Referencing BA while buying beer

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by deleted_user_1007501, Apr 3, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. RacerX5k

    RacerX5k Pundit (990) Feb 11, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Most also can't even pronounce correctly what I'm calling about. Yes I talk with my beer buyers but even those like different styles, have different tastes than I do. After all these years I don't need any help, thank you. Anything unfamiliar I consult BA and even then, briefly. I can pick up characteristics from reviews / style and know right away if that would interest me.
     
  2. WalterAppelle

    WalterAppelle Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2015 New York

    Before BA, I used to go to the store and buy a six based on the information on the bottle etc. Sooo many times I after the first sip I realized it was not very good and now I have 5 others I just didn't want to drink. BA has saved me a lot of money.
     
  3. FFreak

    FFreak Savant (1,065) Nov 10, 2013 Vermont

    I don't have a smartphone so I appreciate stores that have the BA ratings right there in front of you. I do like hearing recommendations from the beer specialist at the store, but I've had mixed results when following their recommendations.
     
  4. SpauldingSmails

    SpauldingSmails Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2014 Massachusetts

    One of the reasons I don't like to ask (and would rather do some research) is that many store guys get insulted when you don't take their advice or get pissed when you say that you don't want to buy a 90 day old IPA (where I am from the Alesmith IPA is often ancient). Very often I've already had what they suggest...and don't like it. In the store that I go to most often, the beer buyer is super knowledgeable and helpful and the rest are not generally beer experts in any way. The only reason I ask is to see if anything is 'out back' or not on the shelves yet.
     
  5. pat61

    pat61 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2010 Minnesota

    In a store I either know exactly what I want or I will look for things I haven't seen before. Talking with the staff is fun and the ones who love beer are especially so. When ordering on-line I may look up the rating and read a few reviews to help me decide between beers that I am not familiar with - especially more expensive ones.
     
  6. HopVol

    HopVol Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2015 Tennessee

    I check BA sometimes in a bottle shop. It depends on which store I'm at how much I trust the staff. There are three bottle shops I frequent most. One has a pretty knowledgeable beer guy, one has slightly above average beer knowledge, and the last one has a young lady who unfortunately knows very little. I can walk in there right now and find IPAs sitting on the shelf for months past their prime and if you ask her about a limited release she may or may not have heard of it.

    Another thing I've noticed, at least in my area is most of the bottle shops have very young people working as beer managers and they don't seem to stay long. I like to get to know these people and it seems there is a new beer manager at each store every 1-2 years. As a BA and home brewer for more than 20 years I feel like I have better beer knowledge than most bottle shop beer managers.
     
  7. Ranbot

    Ranbot Pooh-Bah (2,389) Nov 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I have a personal list of beers I want to try, which I keep on my phone. So, I often do pull out my phone when I'm beer shopping, but it's not to check ratings. I check my list, check the shelf, check the bottle/can dates, consider what I'm in the mood for, then buy.
     
  8. NickyDee21

    NickyDee21 Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2011 Pennsylvania

    If I have spoken with the guys at the shop and know they know a bit, I will usually ask their opinion unless I am looking for something specific. There are a few places (mostly larger liquor stores with good selection of craft) that I won't even bother asking anyone unless it's the store's "beer guy".
     
  9. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,727) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I do both, mostly so I Can Keep Track Of beers I have already reviewed so that I don't purchase them again.

    If I want to ask a question believe me I will, and other times I don't want to be bothered either.
     
  10. PorterPro125

    PorterPro125 Pooh-Bah (1,700) Jan 19, 2013 Canada (NB)

    I save BA for after I drink the beer.

    I like to have little to no bias when I review and reading reviews can definitely sway opinions of the beer at hand.
     
    Dando274 likes this.
  11. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina

    Most of my Saturday regulars come straight to me, some I see looking at apps, some people just don't like asking for help. Everytime we get a new beer/brewery in stock BA is the first place I go to for info, since I don't know how long it's going to be until I get the chance to taste it
     
  12. jimmyfishkin

    jimmyfishkin Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2008 Wisconsin

    Thank you @Gaddabble you summed up everything I was incoherently trying to put in words.
     
    Gaddabble likes this.
  13. von_kaiser

    von_kaiser Maven (1,320) Feb 19, 2014 Connecticut
    Trader

    i most certainly use BA whenever purchasing beers. If you're stacking the cooler next to me expect to hear from me.
     
  14. SteveSexton203

    SteveSexton203 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2014 Connecticut

    I use these avenues (BA And Untapped) to look up beers if there isnt a person regualarly available like at WHOLE FOODs for an example. I wouldnt pull out my phone if there is a person available to talk to like at a bottle shop.

    ANYONE that goes by the over all Untapped rating to determine a beer 1. Should be smacked 2. Should be smacked 3. Should be smacked. I like the app to keep as a personal log but there are way to many reviews on there. 1 star - I dont like sours, 1 star - This DIPA is to hoppy, 1 Star - This brown Sugar ale taste to much like brownn sugar.

    Atleast with BA you can find real reviews and its easier to ween out the junk at least that my opinion.
     
    BrewsingBuffalo likes this.
  15. NickTheGreat

    NickTheGreat Maven (1,336) Oct 28, 2010 Iowa
    Trader

    I use my "wants" on BA as my personal to-do list. So sometimes i'll pull it up to make sure that is the beer I was thinking of.

    But I usually sneak off to do this in an aisle where the judgmental pricks aren't watching me . . . :stuck_out_tongue:
     
  16. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,081) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I figure I can out judgmental the pricks so I don't care what they think.
     
  17. wallacic

    wallacic Initiate (0) Nov 2, 2015 Massachusetts

    I personally will look it up on Untapped and/or BA to get a sense of what people are saying about that beer. I tend to ignore the rating, and skim the comments and well though out review to get a sense of the tasting notes, etc. That being said, I'm also sometimes just checking my untapped account to see if I've had it before, and sometimes worried that if I start talking to the person stocking the cooler, I will either not leave the store because I'll get caught up talking, or I will leave having spent far more than I planned on when walking in!
     
    SteveSexton203 likes this.
  18. GreatStoutman

    GreatStoutman Maven (1,486) Jan 5, 2016 Texas
    Trader

    I like talking to the beer guys (and gals), but I use the phone for confirmation of almost any speculative purchase.

    However, I always feel bad when someone suggests 10 different bottles and I don't want any of them.
     
    wallacic likes this.
  19. dirtyfonzie

    dirtyfonzie Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2015 Illinois

    i never look at the rating when buying beer, and am a talkative guy anyways. i like to be on a first name basis with my local shops.

    i like to look at the rating once i'd done with the beer. i have enjoyed a lot of low rated beers and hated a lot of high rated beers. ratings shmatings.
     
  20. SteveSexton203

    SteveSexton203 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2014 Connecticut

    Completely agree to check to see if you previously have had the beer. Since we have all probably had so many its hard to keep a log just in you memory on every single beer.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.