Profiles in beer: the "cherry picker"

I only buy beer a want...not really sure why people would buy beer they did not want

 

Since IPAs are my favorite style, I started out by trying to get my hands on every IPA and DIPA that had a decent rating and would branch out and try any other beer that had a strong hop profile. Price didn't matter. I just wanted to try something new and different. Now that I've reached a saturation point [at least of what's available locally that I'm willing to try], I tend to re-visit some of the ones I enjoyed that are priced reasonably. If I come across something new and different, I'll give it a try but I no longer seek out new beers when I'm home. When I'm traveling, well that's another story entirely. See the first sentence.

 

I understand what you're saying, and in the instances you provide, I would not likely return to that shop. If someone is rude/condescending/just kind of shitty to deal with, I would say that that is an example of the exact opposite of what I was trying to highlight. Yes, those places exist, but hopefully not for long. I'm thinking more th exact opposite: more your second point about businesses should provide excellent service. In my experience, however, it has been easier to develop a relationship (dare I say... friendship?) with the smaller shops which may not always be able to provide the advantages of the bigger chains. For me the concept of 'loyalty' in this context stems from a collection of good experiences: friendly/knowledgeable staff, accessibility, consideration, contribution to the community. These are some examples of characteristics that will persuade me to continue to frequent a business, even if their prices aren't always rock bottom, or if it's somewhat inconvenient to get there.
I am sorry that the bars/stores where you live take their local nature as an excuse to be dicks. That's not the sort of behaviour that would inspire loyalty from me, personally. For me loyalty is inspired not simply BECAUSE it's local (the shop I frequented where I used to live was part of a much larger chain), but because they engage in practices that I value and, as such, would consider good business. For me, though, that includes more touchey-feely/difficult to quantify characteristics as I've listed above. I think our disagreement is more on definition/interpretation than it is on principle or particular business practices

 

Agreed. I go to one store all the time and buy A LOT. I had given my beer guy gifts like PtE, BCBS and Surly and when I was out o town last week and BCBS cherry came out I asked him to hold 1 bottle for me. When I called him back be said be wasn't able to. R u f**kin kidding me? It wasn't like I asked for a case. Hold 1 bottle. Forget him from now on. I stopped in yesterday to pick up some stuff and be came over to say hi and I pretty much gave him the cold shoulder. Most people on here r right in my opinion, this is a business just like any other.

 

Drink what you want, just don't be a hoarder. Some of us would like the chance to have one bottle of a limited beer, and you probably don't need 20

 

I'm a picker...a grinner..a lover and a sinner...and there is still too much good limited/rare beer for me to drink!!!

 

i'm with you on that one. seems like it's getting to the point where "shelf beer" takes on pejorative connotations. i'm having a rochefort 10 now... was enjoying it before recalling how it is widely available, year-round. suddenly it's disgusting.

 

The folks that want to obsess over specific beers and go all over the place just to find those beers...that's fine. Don't bother me none. I go to my local beer store. I buy beer that I feel like buying at the time. I go home. I drink that beer.