Does anyone buy mediocre beer just because it's local?

I think this is it along with willing to try any local beer. I will buy any local to try, bur will never willingly buy mediocre beer. I know I am easy to please with beer though.

 

I know I may risk rancor, but yeah, I live in Chicago, and we all know how people act around here this last weekend about something

 

Not more than once!

There's quality beer that is still more local than BMC

 

If local craft were cheap for locals and it was mediocre/average I would probably be willing to support and buy a lot more of it even if its not top shelf craft by style. When its priced higher than imports or regional/national craft and not as good, then I tick it and don't revisit. Like others mentioned, I think many local people buy average local beer because they really don't know any better and feel they are being trendy/hip as well by buying local beer.

 

Absolutely not.
I will try new beer whenever I get a chance, but I will never buy beer solely on where it is brewed.

 

I try to give local a chance but in my case not many brewery's make the cut......

 

Life's too short to drink mediocre beer, around the corner, across the globe or made in my basement. Don't waste the space on poorly chosen taste. Just don't do it.

 

Think this fits in with the thread on "One and done". I'll try a few from a local brewery before avoiding. And I will choose a local option with mediocre expectations over an "imported" option of the same ilk often enough until I've determined it's not worth it.

In those tries, I might determine the beer is mediocre, which I take as buyable and enjoyable enough, but not a staple beer. On occasion I will buy these beers because they are local to share, session, or just revisit - especially if they are fresh.

That as qualification, I don't do either of the answers exclusively, but would lean towards "known quality" over local in general.

Side question where I might balance local a bit more: local best option that is good (lets say 86-87), versus national quality "good" at same rating (with many more ratings, presumably removing/reducing considerably any local bias)?

 

I've bought a few mediocre beers during things like charity events, concerts, Oktoberfest parties, etc. If I'm buying to take home I will give preference to quality.

 

Ah no.

 

Drinking local comes into play when it's a decision between beers of similar quality, but I doubt there are many people who will leave a much better and or fresher option on the shelf just because it's made farther away.

 

Luckily pretty easy to support local beer and drink fresh and delicious around here. Hardly enough time to drink all the great local stuff, definitely no time to drink the mediocre stuff.

 

I never intentionally buy mediocre beer just because it is local...especially for at-home consumption.

But, I will go out to have a beer or two at local breweries that have a better atmosphere than my house even though those breweries don't have beer that competes with what can drink at home.

It may sound lame, but sometimes the beer experience I want depends less on the quality of the beer and more on where I'm drinking it. Of course, if I can combine quality atmosphere with quality beer....

 

One of the great straw man BA arguments I see. "I won't support local if it's not good!" OK... Duh.

 

I support my local brewers but i buy the styles I like...which tend to be dark beers, which tend to be more forgiving...so I feel like I wind up finding what I like and am looking for anyway.

Of course, as a homebrewer I'm pretty used to venturing into the unknown when I open a beer...plenty of my best-intentioned brews have gone astray while others I held little hope for turned out well. Just accept it for what it is.

 

Yep. If I travel somewhere and the local isn't fresh, there's your massive red flag.

 

Most locals are mediocre. I dont even try most of them anymore. Only if i am in the area of have heard good things. The talent is spread pretty thin.

 

Had my first Green Flash a couple of weeks ago and loved it - but it's about as far from local as you can get from Central Pennsylvania.

 

Gee, if i were traveling I'd be trying anything and everything local.

 

As I get older, I can no longer waste my calories. I only drink good beer.