A Ticker's Farewell

Farewell, fellow ticker!

I stopped buying 99% of "new" shelf stuff a long time ago unless it's solely to trade. It's rarely ever worth it. Stick to what you know and the latest hype beer (after the hype dies down and you can get it for less).

 

I'm with you on this. I'm glad I learned before my 2,009th check in! American whalez is right though, there's nothing wrong with sticking to the tried and true. For instance, I enjoyed 2 heady toppper tonight. That's not usually my style as I prefer to trade for god knows what but the more I trade for, the more I realize, girl I should be with was right in front of me the whole time! Helping me with homework, giving me advice on other girls...but once she took off those glasses and let down her hair I was smitten!

So in conclusion, stay in school and don't do drugs kids!

 

I think I've turned that corner too, sort of. I'll call what I do now discriminating ticking.

At first I was chasing down as many of the "top beers" according to this site and others as I could get my hands on, just trying to get a sense of what all the "best beers" are in a variety of styles. I was reviewing and rating sometimes three or four beers a night, and probably also not doing a very good job of it. Gradually I started to figure out what I like and don't like, both in general and within specific styles. I also learned which breweries consistently put out beer I generally enjoy, and just as importantly, which ones don't. I also basically stopped trading quite a while ago, as I realized that pretty much nothing I was getting in those boxes was any better than what I can get locally, and it took a lot more effort, time, and money.

Now, I'm still willing to drop a relatively large amount of money on a bottle of beer I've never had before, but usually only if it's from a brewery I trust, in a style I like, and especially if it seems generally well regarded by others who have tried it and whose opinions I trust. I think I'm spending a lot less on beer now, and enjoying it more.

So in a sense I'm coming at it with an opposite perspective from the OP, but I think both of us have arrived where we are through lots of experience, money, trial and error.

 

I've felt the exact same as you for a long time.

Whether people admit it or not, most beers are not excellent...., so ticking large numbers of beer means someone is drinking a whole lot of average beer (instead of great beer that they could be drinking again). Ticking does involve an enormous opportunity cost, and regardless of what they may say, their actions clearly show they'd rather drink a lot of average beer for the tick than drink the best of what's available to them.

 

I guess I'm not "ticking" hard enough. I don't have a lot of trouble with stumbling across beers that don't impress me... usually when I have a beer that doesn't, it's because I knew beforehand that it wasn't a beer to get excited about. I've found that, generally, when a beer is highly regarded on BeerAdvocate, I tend to really enjoy it -- imagine that.

I just I'm just a "choosy ticker."

RIP AlienSwineFlu

 

I wish my gambles were only $2.99...

 

Howdy enlightened one! I only rate beers that I like or truly loath. That doesn't mean that I will give almost anything a go, but I like you now, have come to like myself enough to avoid obvious displeasure. I often shudder when going over a ticker's reviews thinking, no, I wouldn't have willingly chose to drink that beer. But on they go soldiering on, swill after swill. I think all of us on BA owe tickers a heartfelt thanks and an understanding and compassion to someone that has much self loathing. Bless their little hearts!

 

I'm nearly 2,500 beers in and I still enjoy the tick. I still like trying new things, even if it is the unimpressive amber from the new brewery in town. Few and far between though they may be, there are still magnificent beers that I never would have tried without my crazy ticking ambition.

Point is, I'm glad to try 99 mediocre new beers if that 100th is a gem.

 

I'm of the opinion that the big names in each style are likely the best examples.

I'm sorry but if I want a saison I am going for Dupont, if I want a flanders - Rodenbach, a stout - Rasputin etc

 

I'm in the same boat as you are... I got tired of seeking out the latest and greatest when I realized that what I had in the past already was almost always better. I support a core handful of breweries that I love and homebrew so I have plenty to drink at all times.

I let them come to me now and let the chips fall where they may.

 

Sorry 5000+ beers in, I still get frequently great & interesting beers. I have always drank plenty of favorites, I do still just like trying new beers. To each their own.

 

So, you had a "She's All That" exbeerience.

 

I'm not to 5,000 but I echo your sentiment. Had my first Nebraska Brewing recently, a treat here in NJ. Great stuff.

 

So let me get this right. You would gladly drink the entire bottom of the list beers to find one that you like and not only that you would take the time and effort to write a review on each one. Wow, Kudos and I hope you get some help.

 

Congratulations. True beer love and enlightenment now awaits you. Wish more ticking folk were as enlightened as you are now.

 

When did mediocre become synonymous with horrible?

 

I hope I never feel the way that OP does. I started ticking in college as a way of expanding my tastes and learning. I write a review for every beer, but lately I have noticed that my reviews are very similar for each beer of the same style. I'm trying to write less formal, more conversational reviews in order to diversify and keep it new.

I have really found that unTappd has diluted my BA ticking and review writing. I try to follow the rules and only write reviews on beers when I have time to actually think about them. With unTappd it is super easy to check into a super rare beer at a tapping, but then I feel as if I shouldn't write a review if I didn't take full notes.

All in all, I still like ticking and hope I continue for a long time.