How's your beer year so far? (2021)

As they say in the microbiology arena...
TNTC.

 

I've slowed down considerably having only reviewed 66 beers so far this year. Got a couple trips coming up that should open up the doors to trying lots of beer-to-me beers in a variety of styles. Likewise, I started a new notebook for beer notes, which contains a few additional reviews yet to be transposed to Beer Advocate.

Otherwise, the last two local breweries that had their taprooms closed due to COVID have opened up within the past month or so for weekend service. It's been so refreshing to step back into those breweries (they both happen to be my #1 and #2 in the city) and talking/laughing with people in person again. And having slow pour again is a real treat.

 

Great year so far. I've actually cut back a bit on IPAs to focus on lighter stuff, mainly lagers and English Ales. I've had some really good local lagers and it's good to see these breweries branch out a bit from the haze craze.

Currently I would rather drink something like Old Speckled Hen or O'Hara's Irish Stout over the latest hyped IPA. Easy drinking without risk of burning my throat (I'm looking at you Trillium).

 

I was looking at my stats a few moments ago. I started the year strongly, drinking 25+oz of beer a day, only to force myself to slow down in April and May to under 16oz a day. And then, after a couple of trips to Tree House in June I have bounced to the mid-20s a day.

Lots of good beer though. Alchemist, Notch, Suarez, Tree House, Trillium, Foam, Other Half, Kane, Forest and Main, pFriem, Hudson Valley and many more.

Not as adventurous as I used to be in terms of trying new breweries though. In 6 months I have only tried 41 new breweries (it would have been 2-3 times that in the past). My most popular (broad) styles are Pale Lager (917oz), DIPA (837oz), IPA (385oz) and Bitter/Mild (306oz).

I won't bore you with all the other stats but let's just say that I'm drinking well. Eating on the other hand, not so much.

 

Revolutionary as far my craft beer journey is concerned. I tried most of the (over)hyped beers I was itching for and gained a new found appreciation for my locals. I grew tired of hazies, which if you would have told me a year ago or two, I would have never believed it. I’ve begun to explore many other styles and have branched out more than I ever thought I would have(or needed to). I’ve learned a lot from a lot of advocates here on this site(still have a long way to go). But all in all, everything has been peachy. Still trying new stuff weekly, still having just as much fun as I was, if not more, as when I opened my account here. Cheers!

 

I'm definitely ticking more this year, around 70 (including 24 barleywines which makes me very happy) so far which is probably as prolific as I've been in ten years. No sign of slowing down either, I have a healthy backlog! Got over my fomo's years ago which helps a lot with my enjoyment level. I'm having fun getting back into the social side of beer as well. Great time to be a beer drinker.

 

I'm a bit off from ticking, but just received about 30 different NA beers from the supermarket, a lot of them new to me. So kind of ticking without registering at the moment. Amazing the pace new NA beers pop up, better try to get acquainted a bit better to at least some of them. Like the ones, more like a dozen different, I've been carrying home from the convenience store a block away.

 

I've only been checking in new beers via Untappd. Occationally I will do a check in on stuff I like to tell a story about. FFF Gumballhead usually motivates me to do so, or a new cream ale. Anywho, I am at 795 beers (not for the year, but just as a point of reference to update the "How was the 2021 beer year for you?" thread)

 

Terrible. I've been in a dry country the entire year.

 

Welcome to the BA site and to the forums. Where's the"dry country" so I'll know not to to go there? (i.e. you should add your location to your profile info so we'll know you better.)

 

Since COVID started my wife and I slowed down our travels for pub crawls, but things are getting a bit more active for us and a couple of long trips were recently completed and new beers discovered. There are always places to explore, but not always the time to do it.

 

It’s been a great summer for visiting new to me breweries. I don’t review beers and/or places like I did when I first retired 6 years ago, and I don’t even “tic” beers as ardently on Untappd lately (I’m getting old and lazy). But I’m meeting new people, having great experiences, and making new friends along the way which is what I enjoy most about our “hobby.” Cheers!

 

Due to the merging of the New England forum with whatever the NY/NJ/PA forum was called, I don't really know what's out there. Stopped paying attention to the local scene because I'm tired of IPA and never gave a shit about sours with marshmellow to begin with. I pretty much exclusively drink Pilsner Urquell now with the occassional Paulaner Pils or anything from Schlenkerla thrown in. It's been a much cheaper beer year, and I'm ok with that.

 

91 beers so far.
Tmavé 13° from Bierstadt is tops so far.

 

I need to do a proper tasting on that beer. The first one I had seemed flat and flavorless, the second one I had was great. I'm blaming the first one on palate fatigue from earlier meals.

 

Just got back to this site a few weeks ago, so a slow start. Despite that, it's seeming decent. Finally got hold of a few things that shouldn't be hard to find but somehow managed to elude me for years (hi, Einstok White), and am enjoying the heck out of the profusion of sours, lagers, and pastry stouts that arose while I was on something of a beer hiatus.

 

This year is going well. With travel for work and vacations possible, the month of June had me visit Tree House in Sandwich MA, Pondaseta in Amarillo, and finished last week at Smog City. Throw in regular visits to the Sand City taproom by the house, and no complaints.

 

Because I am less than enamored with some of the new styles crowding the shelves, I have returned to the basic styles that attracted me to the craft beer scene decades ago. Despite very few new offerings, I have grown to respect the core styles of ales and lagers. At this point, the only thing new that will excite me this year is Sierra Nevada's Oktoberfest.