Tracking my beer buying: Am I crazy?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by QuakeAttack, Dec 20, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 2
  1. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    A little background. I have been "into" craft beer for about three years and have been on BA for about two years. I have slowly added beers to my list and have reduced my "Wanted" to about 50 over the past two years. I have chased my whales (Abyss being the most recent), but normally, I had only gone weekly or bi-weekly to look for beer and keep my purchases to under $50-75. I have a fridge with only two shelves dedicated to beer at most.

    Over the past month, I have been off between clients and have started "refining" my beer searches. Fortunately, living in a metro area, I have multiple choices to buy beer. Normally, I would go to about 2-3 places. However, I have recently found 7 more places within 10 miles with decent to excellent selections and some better price points. So...

    I have created a spreadsheet with one tab for favorites and one for wants. I started using BeerMenus.com and other web sites to get price points and availability. No longer do have to pay $2-3 more for a bomber when I can find it at a more reasonable price. Am I crazy to have gone to spreadsheet and started tracking prices? For those with multiple buying choices, do you have any other methods for tracking beers and prices? Don't care?

    I figure the fever will go away in a couple of months. Right?
     
    #1 QuakeAttack, Dec 20, 2013
    ElijahRivera, JG-90, Ace_of_Suds and 1 other person like this.
  2. surfcaster

    surfcaster Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2013 North Carolina
    Trader

    Me thinks you need to relax.

    If you have time for it and it works, great.

    Sounds like work to me which is the antithesis of what beer drinking represents to me.

    I like a local shop (with great access to good stuff) and outside of what we can get disto'd in NC, I have friends ship it. Anything from NC I can help you with?--man you guys have great stuff.
     
    #2 surfcaster, Dec 20, 2013
    mikeburd1128 and willbm3 like this.
  3. Loganyoung

    Loganyoung Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2011 Georgia

    7 places in 10 miles with a great selection!? Jeez I gotta move.
     
    #3 Loganyoung, Dec 20, 2013
    Kyrojack, dcs1548, pbernzen and 1 other person like this.
  4. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    I don't think you're crazy. I do think you're efficient. Am I crazy? :astonished:
     
    #4 utopiajane, Dec 20, 2013
    Premo88, kerry4porters and 2beerdogs like this.
  5. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    What's the old saying..."One person's insanity is an other person's genius." I'm sure I've heard that somewhere before. :wink:
     
    #5 JohnSnowNW, Dec 20, 2013
    kerry4porters, JrGtr, Mitchell57 and 2 others like this.
  6. Dope

    Dope Pooh-Bah (2,925) Oct 5, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    My spreadsheet is up to around 1400 rows now. See you in a few years.

    Dope
     
    #6 Dope, Dec 20, 2013
    Modernrickk and QuakeAttack like this.
  7. IPeteA91

    IPeteA91 Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2012 Texas

    I'm on the loyal side, I purchase from shops that hook me up with the limited beers. Spreadsheets are great but I'll always pay a couple extra bucks for a nice guy that owns an independent shop.
     
    #7 IPeteA91, Dec 20, 2013
    beerindaglass, SadMachine, CesarLopes and 11 others like this.
  8. BeerWizard

    BeerWizard Pundit (889) Dec 22, 2012 Colorado

    Sounds pretty smart to me. I used to have a spreadsheet. Now I have a five month old, and beer tracking doesn't get as much attention. Still love the "beerfinder" features on a lot of the brewery websites, Let's Pour (mostly eye candy, admittedly), and going to the websites of some of the big stores to browse what they've got on hand.

    No harm in doing a little research before you purchase, I say.
     
    #8 BeerWizard, Dec 20, 2013
  9. t420o

    t420o Maven (1,272) Jul 16, 2009 California

    Not crazy at all. I actually think its a very good idea! Cheers to you, I hope you are able to find all your wants!

    Side note: Abyss is a whale now? Guess I should have bought more!
     
    #9 t420o, Dec 20, 2013
  10. micromaniac129

    micromaniac129 Initiate (0) Nov 1, 2009 Pennsylvania

    You're weird
     
    #10 micromaniac129, Dec 20, 2013
    sbxx, jdaddy, offthelevel_bytheplumb and 1 other person like this.
  11. Mrappinin

    Mrappinin Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2013 Virginia

    I'm not sure I want to know how much I drop on new each month not to mention brewing supplies lol some questions just better left unanswered
     
    #11 Mrappinin, Dec 20, 2013
    JrGtr likes this.
  12. beergoot

    beergoot Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,310) Oct 11, 2010 Colorado
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Crazy? You're fuckin' nuts!!

    Why get wrapped around the axle about a few bucks for a beer you like or are searching for? I'm not saying don't be a smart shopper, but don't don't let the bottom line necessarily deprive you of finding some "whale" if they do become available. In the meantime, stick with and enjoy some of your ol' standbys if money is an issue.

    To paraphrase of Charlie Papizian: relax, don't worry, have a beer (preferably with good company or within the comfort of your own 'Fortress of Solitude')...
     
    #12 beergoot, Dec 20, 2013
    willbm3 likes this.
  13. JG-90

    JG-90 Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2012 New Jersey

    Crazy? You're fucking the smartest MF'er on here.

    I'm sure I'm not alone when I say there have been times I've spent too much on beer.

    Beer is a hobby, not my life. Good for you man. I think what you are doing is great.
     
    #13 JG-90, Dec 20, 2013
    MrDave and beergoot like this.
  14. Greywulfken

    Greywulfken Grand Pooh-Bah (5,815) Aug 25, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No, you're not crazy, but you will become depressed.
     
    #14 Greywulfken, Dec 20, 2013
    JxExM and MrDave like this.
  15. Hillbilly

    Hillbilly Initiate (0) Nov 3, 2012 Tennessee

    Yea. If the OP lived around here he wouldn't need a spreadsheet, just a treasure map.
     
    #15 Hillbilly, Dec 20, 2013
    dennis3951, Photekut and waston like this.
  16. dar482

    dar482 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,063) Mar 9, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, if you live in a city, 7 places in 10 miles. I'd hope there would be even more than that.

    Not to put down your enthusiasm, but I just got into craft this year. I've been doing that for a while now. I've slowly run out of beers to try locally, so it's about time to revisit classics. I certainly use Beermenus to price check.
     
    #16 dar482, Dec 20, 2013
  17. CassinoNorth

    CassinoNorth Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2013 New Jersey

    Generally I can figure out what stores are pricier than others within a trip or two.

    If you gave me a release in NJ and 5 chains/stores it dropped at I could probably pick out which would be the priciest and the cheapest blind. Most stores are pretty uniform with their pricing around here...the exceptions being special releases which seem to be a crapshoot.
     
    #17 CassinoNorth, Dec 20, 2013
  18. bajerryd

    bajerryd Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2009 Illinois

    Good beer costs good money....though well worth the investment, and enjoyment. If you can make your beer budget stretch-more power (and more BEER) be yours for the enjoyment, I wish I had more choices of where to find more great beers....
     
    #18 bajerryd, Dec 20, 2013
  19. Stugotzo

    Stugotzo Initiate (0) Jun 13, 2012 Florida

    Call me when you ditch the spreadsheet, and build a database.

    Stooge. :wink:
     
    #19 Stugotzo, Dec 20, 2013
    Dope, LeRose and QuakeAttack like this.
  20. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I am not worthy (while bowing in your direction)...
     
    #20 QuakeAttack, Dec 20, 2013
Page 1 of 2
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.