Priming the pump?

Not really, no can't say that I do.

 

No, not really. In fact, I'd say no pattern at all.

 

Nope. I usually have two lower abv beers @%5 or one higher.

 

No set path, except maybe on really hot work days. (Occupation : Landscraper/Horticultist "How 'bout them Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi.....er ..Yankees ?!" ) . I often start with a gose,Berliner weisse, or session IPA, before moving up. Essentially, thirst-quencher> buzz/hop bomb.

 

I usually start with a beer that I've not tried before or one that I really enjoy then shift to a staple, like SNPA, Boston Lager, etc..

Could change on a whim though! Cheers

 

Certainly. If I know I'm having more than one, absolutely work my way up in ABV (and IBUs).
If I'm one and done, then it's random (but usually big!)

 

Sometimes I close my eyes, reach in the fridge and surprise myself

 

The first is the one I most want to taste on a clean palate, no matter the style. If it goes down too quickly, then hopefully I have a few more laying around.

 

Patterns for me depends on if I'm reviewing the beer that night or if I'm just out for enjoyment.

Pattern A) For reviewing purposes - I'll go light to dark, lower ABV to higher ABV, obviously the easy drinker before the palate wrecking beer (ie. wild/sour ale or some big azzzz impy spiced up stout [something obviously meant to obliterate the soul])

Pattern B) zero f$!&* given, whatever is in the fridge is free game and all bets are off. Usually means everything that is in the fridge is something I've come back to more than enough times with more than enough people

 

It depends on the setting.

I feel like bottle shares and tastings typically go from smaller beers to bigger beers.

When I'm out and about I usually start with the bigger beers and switch to something lower ABV if I'm making a session out of it.

 

A lot of nights start as sample sessions, so I do tend to find the lighter brews to try first and then go into the heavy hitters.

At known breweries, its common for me to order a pils/lager first then something much heavier.


I think it all started with going to breweries and sampling. Anymore, it just makes to much sense to start lower ABV/lower sweetness and ramp up

 

It varies. Mostly depending on my mood/attitude, but often I start with a couple bolder beers, then ramp down. Depending on my my plans for the day/evening.

 

I generally have an idea of what's next, usually a new beer I'll be reviewing. If I don't have any new ones I'll fall back on whatever cellar beers I've tossed in the fridge. I always have 8-12 beers to choose from depending on how I feel, but ABV is rarely a consideration, and I usually only have one a day, occasionally two, rarely more. Today I had five but that's really unusual.

 

Today we went to visit our daughter and family just at the end of moving into a great new place. Just south of Chapel Hill/Carrboro going towards Pittsboro They were exhausted, we took some food, Martha helping with some IT set-up, the rest of us moving stuff around. We went by Haw River Farnhouse Ales in Saxapahaw on the way back and decided to have a beer before the last 30 miles home. Low alcohol spiced saison and an easy white ipa. Utterly fresh, beautiful brewery, great folks out in a perfect middle of nowhere, amazing beers. I bought a Newlin's Original Belgian Oatmeal Pale Ale(5.4%) for the ribs later. Without question one of the best beer experiences of my life. Huge billowing rocky head, never bitter really but hops everywhere and the oatmeal softness and endless perfect cap with sip marked lacing all the way down. I will get more and the heat today required lower ABV and lighter profiles. The Newlin's was in an old style heavy deep brown medicine bottle package (not poured draft) that was cool in itself. Go drink this beer! Happy Fourth. Now to keep the dogs calm amidst the explosions!

 

@TongoRad , agree.

If it's something I've been wanting to review, regardless of the style, I want to try it on a clean palate and it will be the first beer for the evening. My preferred pattern is the maltier beers first followed by the hoppier ones. I bottle share with friends alot and it's pretty much a free-for-all. No complaints and grateful for the beer tics!

 

+1 (shoulda been a poll maybe?)

 

see post # 11