Many moons ago, in 2016, I was visiting a friend from college. Throughout college we built a bond over craft beer, among other things. She had recently moved to St. Louis and I had never been. She told me I had to come down because Side Project was going to be tapping Abraxas. At this point in my beer journey I had heard of Side Project, but I couldn't tell you anything about them. Also, at this point in my beer journey I didn't like stouts. I know, I know. Shame on me x1000. Anyways, we make it to Side Project, which was packed to the absolute gills. Miraculously, we found a table and ordered our pours of Abraxas. As we were working our way through our pours, the two guys at the table next to us get up and leave. Someone who was working came by to clear the glasses and bottle from their table. As she was clearing the table she turned to us holding a bottle of beer saying "I know I probably shouldn't offer you their bottle, but I feel bad getting rid of this beer. Do you guys want it?" Without having a chance to even think about it my friend blurts out an enthusiastic "YES!" She says to me "I know you don't like stouts, but you're not going to pass up the opportunity to have this beer." The beer we ended up receiving from the table next to us was Derivation Blend #4 (Madagascar Vanilla Bean). Knowing and appreciating what I do now I so badly wish I could taste that beer again. Regardless of not fully appreciating that beer, the memory I have of that night with my dear will forever be cherished. Every year when Abraxas comes out I always make sure to grab a bottle and send her a picture. I open this up to you: have there been any beers that you wish you had appreciated more? Anything you wish you could go back and taste again with your current palate and appreciation?
You can get caught up in the hype about certain beers but for me it’s more about the journey than the destination. Looking back on what might have been is an exercise in futility. Enjoy each beer, each step in the journey, for what it is and you’ll never experience this kind of regret. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to taste plenty of other great beers if that’s what is important to you.
Oh 100%! It’s all about the experiences shared with people that make beer fun for me. I’m just more curious how the beer actually was now that I appreciate stouts much more
You are in good company. The following thread is based on a similar thought. https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...o-longer-produced-do-you-wish-would-be.65326/ As for me, there was a brewery in my ancestral family’s hometown: Brauerei Finster from Burghaslach Germany. They were around for about 300 years and went out of business before I could try their beers. The timing was, unfortunate. More as curiosity than regrets.
At first I looked at the beers mentioned in that thread, but quickly got distracted by all the zero point initiates, then realized they hadn't been active since the rework of points a year ago. Then I got looking for anyone still active and found more than I expected.
Yeah. I know there have been other similar threads, just don’t feel like searching further. But it is interesting how many folks have left the site.
Right, I guess my answer to your question would be “all of them” (or “none of them,” same difference)—you are constantly refining your palate with every new beer you taste. Where you are now in your journey is more advanced than when you started, but likewise you’ll be even more advanced 5 years from now. The good news is that even when you started when you tasted your very first beer you were equipped with everything you needed, and you did experience that beer to the best of your ability at that stage. I am far past the “whale chasing” phase of my journey, so I’ve never heard of this beer you named in your OP and don’t know if they will ever make it again—but if not, chances are that you’ll have plenty of other beers that are pretty close to it (and if they do make it again, you’ll probably get another crack at it). Even the very best beers of any style are only marginally better than many other very good beers that are readily available, and with thousands of breweries out there constantly cranking out new product odds are you will never have the absolute “best” version of any style, if such a thing even exists. Just enjoy what you do have a chance to try as much as you can at any point along the way and eventually you probably won’t wonder “what if” about any of them.
Good story and thank you for sharing, I enjoyed the read. I also enjoyed thinking about and trying to answer the question you asked. Back to the question, I don't think so. I think the opposite has happened to me over the years. I look back at some of the beers I had to try, or went out of my way to trade for, etc and I don't understand. If anything, I wish I had the perspective I have now, enjoy each beer for what it is and what it does to the present moment, or think about what moment that beer would serve well in the future. If I had this perspective while trying those beers I probably would've saved myself a lot of time and money; but then again at the time it was a fun thing to do that brought me joy and caused me to engage with this site
I opened a 2011 Kate the Great towards the end of a bottle share/football tailgate, when none of us could truly appreciate the beer.
