Suggestion: Quit drinking new beers all the time

No, I don’t think I will

 

I may be in the minority, but I don't drink new beer all the time. Sort of. I belong to two beer clubs (SN and Mad Fritz). Since they usually are not repeats, consist of 25-50% of my beer fridge at home, and I primarily drink at home, I will be drinking "new" beer about half the time. However, the other half is tried and true breweries/beer (FW and local). I think that is a fair balance.

 

I try a lot of new-to-me beers, but not many of those are new-to-the-brewer.

And, even so, my new-to-me beers are a small fraction of what I normally drink. IOW, most of my beer consumption is repeats and I always have a number of different favorites / classics in the refrigerator.

I avoid "new label" beers, but I will go for a one-of from reputable brewers that I know will be legitimately brewing something interesting and not just a "tweak the hop bill and create a *cough* new" beer.

 

A noble ‘movement’ suggested by Lew Bryson but…tickers are gonna tick.

Some extracts from the article:

“What’s even more disheartening is that I’ve recently experienced beers that probably shouldn’t have been brewed in the first place, poorly formulated or executed.”

And (with emphasis in bold by me)

“It’s not just me, either. The following statement from Pat Berger of the Kaiser Tiger bar in Chicago (as quoted by the estimable Kate Bernot, in Beer & Brewing) has been getting some wide circulation lately. “We’re rotating less,” he said. “If a beer is doing well, and it’s coming in fresh and it’s high-quality and tasting good, then I’m just going to leave it on and build an audience for that beer… I’d like to see more of an emphasis on making better beer, rather than just making a new and different beer.”

Also:

“Not every brewery has to make a new beer every week.”

I personally agree with all of the above but I wonder how much of the contemporary craft beer drinkers (e.g., Haze Bros) do.

Do craft beer consumers come into a brewery’s taproom or craft beer bar and ask the beer server: “What do you have new on tap today?”.

Kudo’s to Pat Berger for trying to “build an audience” for some beers but I would be willing to bet he also rotates a good portion of his tap space to keep the tickers satisfied (and returning for more new beers).

Pogo know the ‘answer’ here:



Cheers!

 

Speedway and DarkStar
This isn't including all the glass Old Rasputin and North Coast stuff

 

Agree with article. There are too many beers to tick, I would rather support the beers I know are great than constantly be rolling the dice.

When I hang out with friends I don't like drinking new [to me] beers. I can't fully evaluate a beer and talk to people at the same time, and when I try neither is done well. If I'm with friends I would rather be talking to them, So...

I tick alone, yeah
with nobody else.
Yeah, you know when I tick alone,
I prefer to be by myself.

 

Unfortunately (so to speak), there are some great, smaller breweries in my area putting out new stuff pretty often -- and their reputations as good brewers twist my arm pretty often.

That said, there's always a 12-pack of Trumer Pils or Spaten Premium for "mindless consumption."

 

Stopped (for the most part) trying new beers and I rely on the "tried and true" type of beers that I know I will enjoy.
I would say 90% of my consumption are beers that I know will be satisfying and for me this is a good "balance".
I got to a point where I got sick of buying sixers and singles of new beers only to be let down.

 

Here is some fresh blather from the people who profess to know more about beer than anyone else. Pretentiousness, anyone? When did I ever tell you to do anything other than to drink CANned beers? These cats want to provide guidance on seemingly everything, regardless of whether you may have solicited their exalted input! Gimme a break. My suggestion? Shove it up your collective tailpipe. Not solicited? Sorry 'bout dat!

Suggestion: Stop Drinking New Beers All The Time • thefullpint.com

 

I like trying new beers because my tastes change overtime and I like seeing how close I can get to finding my perfect beer for each style. It’s always amazing to find a beer that makes you think it’s perfect and you wouldn’t change a thing on it, however most of the time those beers are either a one off or have some unique or seasonal ingredient that prevents them from being in a rotation. Then add in the variations on ingredients from year to year. Can’t tell how many times I’ve had an amazing beer only to think it was average when the next batch came out a year later.

we could say there are plenty of great shows and movies and that we shouldnt make any more and just watch reruns or find a great restaurant and just eat there. People crave new experiences.

They would have been better arguing that beer in an unnecessary expenditure of resources and should just no longer be made if we wish to save the planet.

 

I wouldn't like to drink the same beer all the time

 

"Stop" ? Never started...

There's a vast middle ground between that and "drinking new beers all the time"...

 

well i drink a lot of new beer, and i also go back to the old classics. and guess what? lots of times i like the new beers better, give me an Other Half ACE over a 60 minute or Dales Pale Ale 100% of the time. and i loved those beers at one time. i agree lots of new beers arent good, but you only find new great ones by trying them. and get off of my lawn.

 

My Suggestion? STOP making suggestions!

 

On a more serious note, the main reason I prefer drinking new beers is that the reviewing process makes me slow down and enjoy it more. There's of course times where I don't want to think about it and would rather just drink which is what I return to old favorites for, but focusing on what a beer has to offer is a key part of the experience for me

 

Woody, that was back in the ‘good ol’ days’ (e.g., more than 3-4 years ago) where that was considered acceptable. If you tried that stuff today you would be labeled as being misobottleistic.

Cheers!