Obsessed with 'The Best!'

I have visited yards in PA as well as weyerbacher and am a big fan of several of their offerings. Have also gone to river horse brewery and really like there raspberry tripel. Have even taken a yoga class there with my wife.

 

You had me until this... because we do... we really do.

 

I love Ska-Modus Hoperandi. I can always find it, always is fresh, and the price is right.

 

The best beer is the one you enjoy drinking the most.

 

And that will change depending upon mood, time of day and year and other variables.

 

I like me somodat Ballantine XXX.

Awwwww yeeeaaaaaaa.

 

There is a progression that many of us go through. You get blown away when finding this new world of beer and want to try everything, then you want the best. Ultimately you find out all the time and effort really isn't worth it and begin finding those everyday beers with those "special" beers mixed in. Well at least that's I it went for me.

 

Well said OP

Lately I've mainly been trying new beers when I get my "beer for life" at work (mix 6 pack with a $50 limit once per month as long as I take notes), most of the rest of the time I'm buying old favorites (when I'm not drinking various spirits or wine).

Lately I've actually been loving Shiner Bock, a fantastically solid beer that I can pick up for 6.99 per sixer. One of those beers that I always used to overlook along with Anchor Porter and really awesome amber called Liquid Amber from Prescott Brewing Co in northern AZ.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, where I am at now. I look at the taplist and go man haven't had any of those, that looks good. I then order a pilsner.

 

I agree with the sentiment, but for me, there is no reason that these 'everyday' beers can't be world class beers. I do not want to try something new every time I drink. I try to keep my fridge stocked with seasonals and fresh locals and a few others mixed in. I also get the great limited release barrel aged stouts when I can. Now I only drink a few beers a week, so it doesn't take much to keep it stocked.

 

Yes, correct answer. I too took issue with the OP saying cult of the best.

Favorites change all the time, and luckily we live in an age that can give us an endless amount of greatness to enjoy.

 

I believe, especially for folks living in states that only recently have exploded, like WV, the best is yet to come. Funny to see the whole world, not just the whole country, discover Great American Beer.

 

There are two kinds of beers - beers I like and beers I don't. That's borrowed from a friend of mine who used to say "warm and cold and I like 'em both". Hmmm...then again he used to say "f*** work let's go to the parade" in Polish every morning so maybe not the greatest font of wisdom....

Anyhow... I think things have changed some and there's at least a little less whale hunting than there used to be and people actually are celebrating those "every day drinkers" a lot more. On the other hand, there's also a lot more "localism" in the sense that there are quite a number of small breweries with parking lot distribution where people happily line up to buy beer. I don't think that is the same phenomenon as being obsessed with the "best".

I have favorites and they come and go pretty haphazardly. My favorite beer is probably the one in my glass at the time. I enjoy a simple, "mundane" every day beer, but I also enjoy the "holy shit is this stuff awesome" moments when they happen, but I'm not obsessed with the chase. And I went through the "gotta haves" when I first joined up and lurked here, and I think at one point it could actually make you feel inferior somehow if you had not tried all the mountain top beers people raved about. Don't get that sense anymore, but part of that I'm sure is participation and getting to understand the community. I'd certainly love to try all the "best" beers people talk about or all of the beers of fame or whatever but that will never happen. I do like finding the hidden, unexpected gems but I also like finding a beer I have heard a lot about and forming my own opinion. So is there such a thing as being a beer schizo?

Unsung local-ish breweries - Jack's Abby comes to mind because of the whole lager thing; Ipswich Brewery, Notch (actually gets decent chatter sometimes). Mayflower Porter - one of the "best" in my opinion. Smuttynose - while I run hot and cold on them, some of their Smuttlabs beers are great and I'll drink Old Brown Dog any day. Hidden Cove - a really pleasant recent surprise for me. And Allagash - probably my favorite brewery - seems to fly under the radar while offering some really world-class beers and every day drinkers. I actually don't care much - what is important to me is whether I like the beer and want to drink it again. I don't go looking for the "ah-hah" moments, but an sure as hell glad to experience them when they happen.

 

I drink only the best . . . the best I can afford, the best I can get, the best of the three selections at the gas station . . .

 

The thing about "the best" is it's really subjective. I have found a lot of "the best" aren't expensive beers that you have to stand in line for days and give up your first born to get your hands on.

I am going to go more within a 1.5 hour drive from me on this one.

East End monkey boy
Great Lakes Chillwave
Brew Kettle White Rajah
Brew Kettle Dark Helmet

Regionally speaking I love everything from Troegs.

 

I think there are everyday beers that are world class. My two everyday beers, Swami's and Pivo are world class IMO. However, I don't there are a lot of them.

 

One should never give up their first born for beer. Rather we should see the child well educated so they can land a good job and buy their old man some beer.

 

I used to say my favorite beer was "cold, free, and in front of me"...things changed over the years of course. I'm not a fan of my local brewers, but still love S/N, Lagunitas, Victory, Founders and Bells, and I can get them everyday

 

What!?!

Larry, they sound like genuine words of wisdom to me!!

Cheers!

P.S. Would he then say Na Zdrowie after that statement?