach, will give me a sample of new or limited brews, and usually, I'll end up buying a glass.