Online Beer Tastings - Idea Submission Thread (2016 - 2021)

What's wrong with groupthink? We're not selecting a champion.

 

As a newcomer to this thread, I was just hoping to encourage creativity by asking for individual input to get things kickstarted. As soon as the polls get posted, majority prevails.

The first post of this "Idea Submission Thread" says that this is about the BA community and that we should provide as much input as possible. Due to the reception that I have received on here (after posting ideas that didn't conform to the established schedule or infringe upon previously tasted styles), I have quickly realized that this is more about accommodating the people that "run" this thread and not the BA community at large. I'm fine with that... let me know when the next one is and I'll probably join any way.

After being unceremoniously dismissed, here's what I don't quite understand... If I were to post a tasting thread every other week for the entire year that covered every single style on BeerAdvocate, what would be the downside?

 

Speaking only for myself, I think you are misinterpreting my remarks on your suggestions.

As to the schedule, at my age, participating in a tasting every two weeks means that the beers selected for the tasting will dominate my purchases, almost to the exclusion of all else. Hence, it is too often for me to participate.

As to the voting, I personally like the "feel" of being a bunch of friends sitting around discussing what beers they will bring to the next share. New friends are always welcome.

I'm OK with a poll, so long as it does not become antiseptic and still retains the element of human interaction and discussion and consensus. Majority vote and consensus are two very different things. I'd like to keep some elements of the discussion and consensus.

New ideas (such as yours) are good. They stir the pot.

But, that's just my view.

 

@MNAle I appreciate the open and honest response and it gets right to the core of my question. In your case (and in mine), I don’t think I would necessarily be able to participate every two weeks but over the course of two years, I could cycle through all of the beer styles simply by participating in every other tasting (i.e. every four weeks). I guess this would tie into my own Beer Objectives which include trying a larger variety of styles... and can be done independent of a tasting thread.

I totally agree that the interaction and discussion are key to everything. I didn’t mean to diminish that aspect of it but I definitely didn’t highlight it. Thanks man.

 

Porters is (are?) a great idea. Seasonally appropriate, wide variety and easily obtainable, everything from imports & nationals to locals.

No need to make things too complicated. The style of each tasting has been reached by discussion and consensus, I don't feel that anyone has forced their choice upon the others

You haven't been dismissed, unceremoniously or otherwise , past tasting choices have sort of just gone with the flow without being locked into a predetermined beer.
Someone (anyone) posts “I think [insert beer here] would be a great idea for the next tasting. Here's why.” Anybody who wants to puts in their 2¢ and, eventually, the group reaches mutual agreement on a style. Similar to your poll, but much less formal, and I can't recall anyone claiming their suggestion was ignored or dismissed out of hand.
There's nothing wrong with a poll to narrow the choices down to two or three, but let forum discussions and give & take determine the final decisions without committing to anything months down the road.

I enjoy the tasting threads and every four - six weeks works out well. Much more often than that, especially biweekly, would be unaffordable for many BA's (me included) and just plain overkill considering WBAYDN, NBW, and ongoing threads dedicated to particular styles and beers.

 

This makes a lot of sense to me and I agree that all of those other threads are great resources to avoid overkill. I proposed biweekly just so every style would have a chance to be highlighted through the year. It didn't really occur to me that people might feel some type of obligation to participate in each and every one. The Barleywine tasting thread was great but if I wasn’t into barleywine, wasn’t available, or didn’t have access to it I would’ve been able to look forward to the next tasting that I could join. I appreciate everything that goes into planning and executing these events and will gladly join the next one.

 

I'd be down for the bock tasting, but I won't be able to get a hold of a beer that's true to style (unless we include dopplebocks).

 

I get that, you're ambitious .
I've looked at the tastings as a way to get people interested in showing and talking about styles which don't get the popular attention they deserve nowadays, but are still accessable to most members, not as a “check off”; if a style isn't chosen this year (shrug) ”oh well, maybe next year, we have plenty of time”.

Is there really a need to set aside 2 1/2 days extolling the virtues and varieties of NEIPA's, AAL's, IPA's, or candy flavored stouts? The tastings have attempted to have a cohesive theme and trying to get to each style in a year leads to groups of beers that just don't go together (eg 12/31 & 02/12).

The poll suggestion has merit to narrow down the options, after the vote has determined the top 2 or 3 the proponents of each can try to sway public opinion to their chosen style.

Finally, as a practical matter, the relative scarcity of the tastings (8ish/year) drives up anticipation of the event, fueling participation and views which, in turn, increases the number of hits and visits to beeradvocate.com which helps us all.

 

Sounds like a great way to attack all of the styles... I will plan accordingly!

 

Good points and I have tempered my ambition accordingly. I am definitely looking forward to the next event!

 

How about a good ol' Doppelbock. After all, it is February.

 

Since we did Doppel's in 2019, I'm also good with Quad's.

 

Yeah we need to do that quad tasting within a week. I picked up a twisty of a quad done with smoked figs. It won't last much longer.

 

It should definitely be a dark, high ABV style. if Wee Heavies are too similar to Barleywines, how about Imperial Stouts and Imperial Porters tasting? Or Belgian Strong Dark Ales and Quadrupels tasting?

 

That sounds delicious. What beer is that?