A little wisdom from the 'Experienced'

Travel, don't trade, to fully experience all that the world of craft beer has to offer.

 

Try as many beers as you can--don't let reviews prevent you from buying a beer you're interested in or one bad example of a style ruin the entire style for you. At the same time, don't spend all your effort in getting one or two really hyped beers, as there are almost always better, cheaper, and more easily obtained beers out there.

 

Sounds good in theory, and I fully agree with traveling if you can although to flat out say "don't trade" I don't agree with. Trading is a great way to try beers you otherwise wouldn't be able to, at a cheaper cost than traveling. It's also a way to establish friendships and meet new people. Perhaps, I'd clarify the trading aspect to say, don't get caught up in the hyped beers and their trading, especially with someone who's just jumping in.

 

It's just beer.

 

I wouldn't go nuts with the whole long-term aging thing. If you get something from a place like HotD or something else that is pretty much made to be aged, then go ahead. If you just want to age things so that you have an impressive cellar to show off, it's not really worth it. Most beer is made to be consumed in the short term. I have aged good beers to the point where they were past their prime. When those beers are expensive and difficult to acquire, it's a big downer.

 

Drink what you like. People hype beer up so high on this site that it makes you think that tits are going to pop out of the package and the shit is going to give you an orgasm when you pop it open, then it winds up just being beer.

 

don't pay too much for beer. If you're paying $15+ for a bottle of beer it better knock your socks off.

 

With all the trades for whales and people attending rare releases, I think the second half of the statement seems like something that alot of advocates say they practice, but don't.

 

Im new to craft beer as well. a lot newer than you in fact. i think that enjoying it with a friend is a huge positive.

 

perfect advice.

 

Read up. I like Mosher's Tasting Beer. Learn to savor beers and their characteristics. At all costs, avoid morphing into a shallow minded/palate ticker.

 

Totally agree. After trading for a few years, I've decided it really isn't worth it as opposed to putting the money towards traveling and experiencing new brewpubs, bars and beer that way.

 

Find people with whom you can enjoy craft beer socially. Share.

 

Well, to be fair I did qualify it with "if you want to experience all that the craft beer world has to offer." There's much to be said for drinking a great beer in its original setting and as close to the source as possible.

 

Try to make friends- be it a tasting partner, the people working at your local bottle shop, IP Trades, regular trades, BIF. Beer is almost inherently social, and friends help you have fun and get other beers you wouldn't have otherwise been able to obtain on your own.

 

I agree with this entirely. Having a brewery's rarest, most hyped bottle via trade pales in comparison to tasting even their most basic flagship beer at the source.

 

Try everything.

 

learn hop varitietals. I try to avoid piney hops because I know I dont like them.

 

Don't get pigeonholed into certain styles. Keep trying new beers and new styles. Your favorites might be great, but you'll never find new favorites if you don't keep diverse.