Searcher? Ticker? Who are you?

I just happen to be 100% searcher. I remember the almost life saving dark lager (and stew with dark bread) somewhere deep in the old Yugoslavia, worn out from trudging unknown through limestone and strange terrain. The name of the beer is meaningless. I remember a Carling Black Label on Jeff Ensminger's balcony, at about 13, and a Budweiser with my Grand Dad at about 11. My Dad was happy about being alive after the Philippines (Leyte 1944), so he and I shared a zest for beer, especially a deep fondness for real Munich Lowenbrau. I learned as much from what he didn't say but did than just about any other way I know. I miss that guy. Beer and golf were a glue that kept us together. I could write pages of these recollections, of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Canada, all beer, food and people related. I always want to know where someone is from. I'm the same way with beer as I learn about the people and the beers that they drink and live with. I try new beers all of the time, but I've never once thought of counting or documenting them.....other than reviews here and there on New Beer Sundays a while back. Great post Dave!

 

Agreed 100%. There was a thread sometime ago where the guy rated 200 beers on here during a ticking bottle share. That sort of ticking shouldn't be encouraged or allowed, at least on this site, but the overall idea that ticking is a bad thing is misguided.

I did get off unTappd just because everyone seemed to just be posting whales or rare beers. I was tired of it. I only follow one beer account on Instagram, and that's more than enough.

Hmmm, I used to follow a woman on UnTappd who had an asinine amount of check-ins every day, most with photos. I wondered how she hadn't dropped into liver failure. I get it, I drink quite a bit, but not to the point of checking a baker's dozen beers every night. I bet she was taking a sip. In order to prevent myself from ticking for the sake of a lengthy list, I always write a review. If I can't review it, I don't rate it or put it on any list. In my opinion, you haven't truly enjoyed that beer unless you could at least provide a brief review (not to say from memory, just in general). I also dropped my use of UnTappd just because I was tired of seeing folks bragging about what they're drinking. Your example of her really does sound like a pure form of ticking.

I don't carry my laptop into bars unless I'm going to get some work done. Up until about 6 months ago, I'd type out notes on my phone and text them to myself in order to provide a review at a later date of beers I drank at breweries. Particularly those I visit on my travels. Now I just go in and enjoy the beer. If it's something noteworthy, I'll jot down a few notes, but otherwise it's another beer that will make me appreciate the next one even more.

I have thought about maintaining a spreadsheet for my own purposes, but haven't bothered to set one up since I already have a list going here. I do keep a spreadsheet of my cellar inventory though. That way I can quickly reference what's where, so I don't have to dig around, but that's a different purpose.

 

I think some people get obsessed with ticking any beer so they can rate it on BA or add to their untapp'd stats. I have friends that buy mixed six packs just to tick, often drinking crappy beers just to do it. Seems crazy. Not saying I don't like trying new beers, but I'm more quality than quantity. I rarely even rate beers here and I think I drink amazing beer.

I do love searching. I am semi-addicted to trying the best beers in the world. I trade, hunt, etc to get them and I find it better than traditional ticking because I'm drinking amazing beer.

So I would say I'm a combination of searching and ticking, but definitely 80-90% searching. If I can't find/get a hard to find great beer, I would rather go to total wine and buy a solid shelf beer like jai Alai or founders breakfast stout then buy a mixed six pack of junk.

 

I'm mostly a ticker.

i like to try a ton of different beers because any next one could be my new favorite.

BUT if i greatly enjoy a beer i'll definitely go back to it. and now that i've had a good amount of beers i'm starting to seek out better and more difficult to find beers.

 

I think that ticking off a new brew is part of the joy of craft beer. You just might end up trying your new favorite beer.

That being said I have some favorites that I consistently pick over new beers.

 

65.8732% ticker 28.6549% searcher 5.4719% other

 

True. Don't get me wrong, I tick...my unique check ins on untapp'd are hovering at 2k. But it's mostly brewery release or trading vice buying from the store. If that makes sense.

 

When I started homebrewing, I instantly became a 95% ticker as I was determined to learn from commercial examples of different styles and become familiar with both desired and off-flavors, as well as identifying my own preferences. I have since transitioned to about 70% searcher as my homebrew supply has increased and threshold to pay for commercial beer has risen. I do enjoy that 30% ticking habit, though.

 

I think this is coming down to the idea that we're mostly a mixture - interesting to talk about our buying and consumption habits without the "us v. them" crap creeping in.

 

I'm 5% searcher, 10% ticker, 85% drunkard.

 

I'm currently predominately ticker. I won't just buy any beer because it's new, when I hit the local shop I look for the options that interest me and are new. I won't just pick up yet another IPA I haven't tried just to have something new to tick, nor will I just grab whatever I can to create a novel mix-a-six though. So that's why I say predominately and not 100% ticker. I will also every once and a while go for a tried and true beer rather than something new.

Also, while I like trying new beers and while I'll certainly take advantage of flights at a brewery the idea of just getting a sip or two of something so I can knock it out doesn't particularly appeal to me, I like to feel like I'm giving a beer a decent chance before I rate it and usually go for pints before I tick. I don't do full on reviews anymore, but that's because I found myself not drinking a new beer sitting in the beer fridge because I wanted to just drink a beer instead of writing a review or trying to tease out tasting notes.

 

I tick way more than seek. When I do beer runs for myself, I limit myself to beers I haven't had before. Years ago I could barely eke out a case, but nowadays, there are new releases every week. Years ago, I had to pick and choose across many styles. Now it's got to the point where I can pick and choose to styles I prefer (IPA/DIPA, then stout/porter, then sour, then pale/session IPA, etc.)

When I do weekly date nights, or just outings in general, I will default to a local favorite or something tried-and-true.... if any only if something new doesn't strike my fancy. Example: local pizza joint near me, Cogans North, will always have Aventinus or Golden Monkey on tap (at least since opening years ago it's been like that). I will gladly default to either of these... but dammit, there's a ThaiPA I haven't seen before up there that looks interesting.

When I supply kegs/sixtels for parties, I always default to something fan friendly. Usually it will be Troegenator or DB Vienna Lager or Mad Elf (haters gonna hate but I love the stuff when its that time of year)... can't force my wishes upon the fellow guests.

 

90% Searcher, I only try new beers when they are easy to get and not outrageously priced, I only review beers that are particularly memorable one way or the other.

 

For what you say, it sounds to me like you are a searcher after the experiences and camaraderie associated with beer rather than the beer itself.

 

Always. Good beer seems to find me!

 

I was a ticker at first but now I worry less about trying everything and more about trying the best.

 

No question -- they broke the mold.

 

Kudos on this!!

Onto the discussion:
I find it interesting on the differing definitions of "searcher" as the term "ticker" has that negative connotation others have talked about. I was really interested how this would go when @Harrison8 early brought up the specter of "searcher" being equated with "chaser" - another generally negative term. I find some posts seem to want to revise my interpretation of the OP's definition of searcher to include some ticking activity.

All that aside, for me:
I'd say I am currently in a ticking phase, pulling me up a tad on that side, helped by the number of places newly distributing to my area. To that end, I'd say 60% ticking 40% searching (non-chasing version). I agree with others in that a lot of my ticking comes from brewery tap rooms (mostly local). Now, I do not rate or review every beer I have, but usually pick a few to review before trying or after a few tastes. A fair number of these fall into the type @FBarber mentions in my quote above.

If I actually hit a brewery, I will attempt to try most their stuff to get a feel for the brewery: what it does well, note so well, potential. Again, on the non-ticking side, I do not rate or review all these beers, but try to do a couple or so. And as many have said, some of this is to find a beer for which to "search." Another part of this is that a couple of the breweries around here do very few repeats (but I always enjoy what they do) - ticking or searching??

On the search side, when I do run across beers I know I like a lot, I grab them without thought - and never considering what new beer I might buy instead. And when I am in a store, I do look for these beers - maybe even more than(or at least before) beers to tick. If I find enough of the "searched" beers, I look for very interesting "tick" beers. The threshold goes up to meet the latter the more I have of the former.

Anyhow, I can see myself getting back to 50/50 soon enough, maybe even more searching.

 

Scott, there are no emoticons in your post but I am willing to bet that you are joking here.

There are plenty of "beer appreciators" on BA. Maybe they would be more skilled at stating a percentage breakdown of ticker vs. searcher. Needless to say but I lack that skill.

Cheers!