What a difference a name makes!

This may seem odd and I find it a bit humorous but...

A couple of weeks ago I bought a mixed six of half IPA's and half Stouts. One of the stouts I purchased was Troeg's Java Head. I posted about this somewhere right after drinking it. I purposely bought this because it said Java Head and I wanted what I thought was an intense coffee type stout. When I drank it I didn't think it tasted much like coffee or at least not as pronounced as I thought it would be judging by the name Java Head! I also had a Weyerbacher Old Heathen along with it and that was more coffee tasting! Java Head? I think this is lousy. Well, ok it isn't "bad" but I don't really care for it all that much and will probably pass in the future.

Anyway, I looked into Java Head right after drinking it and found that it is an Oatmeal stout!! Say what? At the time of consumption I thought I would never drink this again. I didn't care for it; especially compared to the Old Heathen. But wait! A week passes and I'm thinking. Hmmmm. Oatmeal stout...I like those. Old Heathen is an Imperial Stout so how can I compare this with an Oatmeal stout. When I drank the Java head I was thinking coffee and also comparing it to the Imperial. What if I go back to it and think Oatmeal??

So I purchase a six and have at it. Ahhh Yes OATMEAL STOUT!!! Great stuff!! I love it. I want more Troegs Java Head.
What a difference a name makes.

Any similar experiences?

 

After the six of Java I became a fan of Java Head. I can't say I was thrilled with Perpetual and Hopback Amber but the Java Head may be a regular for me. I seem to like Oatmeal stouts and this is a good one.

 

Actually I did read the label. It says nothing about "Oatmeal" but does say "brewed with Real Coffee Beans." That and the name Java Head pretty much said it all...or so I thought



Hey, it all worked out in the end.

 

To be honest I think it fell right into place as far as my latest beer taste revelations have been going. My evolving taste so to speak. After drinking the Java Head and then going for the Weyerbacher Old Heathen I said "ahh...now there's a stout." But! That's an Imperial. So there's a difference. The following week when I re-tried the Java Head and liked it I realized that it was good tasting and easy drinking. Then I remembered an Oatmeal Stout I loved some years back. Then I started to think about a few stouts I had recently that didn't blow me away and thought...Hmmm, they weren't imperials. Could this mean something?

For years I have been consuming imperial and double and triple everything. The same has happened with IPA's. Suddenly I am not so hot on them but I do like DFH 60 minute more than I once did. I think my taste is moving away from the stronger tastes of big beers. Doubles and imperials etc. So I think when I originally tasted Java head and it wasn't so heavy I thought...what? That's not a stout. Not my kind of stout anyway. But I am finding a place for these "regular" beers lately and moving away from the bigger stuff I think.

 

I give everything a few chances. Right now I am in a transition from IPA to Stouts. When I started my switch from the commercial Swill way back when I started with stouts (although it was only Guinness draft) but eventually moved to IPA. Now I am experimenting with stouts and, I think, slowly moving toward Oatmeal's and the like. Mellower Stouts (as compared to Imperials and such). But I want some body and not a thin beer. So far I'm diggin' the Java Head. And the price is right. There is a great Oatmeal stout at Fegley's Bethlehem Brew Works a few miles from me but it's only on draft. I have been dying to get hold of some Rogue Shakespeare but have only found one place with six packs and it's $17 which is above my means. However they do have 22 oz bottles for $8 and that will at least give me a try. At 6% ABV it's right in my sweetspot as I have been cutting back on the ABV lately. Java Head is 7.5. I try not to pass 8 anymore but don't like going below 6%. Actually I'd rather stay right at 6% for everything. Not possible!! lol 5.6 is absolute lowest. Ok...I'm a bit eccentric but I won't bother explaining

But this Java head is right up there fighting for the lead right now. I have a few more stouts to try and then back to Java Head again for another round. Good stuff and a funny way of getting to it for me it seems. I'm glad I gave it another shot but then again, that's why I re-try many beers I don't like the first time. Different time, different circumstance different taste. You never know.

 

Yea, my beer approach is a bit odd for the most part when it comes to how it fits into a BA sort of thing. I guess I'm not really a BA, so to speak. More a guy who likes craft beer. I'm enthusiastic but in a limited capacity.

I try things but don't really venture much from what I consider standards. Pale ale/amber family and stouts. Then, I have what I like, and although I swear I will try something else, I don't. Or at least not right away. It's like I almost get my hand on it then change my mind and grab for my standard.
But I have tried quite a few things in the past, just not so much anymore. I don't like confusion, clutter, or change. And for me, too many choices is a bad thing. I know many people like choices.

My wife and I used to cruise allot...a few times per year. She always wanted to go on new ships and to new islands. I, on the other hand, always wanted to go on the same ship and to the same islands. I've done the same ship and itinerary 10 times. I like trying new beers, but I have a hard time getting myself to do it on my usual weekend run for beer. It has to be a tasting or something. Or a bar. I'm usually going for what I already like.
I'm complicated in my simplicity.

 

Uh oh