How Did You Learn So Much About Craft Beer?

Beeradvocate .com

 

This, paired with plenty of experience drinking the stuff.

 

This site and a lot of time.

 

Basically.
Reading the forums. Also, looking at the top rated beers, who made them, where they're from etc.
I've been dabbling in the culture for a few years and I am always seeing people post pictures of
bottles that I've never heard of. It's a pretty damn big market out there. A lot of times it's a regional thing.

 

It really hasn't been about any single thread. More about finding discussions about beer styles and/or beers and paying attention to the posters who addresss ingredients and/or brewing processes. I don't read a thread specifically for this purpose, but it certainly is something I often ended up taking away from them.

 

I'm learning new stuff every day. This site, and a ton of Youtube beer reviews, and beer info vids.

 

Basically this site. I just need to make sure that I'm not on it while speaking with a Cx. The posts and effery on here are top notch! Cheers!

Btw, WBAYDN is hands down the best thread...just saying...

 

Both go to and host bottle shares. I belong to a couple of great beer groups on Meetup.com (there's a beer group in every city on Meetup--check it what's there where you live). One of the better ones has 2-3 events going every month: bottle shares, brewery tours, beer/food dinner pairings, etc...) Awesome people, learned a lot, continues to be a lot fun...

 

I've probably learned the most from discussions in the Germany forum.

A lot of knowledgeable folks frequent the forum, and many of the threads are quite in-depth in terms of explaining brewing technique, ingredients, and history.

This isn't to detract or take anything away from the main forums, but it can be refreshing to learn about the less popular styles and not continuously read about the latest popular IPA or barrel-aged stout.

 

The Beer 101 style guide has been instrumental for your truly. I don't just want a/an ____________(insert style name). I want to know the story behind it. WHY is it called _____? Plus its got the rated lists, from which one can read a few reviews to get the general gist of what he or she is getting into. The recommended glassware also helps you get the most out every pour & fires up the olfactory senses more than simply drinking out of a can or bottle ever will. Pretentious statement? Perhaps, but you'll be enjoying your beer more than the accusers& gradually give less of crap what they think as the night or session goes on. But honestly, the tops of the lists rotate so frequently, I wouldn't rely on them as the end-all be-all sources of information. You just gotta try as much as you have the extra time and $ to spend on this lifestyle and base your experiences from there.

 

Internet.