Ultimate Beer Goal!

I'm 22 and I'm at 756 distinct beers now. Just got into craft about 15 months ago so my vote is definitely possible. My ticking goal is to hit 2,500 by the time I turn 26.

 

I wish I could get some of that gum.....

 

Setting a drinking goal is commonly referred to as alcohol abuse or alcoholism. I'm not much older than you, but I can say this- you are not making a wise choice. I've been involved with this industry since I was seventeen/eighteen. I've had about six-hundred recorded unique beers since the overhaul of this site because I have to sample products from distributors, my draft lines, my homebrew, and I also enjoy testing beers for style studies in order to create better beer at home. As a consumer, you can't drink for free, nor can you just grab a taste of twenty different draft lines to make sure things are running smoothly. If a number is you're goal, you're certainly on your way to substance abuse. Consider what I'm saying thoroughly.

 

To drink 1000 beers is easy. To review 1000 beers is entirely different...

 

Very easy, start going to group tastings. I've been tracking since the Fall of 2010 and am at around 2,250 unique.

 

I'm at around 560 after almost 2 years. My recommendations are finding stores that sell singles (i usually try to stay under $3 or so per bottle) and finding a good beer bar and/or brewery, preferably one where you can get 3/4 oz tasters. Also just a dedication to trying new beers whenever you have the chance is important but i think location is a hugely important. I moved from san diego to new orleans adn its harder here to find unique stuff

oh also having a friend or two that you can share with helps

 

I'm goal is geared more toward finding specific beers as supposed to a numbered amount. My goal is to get my hands on some Zombie Dust or any of the other FFF brews. Once that happens i'll set my new goals lol.

 

Within less than a year, I'm at 228, maybe even more that I can't remember. I'm sure you'll have tried at least a 1,000 in no time. Good luck! Maybe I'll try the same thing.

 

yea you do not win anything, well maybe a few pounds gained.

 

1,000 should be fairly easy if you make it a point to get there. Shouldn't take more than a few years if you try new beers on a weekly basis.

 

You can easily find stores that have a large variety, mix a six options, single 12oz bottles for sale, the occasional bomber, then you might be able to find a bar that does 4oz tasters, and before you know it.... well there ya go.

 

If anything, getting into craft has made me drink less. Drinking a stout each weeknight before bed is a lot better than when I was drinking vodka all the time solely to get messed up.

 

I doubt I even had more than 2000 different beers and I been drinking beer 40+ years. of course when I started craft and even HB was a pipe dream. Still places over the years had these silly drink around the world cards. I usually get halfway through and realize its a scam to push old beer.

There may be 500-700 beers at my local Total wine.
TBH I have had no desire to try them all. I guess I am the odd one out here.

I have to count the beer log books, but I NEVER been into quantity but quality.

I drank the same old dupont saison for more years than many on here have lived....still Love it.

I have no idea of much of the English beer I had in general. We was in the Navy then and frankly we drank way to much. Not uncommon to have 10 or more a night! (yea diff beer)
lol not a good thing but hey we were stupid squids...

YMMV.

Still I do not think I gotten any Real common sense until I was 35-40, lol

 

I think as everyone stated, it's actually easy to get 1,000 ticked off if that's your thing depending on budget and location. Not sure about Maryland, but if you feel like going to Churchkey a couple times a month you will be done in no time. Order a different beer every time, ask for half pours at good beer bars so you can sample more variety. Visit local breweries to see if they have one off casks/special tap-only beers. With regards to timing, that also depends on how often you do it and your activities. I hit 1,000 on untappd in less than a year (though I've been drinking craft beer since around 2004). Before everyone gets all crazy, I have an amazing core tasting group here in the ATL that has recently expanded a little and we also have a couple really amazing beer festivals each year. A few times a month get together for an awesome bottle share and you can get a wide variety in that's also more wallet friendly.

Ticker's gotta tick.

 

Problem with trying different beers and accumulating numbers is that if you're particular about what you drink, the count will slow down. Personally, I've been at this for about 4 1/2 years and am at 475. The first 250 or so were quick as hell [maybe 1 - 2 years] and after trying some real dogs I decided to do a little research before I pulled something out of a store cooler or shelf. Plus - every beer I've counted as tried has been a minimum of one 12 oz. bottle.

 

When I used to only drink liquor, it almost ended up with getting drunk. With craft beer, I'll have one when I get home from work and maybe one with dinner. Most of us don't want to get drunk off of craft beer so we can actually enjoy it.
AAL drinkers on the other hand...

And I have had 170 different beers in the past 6 months.

 

This is particularly true, you get to a point where there's actually a wall, and you have had just about everything near you that's available... hence... ROAD TRIP!!! and a great change of beer scenery is a lot of fun too.

 

EXACTLY.

 

The other thing I was going to mention is that going on this journey you're going to discover a lot of things about your own "personal tastes" more than anything. Trying a variety will put you in a position to find out what styles, and what breweries you really like. Everyone goes about it their own way, sure lists on here are great guides, the Beers of Fame is the perfect place for new people to start since it contains many solid easily accesible beers (for the most part).

You might have a few different styles and then start finding one you like, and then checking out many beers in that style, or you have a core lineup from a brewery and get addicted to wanting to try anything/everything from them.

The irony is people on this site complain a lot about that they can't get this or that, but the reality is not that there isn't enough good beer, the reality is that there is TOO MUCH GOOD BEER out there, and it's really hard to figure out where to start and decide to try them all.

Don't beat yourself up either over it, just enjoy the journey.

 

Or save your pennies and fly over to the mother land of beer, Belgium and then Germany and stop in the UK on your way home. bring 10K and have at least a month. cheers!