Palo Santo Marron and palate changes

There's a whole thread going on right now about it (not just me, but a lot of folks I'm sure):
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/do-rauchbiers-sell-well-in-your-area.285084/

 

I didn't like Ten Fidy when I first tried it, although I liked other stouts. Now that OB is distributing to area, I get it regularly. Great beer.

 

I had the exact same experience with Palo Santo. Also, Brooklyn BCS.

 

Yes. Arrogant Bastard. Drain poured my first one. Now it an all time favorite of mine.

 

drain poured my first, haven't thought to give it a go since. I've been meaning to revisit it.

 

Oh, sure - I thought my first Petrus was bad - like - something went wrong - now it's like, whoa - whatta great beer

Took me a while to come around to sour-ish ales in general.

Re: Pale Santo Marron - not a real fave, but maybe deserving of another buy? lol

 

First Orval I had was early on and didn't really dig barnyard and cat piss, or even think I should. Now I love Orval. I even have one aging so it gets really ripe.

 

Also, I agree on PSM being a great beer.

 

I used to think sours were awful now iso

 

I also remember thinking Sophie was horrific! Even remember saying to my buddy 'who the fuck would actually like this?' Well, I would I guess. I have at least a case aging and absolutely dig everything about this beer!

 

Man, I had my first and only petrus about 5 years ago. Thought it was the worst beer I've ever had. I should probably give it another go now...

 

If you can get it with a year or so on it...OMG!!

 

I remember my first sour, thought it smelled like cat piss and swore I would never drink another. I also remember my first barleywine, what a garbage genre right?! Thank goodness I kept hanging around other beer nerds and came to understand what great beer tastes like. This is also true of some FUNKY cheese. A decade later I'm wagering my life would be multitudes better if I became a monk LOL!

 

Palo Santo is definitely not a beer I'd recommend for a "beginner" so to speak. Far too much going on for someone that's barely ventured away from things like Coors Light.

It's not something I typically buy these days, but now I kind of want to pick up a bottle.

 

It's funny you cite that specific beer because I had the same experience with it. Tried it a couple times years ago and thought it was too hot and charry. Didn't hate, it but certainly didn't like it. Revisited it recently and enjoyed it much more. I still don't love it but I definitely understand the flavor profile now much more than back then.

 

I made a PSM appreciation not too long ago that got more traction than I expected, it's one of my favorite beers and I was thrilled so many felt the same way. I drank a 2011 bottle last night- freaking heaven.

My palate has "refined" itself so to speak in the normal way from ipas>BA stouts>sours, with stops at brown ale and pale ales mixed in. There really hasn't been a highly regarded beer that I haven't liked and the only drain pour I've done was a local brewery's DIPA(fucking malt bomb). My wife however has seen her palate change considerably. So goes to get a beer last night after dinner and comes walking out with a sip of sunshine. Even 4 months ago, she wouldn't touch any IPAs. Now she's all about them.

 

I think any experienced beer drinker will have numerous experiences with palate development. Same goes for wine, spirits, and food in general.

If I had to pinpoint two styles of beer, if not the specific bottles, I'd say sours and BA barleywines were two things I tried early and simply could not get into. In the latter case the complexity, in-your-face booziness and assertive bitterness just overwhelmed my palate. Now they may be my favorite style overall.

In the case of sours it didn't help that I had a few that were super infected from the early days of Cigar City when they had a lot of issues with that. But it definitely took me a few years to come around.

 

I advise grabbing a couple four packs and holding onto some bottles for aging. PSM is a great beer fresh, but I enjoy it even more with a couple of years on it. I have had it up to 4 years old at this point and it was still drinking really well. It's a bit expensive but a dellicious readily available brew that it is easy to build aa veritcal of if you have the patience/$.

 

Palo Santo was one of the first "complex" beers I ever tried. I agree that there is plenty to like about it. My first stout was Siren Noire and I have to admit I did not like it as much as I thought I should. Now you can't stop me from liking the big stouts .