Best Lessons You Have Learned From BA

To start drinking Kolsch!

 

I'm not a supertaster.

 

I think the future of BA is a collaboration with brewers , karma redeemable for beer!just a thought

 

I've learned that despite many claims to the contrary, the higher the ABV, the higher the ratings tend to be. I use ratings when I'm purchasing, but I always keep that in mind.

 

Today at my local I didn't buy the last Mexican Cake in the store. I have had it a number of times. Hopefully someone who never tried it now gets to try it. This is advocacy, and I am happy that BA has hooked me into a community that largely still believes this is proper behavior.

 

I've learned to not take the ratings very seriously and never use them as any kind of 'buying guide', because of the biases towards high alcohol and high hopping rates. It's actually pretty surprising to see how many truly world-class brews have gotten surprisingly low ratings by so many raters who lack even minimal objectivity.
In reading through the forum posts, I've also learned that the craft segment of the industry is just as enamored of marketing hype as the big brewers are ...and that folks seem to really be buying into that hype.

 

great attitude Dave, but, around me a beer like that would never ever be on the shelf to allow you to make that decision in the first place! so life in the beer world is NOT equal sir!.

 

I had a friend save me two CBS first release that didn't make it to shelf. I told him I would buy one and put the other one on the shelf. Wish I coulda been there to see someone find it.

 

that would be thrilling for sure.

 

Check the dates - they matter

 

As bad as I would like to , I will never be able to try every beer I see here

 

Wonder if the higher ABV of craft makes some folks more accepting of the higher price compared to macro?

 

$10-15 for one 12 oz. bottle of things like Avery's Tweak, DFH 120 min, etc.

 

I joined to get info about Dark Lord Day. I would not have survived without all the great advice I found here. I stayed because the people are nice, the discussions are generally interesting, and it's a good source of info about all things beer.

 

BIF's are the best trades, some people on here know lots about beer, some think they know lots about beer, many of us still have lots to learn, apparently some people think "it's just beer" and like to say so, more people on here drink BMC than I expected, most on here are great no matter what they drink.

Oh and every single palate is unique!

 

I was in a similar boat, and to some degree still am. When I started I tried nothing but IPA's and I absolutely hated them. When I started with BA, it honestly opened me up to other styles I didn't know existed. I think the trend sometimes is to go after the Whales, or the freshest IPA's, strictly. I chase every now and then as I'm sure most do, but there are so many other styles that don't get that much love, that are well made. And beers available year round, and locally. Sometimes exploring with the basic information available here, and making your own opinions can really make a difference in the experience.

 

What I have learned the most is when rating beers, rate as you feel the rating should be, not as the hype or others lead you to believe...Cheers !

 

Stouts are my go-to style, but lately I've taken every opportunity to try other styles, and have found a number of excellent beers to add to my favorites list. Two that stand out are Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, and Lindemans Framboise.