Losing interest in craft beer?

I must say I echo @TongoRad 's sentiments. Admittedly, I don't venture into the trading forums, but I just don't recall much belittling in the regular forums.

 

I agree. I find that a lot of those in the community here in AZ "competition drink" and chase the trucks for the next big thing. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all the new stuff hitting the market and all the "whale chasing" going on. When people are willing to stand in line for hours just to get a chance to purchase said "whales" it makes me wonder about society as a whole. I actually crack up reading peoples statements on here and in the AZ Craft Beer Lovers site on FB about their dedication to truck chasing. If I happen to be in the right place at the right time I will purchase a rare taste, but my life is way to busy to chase trucks. And there is so much good beer too readily available to waste my precious time. But I will never go back to BMC swill.

 

Yeah, I call that thread Beer ****.
Im sure im not alone.

 

There's also this whole new breed of craft drinker who may just be out of college, with disposable income out of their butts. Locally, I see many at every tap takeover, or trading like crazy, or just at every event taking it all in. I guess that was sorta like me 3 years back. They are new. They are fresh. They are wet. I'll let them enjoy it.

But with every new brewery opening, there is definitely a price increase that is set upon what newcomers will pay, not what the loyal 10-30 year craft beer consumer is used to paying. I think these places will figure it out fast. Can the hypebeasts sustain your business or do you need some loyalists to ground you in reality?

 

Being into craft for about a year, I haven't lost interest at all. I love how much I can learn just browsing this website (in addition to the incredible amount of information available on the web). I like learning little details that many people don't know, because I find it fun. There is such a wealth of knowledge and experience here so there is always something new to learn.

I will say, however, my interests within the hobby itself have changed somewhat. When I was very new, I wanted to trade and chase all the rare beers. I kind of just completely skipped that phase, though. I just ultimately didn't see the value of it.. I would far prefer to buy beer at my leisure than stand in line or trade.

What I really dislike about the craft scene is the greedy ass hoarders. This is one of the biggest turns offs the craft scene has at the moment. I see people buying cases of scarce beer and just think: Really? You need all that for yourself? Fuck other people enjoying that shit, make sure you get as much as possible. Shit, bring a mule who doesn't even like beer to get even more for yourself. Oh, and make sure everyone knows how much you got and how rare it is. You may even want to reiterate the rarity of it just to make certain they understand how lesser they are if they don't have something equivalent. Those peasants and their shelf beer. Ha!

 

Love craft beer, it has the best flavors. I, like others have said, am not too into the pretentious "craft beer culture." Just drink what you want.

 

I am done chasing beers and spending a lot of money on beers that are just ok. Been burnt too many times on buying hyped up, expensive beer that in the end just plain sucks. I just drink what I like now and mix in a random beer now and then.

 

I've started drinking craft recently, and all I can say is, if possible, I never want to ingest Corona, or Labatt Blue ever again

 

Like a lot of folks have said, not at all losing interest in craft, but definitely becoming less interested in trying every last new thing, and definitely more content to shack up with my tried and true favorites. Grabbing a two-week old variety pack recently from FW was infinitely more satisfying than trading for the latest/greatest IPA. (Pro tip: fresh DBA is a revelation for all you English ale lovers out there.)

 

I'm as interested as ever in craft beer. Problem is a lot of whats new and "exciting" don't appeal to me. Went to a few local grocery stores with great selection last week and a pocket full of money burning a small hole in my pocket. I ended up getting 2x 6 packs of something I've had before and that was about the extent of the excitement. Saw a bunch of interesting stuff in large format bottles with large format pricing, looked interesting but I'll pass.

I have similar experiences at beer distributors where it is case or 12 pack only. I see more new beers than ever, a lot look promising but there is always something. It has been mentioned about the pricing creeping up but if the case is anything over $40/$45 I triple check things like bottled on / best by and half don't get past that. Add on the trend to add ingredients/barrel treatments rather than brew something good/ tried and tested. So I typically leave with something I have already had for a price I know I'm comfortable paying and that still works for now.

 

Well, I haven't lost interest in it, at all. I like trying new things and exploring new beers. I have, however, cut way back in my drinking. Last year, in January, I drank 54 beers. This year it's less than 20. I plan on clearing out my cellar quite a bit this year, and I won't be buying new stuff much to replace beer drank.

 

I've gotten into wine more to placate the lady but that's just to mix it up. 80% of the time craft beer. I've just become less interested in buying beers that are rated less than 90%. Generally the ratings meet up where they should.

 

If I lose interest, it'll be in chasing new releases every week and trading, but not in the beer itself.

 

I've been drinking craft for about 16 years. I still love the beer, but all the culture around it isn't doing much for me any more. I've stopped going to brewery events and tap takeovers and so on because it's such a s**t show these days with hundreds of people where there used to be dozens.

So, still love the beer, but dislike dealing with the increased popularity and all it entails.

 

Sometimes the feeling of not having the urge to drink some craft beer gets to me. But the most I go off is about a week before having one beer.

Or maybe I just am not someone who drinks daily, I like to go clear for 2-3 days before a new brew, to buildup before cracking one up.

 

I love drinking craft beer.

Can't imagine going back to pre-craft, but I am pretty bored with anything remotely related to a chase. I tried it a bit when I first took the plunge, but at this point - lines? Not interested.

I don't mind heading over to my closest brewery every few weeks to find out what's new there, hit the stores pretty regularly to check the shelves, but that's enough.

 

I guess it's like this in every sort of hobby as we age. I'm seeing myself not able to "compete" with these younger, more free time on their hands, new comers to craft, at every release types. These are the same types who've never had a bad "IPA". With an established BA rating system, why go through those extremes? I guess you could call me jealous not being born 5-10 years later. I spent 5 plus years hating IPAs. Newcomers proclaim their favorite within one try of the style these days. I'm also hearing from cousins and their friends/friends of friends who seem to lack any sort of loyalty to a beer or brand they like. It's always on to the next beer or release. I worry but I guess it's not my fight to fight.

As interests move away from solely "craft" beers, it becomes even easier to stay away with the likes of many of the new comers I have come across. I feel old saying "They dont know how good they have it". I guess my dad and grandpa were the same way, and they weren't as bitter as I appear to be. They were/are better men than me, Ill give them that.

TL;DR It's easy to lose interest in many obscure local releases with the likes of newcomers who don't know how good they have it. Proclaiming one beer the best ever, yet never having to suffer or try SN Torpedo or Pale Ale is a crime. That's our future.. Beware all you new breweries out there. These newcomers lack loyalty.

 

Aside from local breweries, I've lost interest in any beer that isn't readily available and on my local store's shelf.

 

Rilly?