Happily Single: The Satisfaction of Beer Monogamy

I agree with the article.

I am a ticker, I think (although I don't always choose an unknown beer over a known one). And in some situations, taking beer pics, enjoying the aromas and jotting down my thoughts has distracted me from whatever social activity I'm part of. There is something to be said about just having one option.

Still. There's also a different experience in having lots of options.

 

Having a large selection of beer to choose from and being fully engaged in conversation with those around you don't need to be mutually exclusive things. When out I always either have a flight in front of me or I'm switching to different brews pint to pint. Sometimes I choose blindly, other times I might quickly check a review or score. But, it has never kept me from being fully engaged with my surroundings.

 

This makes a good point which is worthy of revisiting for those of us so joyously obsessed with the ever snowballing craft beer explosion. As an elder statesman beer aficionado I should first note that I didn't think anyone born during this revolution was yet old enough to be scribing such an article! But I agree, if the "one beer" is something especially fresh and delicious like Pilsner Urquel, there is indeed a very silvery lining to that cloud of monotony. I can say from my experience of cutting my beer drinking teeth in the early to mid seventies that I was content with the macro brews of the day that were generally shared with my social cohorts over pinball, bullshit sessions and live music (not to mention the embarrassment of discotheques). But I wouldn't go so far as to say it was a standalone joy. I always sought out something different to try when there was a choice and that has culminated in the present day bonanza. But I agree that taking pictures of our beer and spending time to write a quick review and post on the beer websites can really dilute the experience (and point) of getting together with friends. Being an older guy now, traveling on business, the fun and distraction of beer selection and the anticipation of the final experience is still a complete winner for me. Especially when you are alone and have little more than a barroom television for companionship. I've been to Prague and the beer is indeed terrific despite any frustrations with variety. But I'm glad to live here in America where the choices are indeed approaching the ridiculous. Long live the revolution!

 

When I go out to a craft beer bar, I drink everything unique that samples well. What's the point of drinking something familiar at a premium price?

At home, I drink one or two goto beer brands during a single session. I value beer consistency and quality at home much more than I do else where.

I feel as though this article is speaking to a unique individual and culture that's incongruent with mine. Every beer drinker, like every craft beer, is unique, is it not?

 

The US beer market does not adhere to the concept of a great generally available session beer. Over the years the market has gone from monolithic (Bud, Coors Light, or Miller Light?) to completely splintered (have I ever heard of some of these breweries before?). I like having a "go-to" beer, and I've had favorites over the last 45 years that usually could be had at a reasonable price (Ballantine Ale (1973), Pabst Andeker and Huber Augsburger (1978), McSorley's (1980), Blue Point Pale Ale (2010) . . . . I could enjoy those beers (and now my currrent favorites) at home. When going out, I'm almost inevitably faced with a choice of unfamiliar brews. Now when heading out I prefer a nearby brewpub (Brickhouse in Patchogue) that has solid regulars that I know will be good, as well as some more exotic choices.

 

This article sounds like it was written by someone who doesn't remember how hard it used to be to find new and interesting beers that weren't lining the shelf of every liquor and grocery store. Back when finding something different meant driving to that one liquor store in the area with the crazy huge selection of imported beers. This was before there was such a thing as Bevmo.

I don't know why the author feels that he needs to try every beer when he goes out, but it sounds like a personal problem to me. While I enjoy looking for that next beer that's going to wow me, I don't need to try every new beer I've never heard of. I know what styles I like to drink, so if I go some place new that doesn't have any beers I'm familiar with, I look for similar styles. If I like my pick, I stick with it for the night. If I don't like my pick I move on with another pick and hope it tastes better. This has never "paralyzed me" into not enjoying myself or the company I keep. If anything, a limited selection is reason enough for me to avoid returning to any restaurant/bar/store.

 

I'm only willing to settle for beer monogamy if that beer is Backwoods Bastard.

 

I can grok where the author is coming from but my days of regularly going out to bars to hang with a group of friends have long since passed. I do indeed like to go out with friends but they are all old beer nerds like me. When we do manage to occasionally get out to a bar, the whole point IS to try new and different beers.

 

Grab some buddies and head into the city one fine spring day, and get yourselves over to Zum Schneider. Start with the Traunsteiner Helles, and see if you don't want to stay with that one all afternoon.

 

Good article. Current American beer culture seems to be all about ticking, with a heavy emphasis on IPAs. There's just a lot to choose from, there's always that fear of missing out on something big if we stick to "old standbys". I think paralyzing is the right way to describe it - there are times I'll go to the store and end up overwhelmed with the choices while trying to stay within budget.

Overall though it's great to have variety.

 

Ever been to the Billy Goat in Chicago? Two options for beer: Billy Goat Light & Billy Goat Dark. Three options for a "pairing": Single, Double, or Triple Cheeseburger. It's worked for decades of patrons and remains refreshingly simple.

 

So how was the dark beer ?

 

bitter? wouldn't that be nice... everything i've heard about london is that the malt beverages of choice for the "riff raff" (or whatever you want to call the "majority" consumer demographic) are something more along the lines of carling, fosters and stella...

 

Being happily single isn't the same as being monogamous. Monogamy is marriage.

 

Probably Kozel Černý, which is the dark beer served in pretty much every czech pub I've ever been in that focuses on PU.
Not a bad beer by any means, but giving the option of tankova urquell, I would go for urquell as well...

 

So I'm a whore.

 

I very much enjoyed the article. I love trying new beers but I've come to the point in which I prefer drinking the same beer back to back. And honestly you may see that beer subtly change once you've had a few. When I go out, whatever beer on tap I choose, I stick with for this reason. The writer of the article really painted a picture as well. Beer is culture. All cultures are different. That's the joy in it. And I can relate in that after being a hardcore ticker, buying a 6 pack instead of several singles is refreshing and easy. More enjoyable.

 

Guys, guys... Settle down. This article was just a satire.