Is being a Beer Advocate Exciting and Fun?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by tony32408, Aug 30, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. tony32408

    tony32408 Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2009 Washington
    Trader

    I walked into a random bar over Memorial day in VT, looked over at the bar and noticed a tap handle with the letters "KBS" - had no idea it was there - they had just put it on tap an hour earlier. When CBS came out, I must have called 50 stores looking for a bottle. When I finally found a store that had it in stock, there was only one left and they were NOT holding it for anyone. I took two subways, raced across the city and was able to grab the very last one.

    The first time I saw King Henry I was at a bar. The waiter brought it to the table and I actually sent it back for something else! I would always tell my friends the story of how the King was just within my grasp, but yet remained so far away.

    The most exciting and fun part of being a BA to me is searching out things you really want, never really knowing what you might find and sharing those experiences with great people. For me it’s more than just drinking the beer – It’s everything that comes along with being a BA.
     
    smutty33 and DSlim71 like this.
  2. ChanChan

    ChanChan Maven (1,341) Dec 12, 2009 California

    Yeah, awesome stories! As for myself, I thought I would never try a Heady Topper in my life. I mean being in Bakersfield and all I never even tried trading for it. About a month ago a local friend from Untappd asked me if I was interested in a Heady Topper. I was like what?? Of-course I am interested! Long story short he hooked me up with a can of that and a can of Gandhi-bot. Gandhi was really solid but heady was amazing!
    Thanks Josh!
     
  3. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Maven (1,391) Mar 23, 2008 California

    I'm not into the chase of rare or hyped beers, but it's till exciting and fun to try any and all new beers i come across.
     
  4. tony32408

    tony32408 Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2009 Washington
    Trader

    How about chasing down beers in general? When I found out that Terrapin was releasing a beer called "Flux Capacitor," I started jumping up and down with excitement. We don't get Tarrapin in NY so I immediately called my cousin and told him he needed to stop everything he was doing and find this beer at all costs. He was able to track down one for me and I took a picture of myself watching Back to the Future holding my Flux Capacitor beer. Good times :slight_smile:
     
    elgiacomo likes this.
  5. randal

    randal Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2004 Colorado

    <Cool story bro>

    In 1996 on a little thing called rec.food.drink.beer Samichlaus was the KBS of the time. I was in Santa Monica and stopped in a little liquor store. Right there on the shelf were single bottles of Samichlaus! In a fever experienced only by Beanie Baby collectors I hitched up the onion on my belt and bought it. Later that night with much ceremony my wife and I opened the bottle in our hotel room. It was awful. I couldn't choke it down. Drain pour. I think that is when my excitement for rare beer group-think suffered a mortal wound.

    </Cool story bro>
     
    DrAwkward82, Xul and ShogoKawada like this.
  6. JohnB87

    JohnB87 Zealot (673) Mar 14, 2011 Michigan

    *Golf Clap*

    I think we all remember how excited we got when we went on our first hunt and grabbed some sought-after beers.

    In my opinion, a lot of BAs nowadays are getting past that. If I see something good, I'll grab it, but I'd much rather enjoy the beer experiences with other people rather than seeking a whale to drink by myself.
     
  7. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    If you consider craft beer drinking a hobby, as I do, then yes, it's exciting to find a beer or a place that's different and it's fun if that beer or place is a keeper. Kinda like finding a rare coin or stamp. It's also very fulfilling when your friends defer to you for a beer or place recommendation, although it's usually because they're too lazy or busy to do the research themselves. But I can tell you one thing - after being a BA, there's no turning back.
     
  8. glitchedmind

    glitchedmind Initiate (0) May 8, 2012 California

    Only one can of HT?! What a jerk! That's like giving a kid only one m&m. :wink:
    I saw you were able to get more. Get your trading feet wet did ya?
     
    ChanChan likes this.
  9. SteelersX

    SteelersX Savant (1,130) Jan 30, 2011 New York
    Trader

    For me, the main reason I chase down rare and hyped beers is I want to be able to share at tasting and not leech off others. There are always those people that show up to tastings with 2012 brooklyn chocolate stout to share. They make no effort but reap the rewards off others.
    I dont want to be one of those people.
     
  10. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    God that beer is awful.
     
  11. ChanChan

    ChanChan Maven (1,341) Dec 12, 2009 California

    Hey Josh!
    Yeah, I did my first BA trade recently for Heady and KBS. I've traded before but with youtube people! BTW, have you tried Citra side by side with Heady? I did last night and I was very pleased with Citra!
    Cheers!
     
  12. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    I think being a beer geek is a long and ever changing journey. Everybody goes through a phase where the thrill of the hunt is exciting in itself, but I also think most people eventually move out of that phase. For example, the thought of racing across a city taking two subways for a single bottle of CBS that may or may not be there is now nauseating to me. But a couple of years ago I probably would have done it.

    There is just too much great beer out there nowadays to go crazy over any one.
     
    Horbar likes this.
  13. azorie

    azorie Pooh-Bah (2,471) Mar 18, 2006 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    yea but many folks I know never read BA and drink good beer. Being a BA Is not a job is it? Being on BA and chatting about beer is fun, but I am not a BA. I am a member of a web site called BA.:grinning:
     
  14. JuicesFlowing

    JuicesFlowing Initiate (0) Jul 5, 2009 Kansas

    The OP makes being a BA sound like you need to sell something to someone. Which brings up the entire BMC/Craft war to mind ... ugh. No. Adults can decide what they want to drink, I don't give a shit. I buy craft beer for my own taste buds. To me, it IS about just drinking the beer. I guess I'm a narcissistic a-hole, but I could care less what john doe is drinking.
     
    beernut likes this.
  15. OTB

    OTB Pooh-Bah (1,803) Sep 2, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Well let's say it's never boring.

    Cheers......
     
  16. beernut

    beernut Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2008 New Jersey

    I walked into a random bar over Memorial day in VT, looked over at the bar and noticed a tap handle with the letters "KBS" - had no idea it was there - they had just put it on tap an hour earlier. When CBS came out, I must have called 50 stores looking for a bottle. When I finally found a store that had it in stock, there was only one left and they were NOT holding it for anyone. I took two subways, raced across the city and was able to grab the very last one.

    The first time I saw King Henry I was at a bar. The waiter brought it to the table and I actually sent it back for something else! I would always tell my friends the story of how the King was just within my grasp, but yet remained so far away.

    Lost me at these 2 paragraphs. What are you trying say? Why did you send King Henry back?
     
    Horbar and JohnB87 like this.
  17. tony32408

    tony32408 Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2009 Washington
    Trader

    Sent it back for A BCBCS. Now, you can read for the rest of the story, Bro! :slight_smile:
     
  18. beernut

    beernut Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2008 New Jersey

    Do you mean, "Is being ON beer advocate, exciting & fun?" or "Is being A beer advocate exciting & fun?" Just want to make sure there were no typos. But I'm not an advocate, I don't push/encourage/ask/pursuade anyone to drink or try something else. I could care less what other people do in their lives. I will share with others if they ask and share with my craft drinking brothers.

    Now if you are asking if being ON beer advocate is exciting & fun I would say no. It's a website that is somewhat useful in what I need it for. I don't like the fact that nobody is basically allowed to have an opinion or ask a question without it being subjected to ridicule by the know it all asshats (not everyone) that are on here. If people spend all day posting 15-20 posts a day, you have no life, you are not cool, you are only cool in the eyes of the other asses doing the same. That's my .10 cents.
     
  19. beernut

    beernut Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2008 New Jersey

    If I knew thats what you sent it back for I wouldn't have asked. But that was a smart choice to do.
     
  20. Jparkanzky

    Jparkanzky Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2011 Ohio

    Chasing around limited/rare beers isn't being a beer advocate.... that's being a consumer. Chasing down limited/rare beers and then sending/sharing them with no expectations of anything in return is being a Beer Advocate.
     
    sleuthdog, dennho, punkhim and 9 others like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.