Beers being unworthy based on avaliability?

Should it matter? No.
But the old folk wisdom about the grass being greener is apt here.

 

Unworthy? No

I may pass over buying a Stone IPA (for example) under the premise I can get it whenever I want but it doesn't diminish the quality I place on that beer.

 

No, but it's an incentive to buy a rare, or limited beer, because the Old Raspy and the Stone IPA is literally always around. It doesn't make the common beer 'unworthy' by any stretch.

 

I think that some special releases/limited beers are in fact overrated while benefitting from "buzz" and some year round beers are in fact underrated by the BA community because they are readily available. This doesn't t mean I don't enjoy a good whale chase now and then, but having a year round go-to list that I can always fall back on is nice.

 

I take beers I see every day on the shelf for granted, and I often pass said beers up for the latest and greatest release. It's not something I like to do, it just happens that way. But every once in a while I do grab a shelf staple I haven't tried, like Finest Kind, and it impresses the hell out of me and makes me angry I passed it by for so long.

 

Some great input already. Great beers that are always available are not unworthy, rather, as beer-lovers (and humans) we want what we can't have.

 

the access to craft beers we have now is incredible. Fifteen years ago I got excited when I walked into a bar and they had Otter Creek and Magic Hat on tap (VT). Now I turn my nose up at Stone, because I am looking for a Founders- don't like the Founders selection- grab a four pack of Torpedo 16 Oz cans for $9. It really is incredible. I live in VT and have never even seen a bottle of Lawsons or Hill Farmstead.

 

It might not be the beer that is unworthy, but rather the imbiber...

 

I find myself passing up the great available beers for something new I haven't tried There is always something I have not tried it seems. If not for the vast of special, seasonal releases..I would probably stick more to my "go-to" beers. Then again, always trying something new is one of the biggest turn-ons for me where craft beer is concerned.

 

Though we like to convince ourselves we can be objective, at the end of the day, the consumption of anything is an inherently subjective experience, and as such, will vary based on an innumerable quantity of factors. Rarity builds expectations, which alters your perception of the product, for better or worse, upon experiencing it. Though there are the occasional examples where hype hinders the enjoyment of a beer (ahem - Infinium), it seems that in the beer world, rarity leads to a better perceived experience, which leads to better reviews, which leads to greater hype, which goes round full circle to further improve people's opinions of the products. Just the way it goes.

 

i don't think unworthy is the right word. An example from my own experience: I generally regard Two Hearted as my favorite year round/widely available beer. Love it. But, I couldn't tell you the last time I purchased any at a store/bottle shop to have at home. Its not that I find it unworthy at the store...but I guess maybe I take it for granted, and know that I'll probably have it at a bar once or twice a month.

That being said, when someone left 4 bottles of Two Hearted in my fridge after a party a few weeks ago, was I excited enough about it to high-five my girlfriend? Yes. Yes I was.

 

Sounds like a Stone ad, but to the question.. No

 

It's like anything else in life, when you have it all the time, you take it for granted.

 

I'm kind of going the other way now; beers that are in my area and are more affordable are worthy where the ones I can't find are less so. I went on a wild goose chase last summer to find Pliny in San Diego and though I like hoppy beer Ok IPA's are not my favorite style. Same goes for the Imperial Stouts and my pining for Abyss and KBS when I can already buy what I REALLY like.

 

I'm in a similar place, chasing wales has gotten too expensive and I am hoping to have money for things OTHER than beer this coming year. There are plenty of affordable local options.

 

I really believe great beers that are hard to find are overhyped. Top 100 list would be different if all those beers were available everywhere. Not saying they are not great, just overhyped. Some breweries have year-round beers not showing in top 100 and seasonals that are worst in top 50. I think it happens because those beers are more exclusive.

 

but Abyss is sooooo goooddddddd

 

Availability absolutely should matter to you. If you are in a bottle shop and there is a bottle of rare -bal on the shelf next to a 4-pack of old rasputin, the decision is easy. If you come back in a month, there will still be old rasputin. The other beer will be gone.

Something about Car per diem.

 

I might pass them over to try something less available, but on the other hand, I consider availabilty to be a plus, so if two beers are about the same quailty to me, I would rate the more easily available beer higher as I can get it more oftern/easier.