Anyone reach "the point?"

I think I'm comfortably at "a" point where I like choices I've continued making in the past and still will, but I never stop looking for something else. So, both I guess...I like the combo...and, those comfortable choices will always change. So, I guess I'm never really close to the true end point you may be referring to...

 

How did you drink so many beers in only 5 years? I've been trying different beers since 2007 and all I have is around 300 ticks. Freaking Ontario beer laws...

 

For heath reasons I have really cut back on the amount of beer I drink, so when I am at the store I typically (90%) reach for my favorite breweries/beers. Having said that with so many good local breweries popping up, now and again I really enjoy visiting those with friends and tasting what they are doing. I must say however that is more a social thing than anything else.

 

6+ years into the craft discovery journey and I'd say my purchases are still 90-100% stuff I'm trying for the first time.

 

If you stop trying new stuff, you have missed the point. 30 years in, still trying new stuff. Favorite breweries? Yup. Favorite styles? Yup. Thinking Sierra Nevada and Jacks Abby. Those 2 see maybe 30% of what I buy.

 

Beer festivals, bottle shares, brewery visits, single bottle purchases, etc.

 

I've reached the point I think. I've spent the past 8 years trying every style that I could. I've never found a style that I don't like; definitely styles that I prefer over others, but I wouldn't turn down any style if somebody handed me one at a cookout. I would never buy that style myself. Hoppy beers got me in to craft and will always be my first love. I don't like rich sweet flavors, so I'm not big on most imperial stouts. Acidic beers give me heartburn, so I rarely ever drink sours. I'm glad, because those two can be the most expensive styles. I'm good with my 12 pack of Hop Hunter for $14.

 

I'm pretty much at that point. I've been drinking craft for a while now and I think I have a pretty good idea of what my tastes are at this point. If I'm going to try something new it'll be from a brewery that I know and like.

 

In the first 6 months of my craft beer journey, it was 99% new beers and 1% ones I've had. After about 14 months of the craft journey that I am taking, I say it is about 55-65% new or as close to it as I can get. Hard to stay away from some of the ones that I really like and want to keep drinking!!

 

I started my craft beer journey spring of 2014 and have had over 735 different beers. Persistance, my friend, persistence !!

 

I'll get to "the point" when new and interesting beers stop showing up on the shelves. I usually grab the standards when the choices are limited, say if I'm at the local supermarket. I'd say I drink 50% once a year beers, 25% new beers, and 25% standards.

 

haven't reached it yet, but tonite I bypassed new stuff for Grapefruit Sculpin and Live Oak Primus. Just couldn't take the chance they wouldn't be there tomorrow

 

I'd say 75% of beers I try are beers I've had in the past, but I don't think there is a 'Point' for beer the way there is in music and video games. Any good representation of a style will satisfy you if you like that style.

 

It's funny. I guess I'm backwards. I found a few beers I liked when I first got into craft and wouldn't stray from them. So, I guess I started on "your point." Now that I've been into it for years I'm the opposite. I keep beers I love and trade for 80% of what I drink. I'm always trying something new. How can you not with a few thousand breweries in this country and literally one opening up somewhere every week?

I think it's kind of close minded to just buy your "go to" for years and years and nothing else. Then why are those people on a website like this specifically for the craft beer scene?

Yeah, I like some old favorites, but if you don't try new things you will never find your new "go to."

Let's not speak of whales or catfish or whatever the high and mighty's think hard, one state distributed, limited release beers should be called. Let's speak of shelf beers. We don't get Evil Twin in this beer Mecca of eastern Tennessee yet. But, whenever I travel I grab some. I grabbed 2 - 4 packs of the 16 oz Molotov Lite. Would I murder someone for it? No. Would I buy a flop house just so I can get it fresh? No. Is it solid? Yes. It's above my bar for drinkable IPA''s/DIPA's. Yep. Since that trip in December I've bought two more 4 packs. So, I've consumed 16 of these beers in about 3 months. I'll happily keep trying new beers until I find the next one I will want more than one of. It's fun. It's trying something new and exploring flavors and not being dull and boring. Do I still like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? Yeah. Do I want it everyday of my life? Nope. May as well make your tongue get used to Busch or something so you can save some money if you're going to drink the same thing everyday.

 

I am pretty new to this whole thing, I only really got into craft beer last summer, but I used to be really into trying anything and everything I could get my hands on. I haven't really gotten to the point the OP is talking about yet, but my trying habit has started to slow down. I am still really into trying anything new, but I have been starting to focus more on trying stuff I can easily get in my region. I guess instead of trying everything out there, I really want to find my favorites within the styles I enjoy most and that are readily available in my area.

I think this stage may very well lead to exactly where the OP is talking about. Just as soon as I have tried a little bit larger number of local and regionally available beers.

 

I don't think that I will ever reach "the point". I probably fall into the 75% (previously tried) vs 25% (new) category. The new are combination of the craft beer growing, distribution changing (I.e. beer coming available), and doing some traveling (Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New York, etc.).

 

I tried BCBS and knew I would never have another beer as good or better so I just stick to what I like usually.

 

Not in the slightest. Then again, I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I'm always up to trying new things. I'll be in Hawaii in 2 months and I read they have a new brewery opening up in Waikiki. I saw their line up on tap and...Yes, those beers will be had.

But I'm sure down the line, I may reach, "the Point," but not any time soon. I'm still young. Drink up, be merry!

 

"The point" for me, is to drink mostly homebrew, and I'm pretty much there.

 

I almost never revisit beers. I have maybe once or twice. But there's still so much to discover. Ive been into craft for a year and a half and there are still styles I haven't tried. Even if I love a beer, chances are they won't be revisited for a long long time. I love the excitement of trying a brewery or style I've never had before.