Love/Hate Relationship Beer Styles

I try to keep things varied as much as possible, but that doesn't stop phases from coming and going. Right now the very thought of anything high gravity, especially if it's seen the inside of a bourbon barrel, nauseates me. And I have a closet full of the stuff! It's not from overdoing it, either- preferences just work that way sometimes. That's OK, though, because at least it'll keep until the feeling comes back again.

 

Just out of curiosity, what Saisons and Wits were coming off as sweet to you? That's not a word I would normally associate with those styles.

 

Stouts got me into beer, and dare I say, some of the first stouts I fell for no longer understand me. When I first got into craft, I hated IPAs, and yet today, I'm reviewing my third one and absolutely loving each and every one of them. For me, a part of the journey of exploring the craft beer world is seeing how my palate changes, and which beers influence that change.

While I enjoy Belgian beers, the quadruple ale was one of the first styles I developed a more distinct idea of what separates a quality rendition from an average or poor rendition. The plum, dark fruit sweetness factor is a fine line from being tasty and flavorful to over bearing and sugary, and unfortunately, sometimes the deciding factor is simply how I'm feeling that day.

 

I too have beer styles that I love at one point in time, then can't stand at others and then they come back to my love for them again. Just cyclical.

 

Saisons

 

Gose.

I should love them, individually I love salty, I love sour. But together I can't get past a few sips. Seawater meets sweet, it just doesn't work for me.

 

I don't seem to have phases, but maybe it's because I drink a variety of styles year-round and keep my taste buds on edge for whatever.

 

When I first got into craft, I loved wits and lambics. Now, they just don't appeal to me anymore.

Back then and now, I never met a pumpkin beer I liked.

 

I used to love Wee Heavy's like Wulver and Backwoods Bastard. Now, I find them to be cloyingly sweet. Many BA stouts have been overly sweet lately, and I've preferred non BA stouts instead.

On the flip side, I used to absolutely hate sours and now I'm loving them. Also never cared for Belgians in general, but also enjoy them in the mix.

 

I find that now days there is an appropriate beer and beer style to drink for any one of the 10,000 reasons to drink a beer. My reasons are generally fickle and varied. Right now the snow has all melted from around my bench and all this talk about Belgians has me thinking something from Unibroue will got absolutely perfect with the setting sun and a Partagas.

 

I vary my beers like I vary my food. Oh I have favorites of course, and I'm fairly predictable, but retaining favorites while seeking new experiences is my way of keeping things in balance.

 

I don't care for Pumpkin beers as well, too much spice, it makes the base beer irrelevant for the most part.

 

I had the same experience with Belgians. I lived in northern France for 7 months and at first was so excited to drink every and all beers of various styles. By the time I hit month 5 though all I was craving were American hops. Luckily I found a bottle shop in Paris with three month old Raging Bitch, I damn near bought the whole store out.

I visited Belgium this year and found my palate had shifted back to enjoying witbiers, dubbels, quads, and geuze, but I was happy to see more American style IPAs on the market too.

 

Before I read this comment, I was certain I've never had a falling out with any style so far. I have a lot of love to give! But...Xmas beers and pumpkin beers haven't touched my lips in a while. I just can't do it. Especially that hangover...

 

I can't get past the cinnamon, allspice, clove, just thinking about it makes me want a Zantac. I don't get it, and apparently my favorite beer store drastically cut their holiday purchases because it's just not selling. Ugh ... a pumpkin beer hangover, sounds rough.

 

I find them quite sweet as well. Maybe the yeast?

 

Just like @Mothergoose03 I personally have not gone through phases. I used to love (and still love) various Belgian Ales. In my basement are two homebrewed batches of Tripel and Dubbel and in a few weeks I will be brewing a Quad. I am presently fermenting an IPA (Equinox IPA).

Maybe it is just like what Mothergoose03 posted of: "I drink a variety of styles year-round and keep my taste buds on edge for whatever"?

Maybe if all I drank for a period of time was solely Belgian Ales (or IPAs of Barrel Aged beers or ...) I would 'get tired' of those beers? Since I have never done this there is no way of knowing for sure.

Cheers!

 

It could just be who made them- that's why I was wondering. Some brewers will 'imperialize' the saison and wind up with something akin to a spiced Tripel. They really should be bone dry, though; think of Dupont as the primary example.