Remember when anything "craft" tasted good?

I don't think it "just you." I think as BA's get more and more plugged into breweries they like they start looking for the hoppiest or the sourest or the whatever-est that they like. Maybe try shaking things up a bit by going for different styles that you might not normally buy nowadays. Go against the grain or against the norm? Try something you would normally steer away from? That way, when you go back to the styles/breweries you love most, you'll have that feeling of "I've missed you" which could make those beers seem less boring.

 

you also have to consider that 8 years ago you were 17. are you sure you had a clue back then?

 

A higher % of new beers are disappointing now than in the past, but I never experienced a time when all were good.

 

I feel like I drank a lot more crappy craft beers when I started drinking this stuff nearly a decade ago. I'm far more selective now. If I'm trying something new, I have a pool of like-minded drinkers to ask that have more money than me and have likely already tried it (Untappd is a lot of help). If I think there's a chance something will be a turd, I'll just go with something I already know that I enjoy. There's too much good stuff on the shelf for me to gamble on a sub-par brew.

 

Pretty positive considering I was working in a brewhouse at that point. I noticed that you joined last week. What's it like to be a beer expert?

 

If craft beer could be equated to the rock era it's around 1971. So many classics being produced by various interesting breweries. Lots of cross fertilization and a large footprint. I think in a decade or so we won't have all the diversity and footprint of quality craft that we have now. We'll look back w/ envy. Long live craft.

 

I try my best not to do this and I'm willing to try almost any beer once. Rarely am I really disappointed in a beer, but I do enjoy certain styles and certain breweries much more than others. I think a huge problem in the craft beer community right now is that everyone wants huge or super complex beers (RIS, IIPA, Sours), which leaves quite a few good beers that aren't complete hop bombs, barreled in something, or big malt bombs to get dragged through the dirt with people's ratings because they don't stand up to those styles flavor wise.

 

I actually do that sometimes. but can't usually make it more than 4 days without having to pull out a bottle of something good... sorry Bud, your advertisements may work on my feeble little mind, but my unsheeply taste buds say NAY!

 

Try moving to another country. I moved to New Zealand a few months back and found all the beers (even 'crafts') to be super fizzy and light on body and flavour. Then two weeks ago Sam Adams Boston Lager went on sale at the beer store (it was normally $27 for a sixer). One sip and I was completely floored. Back in Philly I liked SABL, but would never have bought it. Now I'm a believer!

 

Heresy. I have reported you to the Ticker's Council, and you no longer are listed as a Member In Good Standing

OP nothing wrong with being critical, this site is dedicated to it, and the pursuit of better quality in who we are, what we believe, and what we consume, is considered by many of the world's greatest thinkers to be the purpose of life.

 

No.

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It's been a long time since I picked up just any new thing off of the shelf, all willy-nilly like; probably since the period of the last "bust". Still, despite my own strident pre-qualification process () for new purchases, I tend to try at least 50 beers a year to work into the regular rotation. I find that the vast majority of those are surprisingly good, and much better so than in the past. Still- I'm sure there is a lot of below average stuff out there.

What I am generally happy with is a beer that is a quality product for its style and context, and I will also try to mix things up to keep from becoming jaded. If you are getting to the point where a top notch amber ale, Pils, etc. don't really do it for you, it may be time for you to reevaluate what you are in it for.

 

I think the opposite of that is true. I remember being in brew pub and at beer fests, thinking why are these folks even trying the beer was so bad. It seem that the people starting new brewery's now know they have to make good beer. Just calling it craft is not enough.

 

Can't say I do. I remember, and not too fondly, all too much micro or craft beer being "Micro swill." Whether craft or micro, maybe even nano, there has always been that which is not fit for human consumption. Makes you appreciate that which is good just a little bit more.

 

Then the next 5 or 6 years are gonna suck until the beer equivalent of Talking Heads, Sex Pistols, Ramones shows up. I remember walking into a bar and being excited to see one craft beer on tap and any brewpub was a good brewpub. Couple weeks ago I walked into a mega incredible beer store and walked by 500 beers that would have rocked my world 20 years ago to find "the good stuff" they were keeping behind the register.

 

This train has left the station, but what is the point of the OP? Is he suggesting palate evolution or palate fatigue? Or is he saying that the market is loaded with mediocre to average beers and that the truly outstanding beer is becoming a rarity?

I think there is a little of both. As our palate changes, we do become more discerning in our taste and what might have been good to great becomes run of the mill. But I also believe, if we are honest about it, there are a lot of less than stellar beers being produced today. There are a lot of Johnny come lately breweries that are just trying to cash in on the craze. Similar thoughts were expressed by Mr. Koch and Mr. Hill if you think about those recent interviews posted without putting the bus in reverse first.

I switch things up a lot to avoid palate fatigue. Maybe it wasnt intentional at first because i did mot know what palate fatigue was. i just like a bunch of different styles and dont care if a beer can peel my face off with a single taste attribute. There are several beers and breweries that don't score well that I actually like. Maybe not all their products, but some. Just because of the sheer number of products out there, the odds of finding a relatively poor beer has to be increasing.

 

No it's not just you, I've had a severe palate shift as well. Brews I used to love I don't buy anymore, and I blame it on trading which has brought top end brews to my door I'd never see in Nc. And it's been a revelation.

 

Back when I first started drinking craft, I was expecting it to taste like the other mass-produced beers that were the extent of my beer experience at that point. Because my expectations were low, the craft impressed me by comparison. Now, though, I have tasted quite a bit of craft, and I go back to some of the ones that really wow-ed me back then, and I think, "This is average at best." It all depends on your frame of reference and your preconceived notions about what beer should be. If all you've had is BMC, then anything craft may bring a lot to the table for you. Or, if you've been drinking nothing but craft, then the majority of craft beers will fall in the average category, a few will suck, and a few will really stand out for you -- bell curves aren't just for school!

 

I understand and agree with the OP to a point. Due to the success that craft beer has had in the last few years, it has inspired a 'breakout' of individuals who start up breweries and the market is now oversaturated with players in the game. Perfect example was the TAP NY beer festival last weekend. Now, there were a good amount of good to great tasting beers at the event, but that was offset by an equal amount of mediocre to poor offerings. This is the case with shelf offerings as well. Everyone can't be great at this craft beer thing. My approach this year has been to stick with the tried and true beers with a sprinkling of trying new offerings here and there.

 

whoa, easy on the sarcasm buddy, two can play that game. I didnt know that my level of expertise was determined by my join date, but if that's the case, I guess you knew nothing about beer at age 17 since you had not joined BA yet, right? I'm just the new guy here so feel free to put me in my place if I'm getting out of line.