What's your beer buying strategy?

I go into a place that sells beer. If I see something that interests me, I buy it. Very strategic, I know.

 

We usually go for whatever is new and exciting, trying not to discriminate base on style, etc. Short's for example, since moving to Michigan, has kept us guessing and exciting from week to week.

 

I ALWAYS know what I want. I normally leave with something COMPLETELY different. Is that a strategy?

 

Check the shelves for something I've never seen before, if I see one immediately google beeradvocate score...

 

I just go for the ones with the most hype. Duh.

 

I look for something that I've never had, based on the weather outside, what I'm doing that day, and possibly what I plan on eating. Snowboarding? High % RIS. Surfing/disc golf? IPA

 

My feeling is that no one should answer this question. Not every question has to be asked. Sometimes a pause in life should be had, where the internet doesn't compel you to vomit fleeting wonders.

 

operative word there is try, I fail at that consistently

 

It depends why I am going. If the fridge is empty, I will buy some of the everyday stuff like Founders All Day IPA, or Sierra Nevada. If the fridge is stocked well, I usually look for new stuff, or harder to find seasonal releases.

 

I look at all the beer in the store, eliminate those that are poorly rated here then get a couple of sixes (or fours) of what I love and one of something highly touted but unknown to me, especially if the unknown is a totally different type than what I already picked. Cost rarely plays into it. I know. I'm lucky.

 

Follow all my local bottle shops on Facebook, when they post, I buy.

When they don't post, I walk in just to take a look and walk out with a box full of beer.

 

I try to spend less than 50% of my monthly grocery budget on food.

 

I go for the beers with tits on the bottle label. My "hads" list here is a lie; I've drank nothing but St. Pauli Girl for four years now.

 

my strategy for my haul is as follows: 1/2 local and 1/2 abroad...with 1/2 of them being my favorite beers and 1/2 of them being new to me

 

How has that panned out for you so far? (No hidden agenda, just curious.)

 

I walk the entire store looking for what is new then go back through the store making my decision. Sometimes I go in looking for something specific but often times I don't

 

roam around to start, see what catches your eye; I have 3 decent stores in a 5 mile radius and I weekly explore at least two. i'll roam up and down the beer aisle sometimes for a half hour and only leave with a six pack. its an investment each time. I don't choose quickly. I take my time, decide what I'm really craving and make the ultimate decision. I don't go into the search with any expectations or requirements, unless I happen to be in a specific light beer/dark beer mood.

 

I have no problem buying and enjoying ST 2XIPA, Founders Centennial, 90min, Hop Notch, Sucks, Maximus, Flower Power or Lenny's RIPA over Sculpin to avoid the $5 difference. I do buy Sculpin on occasion, but to spend almost another Hop Stoopid worth of beer usually doesn't make sense to me especially for IPA/IIPA's. If I'm gonna throw down another $5-15 on a bomber or 4/6... it better be able to age for a while.
I'd rather put my $ on a cheaper really good IPA, and put more $ into Wild Ales, IRS, English BW's to cellar. I'm not a big fan of the $7-10 IIPA bomber. I grab them now and again if it's something really fresh, but I'd rather pass and grab more for my money than maybe be wow'd for a second or two (yes I'm talking about you Enjoy By).

 

I work at a liquor store just so I can get first dibs on those new releases. It pays shit money and I get to deal with ratchet ass alcoholics, but fuck it, I'm in my twenties so it's all good.

 

1.) Local seasonals
2.) Locals I've never had
3.) Breweries that are new to my distribution area
4.) Old Favorites