Would You Rather (a conundrum or dilemma)?

Why can;'t it be both? I do have some "old favorite" go tos while still trying new stuff coming down the pike.

 

You didn't say how many favorite beers I could have

 

I’m still relatively knew to drinking mostly craft (2015-2015), but for the few dozen beers I tried 1980s-2014, my preferences / then are pretty much consistent with what I enjoy / purchase most now. What I loved about SNPA and BCBS is still true today. Ditto normally backing off buying malty or sweeter beer styles.

@TheIPAHunter - Are you getting at the fact your OG versions are in many cases no longer available / the same, and you’d like a reset so that you can appreciate what’s available now?

Or rather you’d like to start from scratch and see what beers you’d enjoy in the current beer environment?

In the end, I believe we all adjust the best we can based on what is available. I’m fortunate to live in Chicago, where my favorite styles beyond top WCIPAs are available, and a few WCIPA seasonals and year rounds offerings are “solid enough”.

Cheers!

 

I like the idea of resetting my palate, not having a certain beer(s) available all the time makes them taste brighter

 

Got it. I don’t experience that very often, but typically switch styles for my at home beers during the week, or within an outing drinking multiple beers.

My appreciation decreases once I get to 3-4 of the same beer or style in a row, even for beers I love. I’m grateful there are many styles I enjoy to keep things fresh short and long term.

 

Absolutely in the reset camp. Even among my favorites, I will rotate between them and I find I actually drink the real favorites pretty rarely. Maybe subconsciously trying to recapture that wow factor.

I keep track of my beer on a spreadsheet and while I like a lot of beers and will drink them again, only about 4% make the favorites list.

I completely agree that the experience changes over time. Either the taste buds change or the beer itself could indeed be slightly different. I also think the "occassion" matters in the subjective aspect, and food, mood, setting all contribute to the drinking experience.

 

Give me the ones I love.

 

There is a certain allure to the "palate refresh". It'd be interesting to refresh on a case-by-case basis, to conduct comparisons. Like ... is Pliny different these days or did my palate shift?

For that matter, actually ... I might be scared a palate refresh would make me hate the kinds of beers I now enjoy so much So, I think I'll go with: favorite few beers readily available.

 

I will go with the ones I love. Most of them still give me a Wow!

 

Fav beers easily accessable hands down. Nothing like having a warm friend all the time.

 

I'm with you...I'd like to start over as I rarely have that "Wow!" factor anymore..while I would love to have a few of my favorites all the time, the thrill of getting to experience it all over again appeals to be more....

 

Refresh, that’s if I can keep all my knowledge of beer when my taste resets. I would really love to know if these beers changed or it really is me.

I have to say after a dry January I had a SNPA and it was pretty good, not that holy shit moment from 1988 but I enjoyed it. I have not been a fan for a long time and I now think I can enjoy a few now and then. I also drink mess hoppy beers now so that will also help out.

So yes, reset please


Enjoy

 

Can't I have both on demand?? You definitely posed a good question!

I have ones now that I love 100% and know they won't last. Which is why I kept buying them over the last few months. But to experience it for the first time again would be pretty great as well.

 

My favorite beer of all time is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale which is easy to get so I would go for the reset.

 

Definitely would prefer to have one of my favorites readily accessible. I’m still impressed by many beers and regularly enjoy the taste of old favorites with much appreciation (ie the smuttynose robust porter I had the other night that blew my mind). But it’d be amazing if I had fresh Timothy Taylor landlord on the regular. Wouldn’t say that’s my all time favorite, but it’s up there and I can’t get it any longer.