How Has Your Taste Changed Over The Years?

It took me a little bit to get totally on board with IPAs, but now I'm a bonafide "hop head." At the same time, I've kind of balanced out my flavor/style preferences by losing a little bit of enthusiasm for the dark, fruity beers I loved from the beginning. I have to be in the right mood those now, since after a "long day" I tend to gravitate toward the "crispness" and the "refreshing" quality that comes with other styles. And in terms of those other styles, IPAs are now at the top of the list since they're more complex than lagers, for example.

 

It probably took 15 to 20 years, but I eventually got to the point where I could not only appreciate everything, but also be thrilled with it as long as a quality version was in my glass. Also, understanding that being 'blown away ' is as much about frame of mind as it is about the beer.

To paraphrase Ren Hoek "I'm not hitchhiking any more, I'm riding "

 

Well said.

 

Went from only drinking Coors Light to fruity beers and now I drink a lot of stouts and porters. Still cannot get on the "hop bandwagon" with IPA's. Maybe one day I will enjoy them as so many people do.

 

I have been into craft only about 8 months. I started with stouts and pumpkin beers, but of late have been trying other styles. I recently had Weinhenstephaner Hefe Weissbier and really liked it, now my favorite non-stout. I have also started checking out low-bitterness IPA's. I watch these forums and keep a list of new beers to try based on reviews and comments. Not sure my taste will change as I'll always like stouts, but certainly expanding my horizons.

 

Over a span of 8 years
Tripels--> Quads--> IPAs---> really really bitter hoppy Ipas--> stouts--> BA stouts---> Sours---> saisons---> back to BA stouts

It's been awesome!

 

Started with lagers, then moved to PA/IPAs before stouts and BA stouts were added to my favorite styles. Now I've been trying to expand to new things and I'm really enjoying sours also.

 

I followed the same general pattern probably over a longer time span, growing up on lagers then finding out about English Ales in London, Belgians in Amsterdam, Irish Stouts in Ireland, and then working my way through various craft manifestations as they arise. 5 years ago I probably drank mostly Belgians, spent the past few years obsessed with Double IPAs and anything from a bourbon barrel and am now spending more time with various ales.

 

The beer I cut my teeth on in the late 60's was IPA that clocked in variously at 70-75 IBUs. It really spoiled me and it was practically all I drank until the late '70s, at which time I first discovered Traquair House Ale on the other end of the spectrum (richly malty--but not "sweet"-- vs. pungently hoppy). These days, I like brews that are well hopped, but with a solid and prominent malt backbone, as well as more malt forward ones.
I don't know if it's palate shift, advancing age, both, or just a better evolved appreciation of true brewing skill (so sadly lacking in most of the new 'local' brews made by ex-homebrewers)...but lately I find most of the ultra hoppy brews out there these days to be one dimensional and just not very distinctive.

 

Still remember my first beer, JW Dundee's Honey Brown.. Now cant get enough sour beer.. quite a change

 

I started on IPAs and used to think of it as the style of beer. I've since broadened my horizons and drink a more varied mix of beers. Indeed, if I open the beer fridge and see only one style of beer staring back at me it's a signal that I need to get myself to the store and liven my home selection up a bit.

 

I moved from imports and the rare microbrew/craft beer into bigger more extreme beers, which I still enjoy. Lately though I find myself appreciating more subtle styles. I guess my tastes have just widened, but the bottom line is, I just love a good beer.

 

I used to be in love with everything about Porters and Stouts (hence my username, PorterPro ) and while I still enjoy those styles, I'm much more into IPA's and Belgians now (Both of which I couldn't stand to drink 3-4 years ago).

 

When I was first into craft beer it was mostly wheat beers, then I slowly got into hoppy beers. Now I'm mostly into big imperial stouts, but am a pretty well rounded drinker,

 

immensely !, now trying lots of german beers, and will be going after some more sours.ipa's on back burner right now.

 

I started out really liking IPAs and Imperial Stouts a few years back. I drank some Sours for a short time too. These days, I appreciate beer with more subtlety. I look for craft Pilsners and Kolsch styles most often. I still like Stouts a lot, but mostly lighter bodied traditional Styles.

 

It has been quite dramatic early on and has only subtly changed since. I used to only like Rolling Rock when I first hit 21. Tried Sam Adams but absolutely hated it. Did a study abroad in England where I had some basic stuff (Carling, Guiness XXtra Cold, etc) and came back home, tried some New Belgium stuff and it has been off to the races since.

Lately, say the last couple three months or so, my tastes are broadening again. I didn't used to like big RIS or Barrel Aged stouts, but I have really opened up to them. Maybe I'm trying better ones? IDK, but I am growing into them slowly.

 

Used to love IPA's. Still do, however I now prefer something a little more refined and drinkable.

 

Lambic über alles