How do really sought after beers compare?

The problem is that what you are asking really is something only you can decide for yourself based on personal experience (if only because my tastebuds don't respond exactly the same as yours and my palate has changed a lot in 7-8 years.) Also your own vews will change with experience. A much more reliable way to make your decision than posting here and going by the responses is to spend time with the reviews in the database. Some people do a thorughful job of it and provide a lot of insight into the qualities of the beer.

 

I have come to the conclusion that many times the more sought after, more expensive, more limited beers are better than year round offerings in the same style, that are produced in great quantities. The question becomes are the THAT much better that it warrants the often higher price tag and hassle to get. Sometimes that answer is yes, sometimes its no.

 

My personal opinion is yes. A big YES! They are worth it to me. But, if you started trading it's really not that much of a hassle to get some of those beers you've mentioned. Just learn what's hard for others to get in other states that you have access to, then set up a trade in the trade forums. Both sides get some really cool beers and you make some friends in the process. It's a win win!

 

You know, I've had a few rare beers, and although they were all outstanding, there's plenty of outstanding beers you can find on the shelves practically whenever you want. Instead of sweating the stuff you have trouble getting your hands on, I'd recommend just enjoying what you do have access to. We as craft beer drinkers are living in such a golden age of craft beer that there is always exceptional stuff on the shelf.

 

Well put. If you can find beers that others cannot find where they live, you can do trades and both sides come out ahead.

 

While I haven't had any of the rare stouts you mentioned (not a huge bourbon barrel beer fan), I have had some other highly sought after beers. While they have all been good, I don't think most of them are worth the higher price or frustration of finding them. Example: Lost Abbey Red Poppy was a very good beer, but I could have gotten a 750ml of Duchesse de Bourogne for half the price of a 12oz Red Poppy and enjoyed it just as much.

There are so many well regarded beers that I have seen on shelves for years and never tried, and I am beginning to wonder why I am wasting time and money on hyped releases when there are a wealth of readily available, high quality beers that I have not yet dipped into.

 

for IPAs id say they are not worth seeking out. chances are there are plenty of shelf or local options that are just as good or very close to the big names like Pliny and Heady. in regards to the stouts you mentioned, yes they are certainly worth seeking out. the shelf stouts you mentioned are awesome and are some of the best made in the non barrel aged category but a well done bourbon barrel stout is a whole different beer. those that say KBS is mediocre i just cant understand. KBS is one of the best beers there is and is well worth seeking out. nothing better for me than a well done barrel aged beer whether it be a stout or sour.

where the beer becomes not worth seeking out is when one bottle of an uber rare stout trades for huge quantities of a beer like KBS or BBPT5. the separation in quality from those types of beers usually isnt far off and often the less rare beer is the better one.

 

It's really hard to say. Is Westvleteren XII really THAT much better than Rochefort Trappiste 10? Is Founder's Breakfast Stout THAT much better than Stone RIS? Pilzner Urquell vs. Coors Banquet Beer?

Okay, a big "Hell, yeah!" on that last one, but you catch my drift.

 

these big and really sought after beers are a 100% waste of time, money, and energy.

 

The answer depends on what you can get in your local stores. My experience is that the top rated beers are at most somewhat better than other high rated beers of the same style. Sometimes they are not as good IMO.

 

Welcome to the club.

 

If you consider, say, the top 25 of the Top 250 Beers list on here, I have had around half of these. Not a single one stood out to me as being head-and-shoulders above the best more readily available examples of the respective style(s).

 

Sometimes some really sought after beers are truly great. Zombie dust, for instance, is a fantastic, world-class APA.

Other highly coveted beers, like Gumball Head are overhyped.

 

I was able to locate a KBS this year. It was very good. But at $8 for the beer, and $10 for gas, I don't think I will chase it again. If there is a quality bourbon barrel aged stout readily available in Florida, I am not aware of one. Any suggestions?

 

Regarding big stouts: I have been able to score BCBS, Uncle Jacob and KBS in the past six months or so. All were very good, but IMHO only BCBS was worth the trouble and expense and it's the only one I'd bother to seek out again.

 

Well I was an advocate for ABT 12 being the same as westy, well it's not so I changed my opinion after having several bottles. Heady, Psuedo Sue and Pliny are in a class of there own and I believe deserving of all the hype. Black Tuesday is amazing but no mear mortal man could finish a bottle of that stuff so it's drinkability is low. Prairie Bomb! is much different than most and is worth seeking out. Basically some brews really live up to the hype and others are a bit of a gimmick. So my big rambling opinion confirms the obvious...it comes down to opinion lol

 

I will have to disagree, some really are that good but yes some are a big fat gimmick.

 

A good hunter don't hunt for the kill... A good hunter hunts for the hunt.

 

If I were you, I'd start by drinking beer that's readily available. Some of the highly sought after beers are really good, but so are some more common beers.