Lost Tastes

I've only seriously been in the craft beer game for 10 years, have never been that frequent an imbiber (average maybe a 6-pack a week), and have never concentrated on one style at the expense of others, so I've yet to turn away from any style. Hopefully I won't, but I could see myself tapering off consumption of those styles which are often above 8% ABV - which I usually only consume seasonably (Fall/Winter) anyway. Not because of an aversion to specific flavors but for health reasons.

 

Hefes. One day they all tasted like aspirin to me.
Anything barrel aged. Mostly because of the way they are made. Instead of enhancing the beer, it dominates.

 

Are you saying the spirit dominates the beer or the actual barrel/wood character or both?

 

If you count my introduction to Pedigree on cask (English bitter) during a business trip to the UK (and carried on drinking during numerous business trips there throughout the 80's) as my start in craft beer, then I'm going on 35 years.

I can't think of any style I used to love but now can't stand.

The secret to avoiding the "can't stand it anymore" thing (for me, anyway) is to keep a wide variety of styles on hand, rather than binge-out for weeks, months, (or even years) on a single style (or narrow set of styles). Right now, styles I have available in my 'fridge and/or cellar to choose from when I get home from work are:

(Pardon if these are not all up to the latest "official" BA style names...)

• American Double / Imperial IPA
• American Pale Ale (APA) ("NE" Hazy)
• American Pale Ale (APA) (Traditional)
• American Porter
• American Double / Imperial Stout
• American Barleywine
• Kölsch
• Czech Pilsener
• German Pilsner
• English Bitter
• English Oatmeal Stout
• English Old Ale
• English Sweet / Milk Stout
• English Barleywine
• Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
• Berliner Weisse
• Pumpkin Beer (left overs from the online tasting)
• Quadrupel (Quad)

And, if I broaden the list to include all of 2018, add

• American IPA (NE style)
• American IPA (WC style)
  
• American Wild Ale
• American Pale Lager
• American Amber / Red Lager
• American Blonde Ale
• American Stout
• American Brown Ale
• Bock
• California Common / Steam Beer
• English Pale Ale
• English Brown Ale
• Irish Dry Stout
• Märzen / Oktoberfest
• Witbier
• Rauchbier
• Vienna Lager
• Schwarzbier
• Saison / Farmhouse Ale
• Fruit / Vegetable Beer
• Munich Dunkel Lager
• Russian Imperial Stout

... Variety! The spice of life!

 

I'll probably get a crapload of crap for saying this, but I don't seek out doppelbocks any more. I used to enjoy them now and then, but something about this style just doesn't sit well on my palate. OTOH, I seem to be developing quite a taste for wild ales. Go figure.

 

Then stop being one.

 

With me I find that it's not getting worn out on specific styles.

I've found myself caring more about balance and technique than just adding more stuff.

I still enjoy classic Imperial Stouts and Barleywines when I drink them... I just don't have any desire to drink them outside of special occasions.

It's not that I burned out on IPAs I just don't really see the point in them when I could have beers with much more balanced hop and malt flavors where a brewer put a lot of effort in getting the right proportions and types to blend harmoniously.

 

But I like dick measuring contests!

 

Please expound......

 

I can’t really put an exact finger on it. I was lucky enough to try Live Oak thanks to @TongoRad and found it pretty enjoyable but I think I just drank it to the point back in my 20s that I became fatigued. I used to go to bars/pubs a lot back then and depending on what type I was in, I would either order a dry stout or a weizen of some sort. Maybe it’s the banana, but like I said, I really don’t know for sure.

I don’t really drink dry stouts much anymore either except for when I’m in a shit kicking Irish pub. I really liked Brooklyn’s but apparently they don’t make it anymore. The Hoegaarden/Allagash wit style is another one I don’t fuck with much anymore either that I used to enjoy.

 

Writing “Lagers and Porters. Bleh” wasn’t enough to answer your question? Was that too vague? I recommend reading your original post again. As YOU were.

 

Over/under on number of bridges you burn by the time this post runs out of steam: 11.5

 

For me it's a bit of a seasonal thing. As it gets colder outside, I tend to enjoy higher ABV more. When it is cold out, I enjoy the strong IPAs, occasional double-IPA, Bock, Weizenbock, Imperial Stout.
What completely lost the appeal for me are the overly creative IPAs. While I still enjoy a classic IPA (like Stone IPA, which was kind of my gateway drug to the style), I can not stand the never ending flood of "any fruit on earth" infused version of triple hopped 8%-ABV variety.

Another thing I noticed as far as my own taste preference: I enjoy beers more that you can continue to drink - you may call it drinkability. Just as is the case with wine, there are beers that impress you on the first couple of sips, but then no desire to have more.

 

I'm saying the wood dominates the beer in most of the newer barrel aged beers. It's like flavor race that has forgotten about nuance or balance.