How do you choose a beer at the store?

I look at where "the herd" is congregating, then I look elsewhere.



I like most styles, so I ask my beverage store buddy what's new, then go from there. I almost find something interesting.

If I don't, I pick up a 4-pack of Surly Furious, then beat feet. Especially if it's fresh.

 

Too much thought. Style. Brewery. Mood price. Etc

 

Someplace with pick 6 I just look for anything interesting.

Bottleshop I will ask the workers what they have had recently that is good

 

I look to see if my old standbys are fresh or just in. Then I check out the seasonals, it is hard to fail when sticking to this routine.

 

Stuff I have never had before.

 

The owner of the liquor store that I go to often opens up new bottles for sampling. Helps to try before you buy.
I also ask the people at the store (or my friends that have tried it before) for recommendations on new beers. Beeradvocate ratings and descriptions are always a good option if I have the time to be looking up beers.

 

Quite often, I follow the beer releases in my city, so I know which ones I want to get even before I go to the store.

 

1. Find new beers to appease the ticker in me
2. Find beers I've already had an really like
3. Find a whale if my cart still has room

 

1. Anything I haven't tried yet
2. New releases from favorite breweries
3. Good old rotating standbys

 

This! I like a lot of beers which in turn comes to BEER A.D.D. when trying to choose. I usually get laughed at the shop I frequent because I turned a five minute stop into a half hour debate.

 

1. Walk the whole store first, making mental notes of possibilities
2. Start the process over again, this time with a mix six container to start filling it up, usually with first timers and beers I know I like that I haven't had for a while
3. Along the way, if I see a trusted favorite that is super fresh it goes in the cart
4. Believe it or not, I have done this several times in the past and left with nothing. I usually have plenty of good beer in the fridge so I don't buy just to buy.

 

I never have to choose at all....the beer chooses me.

 

1. Limited or seasonal beers are generally the first thing I grab as they go fast around here.
2. Now that my go to spot does growler fills I usually can find something good I haven't had.
3. Beers recommended to me by a friend or BA.
4. The old tried and true beers I've had a hundred times but still love.

 

Generally, I keep my phone handy so I can look up reviews on the fly. By reading reviews from BA's (not the overall score) I can get a general sense of what the beer is like and determine if it's worth the purchase.

Also, if I find one good beer from a brewery, I'm apt to try other offerings from the same one.

Pretty much any German beer I've had has been good or even great.

 

The store I like posts up good stuff they just got in on facebook, so that usually prompts me needing a trip. They put all the "just in" or limited stuff in the middle of the room, usually just in the boxes they came in. No need to get them shelf space since they will be gone soon. So I look through there, if anything sounds good. I am a recent (finally) smartphone user, so I often look up the beers to make sure it's not horrible. then i go around the shelves and see if anything else looks good.

My recent plan has been to just pick up stuff i haven't tried, explore more than ever. yes i know what i like, but maybe another place does something similar just as good, why not try it.

I am a graphic designer, so label art plays a big part with me. can't deny that.

 

When I got back into craft I was overwhelmed by the number of beers available (and it's just gotten more dizzying, especially for a new person) so instead of taking random shots at stuff, I tried to stick to the top beers available to me in a few styles at a time by going to "beers" and "styles" on this website. I'd judge by the number of reviews whether or not it was likely to be in my area, btu now they've got seekabrew.com that can help you identify which beers are distributed in your area, if of course you want to the route that I've taken. Some styles I started going deeper in while with some styles, I was satisfied with just trying one or two.

 

I say hello as I walk in.
Walk slowly down the aisle to make sure I don't miss any new brews
Repeat
Repeat again
Pick something out and keep shopping for more, find something I missed, replace the first choice and repeat aisle walk
Make final selections, pay, say good bye and leave with suds anticipation
Repeat two to three times a week

 

The beer chooses me.

 

I wander the beer aisles aimlessly for 30 mins to an hour.

 

When your new just buy singles until you figure it out. me I know the types of beer I prefer. I go for bang for buck, due to being retired. Still I got to have an Orval once and while. pricey. If I was an ipa fan and I am not, but If I was the list is nearly endless. Well depends on where you live.