Hazed and Confused

I've become a consistent "build your own six pack" consumer. My selection of six beers usually breaks down into three "darker" and three "lighter" beers that break down into:

1-2 brews I've had plenty of times and know I'm going to enjoy
1-2 brews that I've tried before and am going to try again to see if they fit into the first category
2-3 brews that I haven't tried, including trying to include at least one brew from a brewer I either am not familiar with, or at least, that I haven't sampled before.

Not a perfect system, but it's an option.

 

Try to buy singles?

 

When in doubt I look for a canned on date. Most of these do not have dates so that eleminates half the field. Of the few with dates I defer to what is the freshest.

 

I’ve actually been doing this more recently than I ever have before. Beware of bottles, though, that sit in the light all day. Also look at can dates as I’ve found often times singles sit there for a while. My store in downtown Houston has a super solid selection and sells a ton of good singles so I can try a lot and tick

 

I hear there's a website that has beer reviews.... You could try that for recommendations.

 

You are definitely correct in that there are just too many choices these days and you need some factor or factors to help you decide (brewery, date, hops, ABV, etc). Canned date is definitely number one for me - I'm not insane about freshness but it's definitely the first thing I look at. I tend to stick with breweries that I know but I will definitely branch out if a beer sounds like something that I may like. Hop profile is what drives this decision almost 90% of the time and it how I choose IPAs in general. I know generally which hops and hop combinations that I enjoy most and choose beers that contain them. This criteria generally works well for me.

 

Buying singles is definitely the way to go. I avoid shops that don't allow you to break up 4 and 6 packs. Very rarely will I buy a 4pk of anything, even if it's a beer I know and love. I buy 4pks at breweries. I buy singles at bottle shops, and it's a great way to explore new/unfamiliar offerings, without risking spending $20 on something you just don't enjoy. Worst case scenario, you spend 5 or 6 bucks on a mediocre beer. Or, you may just discover a brand new favorite. Singles. The best thing since 4 packs.

 

Compounding the problem is the current fad of "cool, colorful can art" (<double the quote marks around "art") means walking up to a cooler door full of beer looks like some nightmare flashback of color with no identifiable branding, brewer or even easily determined beer style, etc (gotta go in, pick up a 4-pk, hold sideways and spin a can to figure out what's inside).

Move in closer and many seem to be advertising Sat. Morning Cartoons or re-issues of psychedelic albums of "has-been/never were" acid rock bands.

I stand there (briefly) and think:
"How do any of these breweries expect to consistently sell this beer?"

I mean, I understand the "anti-Madison Ave, anti-marketing-over-good beer" impulse, but, damn, I'm looking for good beer not to play some "real life" video guessing game in order to "win" a good beer. It is just another form of marketing, ultimately - but one that would seem to appeal to a smaller group of people.

At most retailers, doesn't that put the final price much higher than the OP's "$13 to $20" ? Why would he be more "willing to shell out the money" for 6 unknown entities?

What's wrong with that? Likely, for most drinkers in most regions there's more of that at most stores than there ever was.

Let the tickers and the FOMO-ites do the work.

 

A good bottle shop typically does NOT try to carry as much as they can find like a TW and accordingly inventory control and movement is better.

I avoid TW for most everything but unfortunately they have become one of the few places I can consistently find Belgians now. Oh and if you need some Founder's Harvest Ale--it is still languishing there.

 

As said above I'm gravitating towards singles more and more. I'm not dropping $18-25 on a 4 pack of Haze when they are pretty hit or miss in my experience. I've purchased too many 4 packs and had 2-3 of them sit in my fridge for too long.

 

Jesskidden said--At most retailers, doesn't that put the final price much higher than the OP's "$13 to $20" ? Why would he be more "willing to shell out the money" for 6 unknown entities?

FWIW my "method" (which I admitted wasn't "perfect") entailed picking a couple I know I like, a couple that I've already tried and either think I like or am giving a second shot, and then two truly "unknown entities."

The reason I limit my purchase of an "unknown" to a single bottle is that even if the price of that single is somewhat inflated vs. the cost of a 4-pack, a $3-5 bit of bad luck is cheaper than a $13 to 20 one. IOW I'm willing to pay a little more for the "first one" of a beer I'll buy again to avoid paying at all for 3 brews that are going to sit in my fridge mocking me each time I open the door.

The reason I don't buy too many 4's or 6's of even brews I like is because I still like variety, and don't have room in my fridge for the beer I'd need to have to keep them all in stock at that volume.

So--I'll admit my approach is a little pricier, but it helps avoid pouring beer down the drain, and helps keep the beer I'm drinking fresh.

 

I am glad that someone else has noticed this phenomenon.

 

I guess it all boils down to what is the purpose of all that trying? I'm just looking for well made beers to add to the rotation.

And, I mentioned this before but may as well do it again, I got to the point where it felt like Lucy was holding the football for me and pulled it away damn near every time. So now I'm at the "screw you, Lucy" phase, and am quite content to have maybe 10 fave IPAs to choose from, and just get what's freshest when I shop.

 

Mix of this and being that guy that stands there with my phone checking others score of the beer on BA, with a dash of my own whims.

 

"Notice it" ? Damn, it's been added to my list of topics to which I initially respond:

[15 MINUTES OR LESS LATER - I'm typin' away ]


But I do have to find a better and more up-to-date jpeg to post but I'm from the mid-20th century and can't remember to bring a phone to take a picture. But instead of a mere shelf, it'd be easy to find an entire "door" full of 'em.

(I'd also mention forgetting my beer label reading glasses but then the "Oh, you're one of those old dudes" criticism will overshadow my rant.)

 

This +100. I know people must have wondered who the weird guy (me) standing in the beer cooler reading something on his cell phone is.

 

Try explaining that to the masses who think a good bottle shop must have EVERYTHING or it sucks.

 

Or, I mean this is just way to out there to even contemplate, get something that is not an IPA