How do you view beer in your life?

I used to be in the "I live for new beer, but do not go out of my way to get it" category, then "I moved into the I live for new beer and I do anything to get it" category, but currently I think I'm in the "I will try a new beer if I see one, but its not a big deal to me" category.

 

Usually through the walls of a shaker pint, or my tulip glass.

 

I think there's a pretty big space in between "not going out of the way" and "doing anything."
I don't drive hours to pick up a beer, but if I'm driving someplace hours away anyhow, I'll always make some extra time to stop at a local brewery or pick up some out of distro stuff. Beer is a pretty easy focal point for what to do while on vacation.

 

Likert is rolling over in his grave right now.

 

I much prefer trying new beers to old standbys, but I am not going to go crazy trying to sample every new beer that comes out or trade my left nut for some new whale. If I come across it or someone brings it to a bottle share then awesome, if not, that's ok too.

 

I voted for I live for new beer but I don't go out of my way to get it, but if multiple votes were permitted, I would also vote for I usually drink the same range of beers every week but I do look for new stuff. It all depends on how much beer is in my beer fridge. When you favorite style is IPA, you need to get rid of inventory on a regular basis.

 

I'm lucky enough to be close to a store that usually gets any of the rarer stuff that comes around, so that feeds my need for variety. But being a lazy shit, I won't really go out of my way on a regular basis to get something like Heady Topper. I tend to go for the good stuff that's easier to get in quantity. I'll leave the White Whales to all you Ahabs out there.

 

Teacher, mother, secret lover

 

Nah, I would still say I live for new beer in that I prefer mixed-6s of new stuff to 6packs of stuff I already like, and I'm willing to put in some effort to try new beers, just not DLD kind of effort.
I picked 2 for what it's worth.

 

Trying new beers is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. A couple of times a month I will get something that I've been meaning to try, or heard good things about- if I like it, then it goes into the regular rotation. I do tend to live by cravings, though- sometimes you just gotta have something you love, knowwhattimean...

 

I view beer as the ultimate social lubricant and a vessel that helps men and women of all ages and races come together regardless of social status in both times of celebration and devastation.

 

Is it barrel aged?

 

I think I'm split right in between 2 different beer "personalities." I love to try new beers and do find myself going out of my way to try as many as I can.
At the same time, I have tons of old favorites that I drink all of the time, too. Just looking at my Untapped listings, I have a boatload of beers that were one and dones...and most of them were pretty good, too. At the same time, mixed in with those are checkins for Rumble, Modus, B&B's Tower ESB, Dry Dock Apricot, Prost Dunkel, WE's Green Man, etc. that I have dozens of checkins for. I'm a German beer fanatic and I've tried almost all of the high profile items over there by now, but I still love to go back any time I can.

 

I don't get mad if I don't get the flavor of the week or miss a new release. It's just beer at the end of the day. I have other hobbies. *shrug*

 

With the choices, I picked try new if I see it but it isn't a big deal as the best fit. My taste varies a lot and I enjoy the experience of a new beer or new style so that works, but I also have some good old reliable friends. What I have handy might vary from a whole bunch of single bottles that are all over the map to four/six packs of the tried and true. I have noticed lately that, with some exceptions, my collection has become more New England oriented as I have finally figured out most of the players in this area (not that it was difficult). I am also finding that the local alternatives can be just as satisfying as the "imports" - there are some really exceptional local brews that are easy to find. Thinking if this pattern continues there will be more of a slant towards the region sprinkled with beers from other areas I am curious about trying. This is a little odd for me - with restaurants, I generally order the same thing from the same place - once I find something I enjoy I stick with it. Apparently beer and music cover my needs for variety - very eclectic mix in both!

 

I voted for "will do anything for it" but to be honest I think there is a group of us that will inconvenience ourselves for certain whales but won't spend the rent check on them. I have driven a few hours to get beer, and have made very one sided trades for something I really want, but to say I'd do ANYTHING for it is a bit silly..

Just my thought..

 

I couldn't vote with those options. While I have some go-to's, my fridge rotates new beers pretty frequently. I like to think I'm over chasing trucks for new releases, but then there's Enjoy By, Parabola, Abyss... I trade a couple times a month, I have driven a long distance to get beer, I've been to a few festivals, I'm considering an Alpine trip and a VT trip later this year...but I would not do anything for beer. I'm passionate, but not maniacal. I think it's important to make sure that any interest you might have doesn't dominate your life or compromise other things you that are important to you. I fucking love beer, but yeah, it's just beer.

 

I love trying new stuff, but don't go out of my way to get it. If I am on vacation somewhere far from home I always pick up some local stuff to bring home. I also try to avoid stuff I have had before that I can get at home and try new beers from the area. Although I do find it frustrating if I am in Atlanta and I see a beer I have never seen before and I look at it and find out it is brewed in New Jersey. All I can think is, "Why haven't I seen this in Mass?"