How Did You Learn So Much About Craft Beer?

Stay humble and always try to convince yourself that you are the idiot.

 

I'm surprised no one's mentioned homebrewing. Not that I know shit, but a year or so's worth of 5 gallon recipes, tinkering around with different hops, yeasts, ect. gave me a pretty basic idea of what goes into what I'm drinking. That along with online research & some of the very patient people on the Homebrew forum were a large part of what I know today.

 

I've read A LOT of books... American Sour Beers, Wild Brews, Designing Great Beers, Vintage Beer, Oxford Companion to Beer, etc.

Ok, maybe I haven't read The Oxford Companion to Beer... but it's great for reference.

 

I googled beer styles after wondering what made a local wheat beer different from Blue Moon, and why those beers people didn't like as much as the light stuff.

I came across beer advocate, and the rest is history.

 

Rather than sites, consider some books. Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher was a revelation for me. Also, try lots of stuff. In my early days, before BA even, I tried every and all beers I could find out of curiosity and to determine what I like. That's helped me greatly in developing my tastes rather than having them dictated by trading forums or other people's opinions.

Also, consider that ignorance is bliss. Before BA, before Tasting Beer, before I got into craft really, I spent a lot less money on beer (better for my wallet) and experience a lot less anxiety about wanting/needing certain beers and "missing out."

I'd suggest New Beer Sunday actually, as people post some thoughts on top of posting pics of beer. Which poster below covers.

Agreed.

 

This site...reading and spending a lot of time with a pint glass in my hand. Cheers

 

When I first started getting into craft, it was pretty overwhelming. I took a free book from total wine that went really into depth about different styles of beer and their history, serving temperature, glassware etc. Like someone else said, the beer 101 style guide will give you all that info. You can also look at beer styles here, and see which are the highest rated.

This is all a good background for you, but the best way to learn is to get out there and try all the different styles (multiples of them). I bought a lot of mix and match just trying as many beers as I could. That discovery phase can be so exciting. It's a fun journey. Enjoy, and cheers!

 

Same here man, i'm just fortunate to have fellow BA friends IRL,as are you, & a cool family that respects my passion for beer. As a fellow college student, I've felt the tugging of heartstrings countless times as I've swallowed my pride (literally)&just got a case of Busch or Stroh's out of sheer budget necessity. Helps me stay grounded and not broke.

 

This site + experience. The more you taste, the more you learn. Have a beer you love? Read all about it, figure out what about it makes you like it. When it comes to specific beers, don't go too far out of your way to have the hyped ones. Chances are there are comparable/superior examples you can already get your hands on, they're just not as talked about.

 

By spending time with such knowledgeable and experience company as you all!

 

This site of course.
Plus just tons of random research online. Late night web surfing type stuff.

 

depends on how far down the rabbit hole ( or hole in your wallet) you wish to go.

• This site.
• consuming
  
• Local home brew forum(s)
• consuming
  
• Books
• Consuming everything you can get your grubby tulip grabbers on
• home brewing
  
• helping out at a brewery
• study for a BJCP and or Cicerone certification

 

for me it all started back in around 1995 at college...the rest is history--and god bless this site.

 

Reading BA , searching for beer,spending lots of money and drinking.

 

Homebrewing. Nothing like trying to create recipes makes you delve into the nuances of every style.

 

just drink a sh*t ton of it
And pay attention to what you are drinking.
You also might want to read Mosher's book Tasting Beer