What are your medium and long range beer plans?

Always wanted to visit Slippery Rock, if only for the name, but...

 

Medium and Long Range Beer Plans.

Well, I started out with the goal of having a list of beers to fit in a regular rotation in the fridge. A collection of year round standards and annual seasonal. (E.g, my second and true love is Pils style beers and typically there are some one or more of the locals in my fridge almost all the time.)

Since that time I've sampled well over 2,000 different beers and the rotation list has grown a bit, some were replaced by new ones, etc.. But the law of diminishing returns has begun to set in.

So my medium range plan is to cut back on the search for new beers to try and to review while relying on more of the regulars.

The long range plan is to happly move through my later years with a large enough variety of beers I enjoy, no matter which time of the year it is, and keep that fridge stocked with reliable, fairly consistent and tasty beers I enjoy and would be willing to share with my friends. All without having to check out more than 2-3 places for something to buy.

 

Shrug right back atcha.

 

Goals =/= job.

There is a line between where goals become 'work' and where goals provide growth without being cumbersome. That line is in a different place for every person, and it shifts often, but my hope is people challenge it to better themselves in their interest areas. Then again, for some, hobbies are not about that in the slightest. I would suspect people who have joined and then remain to actively participate in an online interest forum to learn more are, at the very least, slightly motivated in becoming better, i.e. goal driven.

 

I remember going to Brawley's when I lived in Charlotte. Great place. If you called to see if he had a new release or anything he would just tell you to come by the store haha

 

Top tier goals:
- Try one beer from each state
- Try two beers from each Beer Advocate recognized style

Second tier goals:
- Try #1 beer in each BA recognized style
- Complete Beers of Fame list
- Complete Popular Beers list
- Consume Missouri beer 25% of the time

I wouldn't say I'm going too far out of my way for any of these goals, just keeping them in the back of my mind when making purchases. If a special style is available, I will almost exclusively reach for it at this point. Likewise, the Popular Beers list has been impacting my 'mix six' selections, as many of the beers are easily available (and have been enjoyed by me previously), but never reviewed by me.

As for the last goal, I always tend to hover around 23-24%, according to my Beer Advocate statistics. Setting it at 25% is a bit lofty, but keeps me accountable in revisiting some of the local breweries.

 

Thanks to @lightman1 for starting this thread! There's so much in here I can relate to, have lived through or hope to experience in the future. It's enlightening (and entertaining) seeing some of these goals.

Two big things stand out:

1. Sharing beer with friends more often (@JoeWalsh mentioned this along with a couple three others). Roy Duff of Aqvavitae, a whisky-related YouTube channel and blog, always says, "It's not whisky until it's shared." It's a great reminder for us agoraphobes (I speak for myself) that you can't beat sharing a dram — or a couple pints — with good people.

2. Health-related goals. Whether it's to lose weight, to ease the strain on your liver or just to feel better, it's great seeing BAs mentioning their attempts to balance a love of beer with health concerns.

Count those two things above as my perpetual short-term goals. More sharing, less drinking. And draining the last of the year-old beer in my fridge — responsibly, of course.

Cheers!

 

If this means that you've had a beer from all 50 states, congrats on the accomplishment.

If you haven't had a beer while IN each state, then you still have plans.

If you've been to all 50 for a beer, again, congrats. You beat me; I still have 5 to go.

 

Just one: To get out of the retail part of the industry. Its getting old.

 

Drink a little less beer, which will be offset by drinking a little more bourbon.

Slow down consumption of 8%+ double IPAs/stouts, in its place more sessionable stuff - pilsners, ESBs, etc.

You could conclude I'm trying to keep my weight in check, that's part of it (I'm 42) but I've also found sometimes I prefer a nice easy drinking pilsner over the latest hyped IPA.

 

Go to refrigerator and get beer. If empty, go to store and refill.

 

No plans whatsoever, just continue enjoying the ride.

 

Retail is smaller now but now has redone the inside with 20 taps and great selection. Still with some rarities in the cooler. I have some 2010 Olde School that is sublime. Has a 100% honor system for beer. When are done, you go to the register and tell him what you had.

 

I'm going to Prague & Vienna in November. Have you heard of any exceptional places in either town?

 

I am still formulating my plans. My wife and I will be meeting up with friends (another couple) there (they are already there - arrived 8/13/19) so they will be experts of the town by the time we arrive.

I personally know nothing of Vienna so I am zero help here.

Cheers!

 

There's a Places guide to Vienna on this site and many of them have multiple reviews.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/place/list/?start=0&c_id=AT&city=Wien&sort=name\

In addition this web site is focused on promoting Venna

https://www.viennawurstelstand.com

and there are articles about where to find craft beers, bars, and breweries.

Enjoy, but don't neglect the city itself. A very enjoyable and historic place to visit with lots of history, etc.

 

I enjoyed TAP IT in Chesapeake when I lived in VA. Their food is as good as the beers.

 

Do a Biltmore Christmas tour and don’t skimp on days. At least 3. Get a great massage, check out the cool bars check out the beers and great food. Do it you wont regret it Biltmore is ridiculously cool at Xmas.