Gotta Catch 'Em All

I drink what I like. Therefore..........

 

My method typically goes a little something like this:

1. Enter store with intentions of purchasing a six-pack or two of reasonably priced, tried-and-true favorites.

2. See tempting options of highly regarded beers I've never tried.

3. Leave store having spent $20-$30 more than originally planned.

 

I try to try as many new beers as possible, and when I find one that blows me away, I will buy it year after year, in addition to continuing trying as many new beers as possible.

 

My purchase decisions are so convoluted that a poll with 100 options would not get it. Even I can not explain why I buy certain things. It is always much easier to state why I did not buy something.

 

With exception to planning a visit to the store near a release, I typically have no plan. When I leave a store I'll usually have a few tried and true venerable tasties in the bag along with a few new items and maybe an old friend that I haven't' visited on a while.

 

Funny, mine typically goes in the exact opposite direction:

1. Read (typically here on BA) about some great new beer in a style I usually like.

2. Go look at said beers and note price, ingredients, and marketing language ("our unique take...," "...with a twist," etc.), and recall how many times I have been burned on such beers in the past.

3. Purchase a six-pack of reasonably priced, tried-and-trusted favorite(s).

 

No plan unless there's a specific beer being released.

Normally just go to the store and see what they have. If there's something new that sounds good I'll buy that. Otherwise I'll go for one of my tried and true favourites

 

I like variety, so I get the itch for seasonals. Already looking forward to Oktoberfest beers, for example.

Other than that, it's usually it's "oh I haven't had a [insert beer style here] in a while, I'll get a sixer of those". Think local first, then expand search if needed, keeping an eye out for beer I've never had.

 

Pretty much random new beers along with my favorites, so "other" fits best as the least restrictive choice. Basically I do what the voices in my head tell me...

I do prefer local-ish (meaning New England area) as long as it is good beer, not just because it is local. Except for a few (Allagash, Jack's Abby, Maine Beer) not terribly loyal to any brewery in particular. If something looks appealing to me, I'm going to try it.

 

Not going to lie...sometimes Untappd badges make a difference in my choice. It sounds silly to try to get imaginary rewards, but it's helped me discover styles I didn't know I like. For instance, I was level 10 IPA without a single sour check-in. If it hadn't been for that sour badge, I probably wouldn't have discovered sours...or it would have taken me longer...and I LOVE sours now! I just picked up a few hefeweizens recently, too. Not because they seemed interesting, but because I just wanted that badge. Turns out, I found a few new beers I like.

I'll also pick up anything new I see from a brewery I love, regardless of style.

 

"There are naive polls, tedious polls, ill-phrased polls... but every poll is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb poll" - Carl Sagan

I get hooked on breweries sometimes, styles more often. I think getting hooked on barleywines is fun. I can't remember.

 

I like to drink beers that I've never had before, unless I've had them already

 

I have two shops. One where I buy 12-packs of Sierra Nevada, Smuttynose, variety packs, etc, and one where I buy singles. When I'm buying singles I usually select one or two that will complete the latest Untappd Badge. Founders is going to get some love from me soon - but it's only a couple bottles, mostly for fun. Plus I enjoy their beers anyways, so it's not like I have a problem buying them. Then I try to knock one or two off the Beers of Fame list. Usually these are relatively expensive. The last few bottles that round out the six-pack are typically <$2 beers that I want to try because there is a high probability that I will buy them again in larger quantities. Or sometimes I throw in an old favorite or a style that I've been craving.

 

Ditto...ditto.. & ditto

 

I travel a lot. So I normally use BA or other social media to discover the best bottle shops in town. I walk in and just dream that we had all of this at my home. Then I look around for things I have never had. I search for any potential whales. When I am done, I get to my car and think... "Wow $300 doesn't buy a lot of beer anymore."

 

All depends what's in my fridge, how much money I have to spend and if any new release are out that I want to try.

I always need an every day drinker such as pale ale, low abv ipa, or lager. If I have that then I a generally looking for something new. If I've bee drinking a lot a certain style I tend to look for something different. I don't really seek out beer just because of the brewery or style but if it's something I think I'll like.

 

I have a go-to fridge beer, and mix it up with interesting new stuff that crosses my path. We have good distro from out of state and a lot of local breweries to keep a consistent flow of new stuff to try.