Commercial beer = bad, mmmkay?

[iambeer]

I get it, we're homebrew.

But when ppl (rather condescendingly) say: have a commercial beer... do they mean mass produced?

Craft brew is commercial and apparently we're all striving to imitate them.

 

[eanmcnulty]

I assume commercial means "Not homebrew".
Commercial beer is good.

 

[Golddiggie]

I've not bought ANY beer (for drinking at home, at restaurants doesn't count IMO) since I started brewing (November 2010)... I know there are plenty of people that buy other produced beer for 'research' reasons, but I'm not one of them. l'm very happy with what I produce and have to drink.

So, basically, I'm not trying to imitate any other brewer/brewery out there. I'm brewing recipes of my own create to put into a pint glass the flavors I desire...

 

[Ramitt]

I like beer

 

[onipar]

Hmm, I dunno. I still buy and drink commercial beer all the time. I actually feel like I'm rather "green" when it comes to different styles, and I like to try new things.

 

[h22lude]

Craft is commercial beer.

I still buy beer all the time. Not only do I like to support breweries but I like trying different beers. Sometimes I feel like having a certain beer that I don't have on tap at home so I go buy a 6 or 12 pack of it.

 

[LandoLincoln]

I like beer

Me too. We have a lot in common.

 

[pokerface00]

I love brewing it, but I'll still buy some on occasion to get flavors that I'm in the mood for. I drink all kinds of beer because I love all kinds of beer. IMO that makes me lucky!

 

[heckler73]

I like beer

<group hug>

 

[kaconga]

I have learned from brewing that any style can be adopted to suit my palate if I know what can and cannot work. I only average 6 beers a week so to learn about styles I buy craft beer or any beer true to style (eg: guiness). This way if I don't care for licorice in a RIS then I can downplay that attribute without making 2 batches. I brew more and buy less as I progress down this path though.

 

[LoreleiHI]

I'm testing different beers when I go out (unless I have a craving for a favorite like Midas' Touch.

In fact, over the weekend my spouse and I went out with friends, and I ended up trying an amazing beer called Allagash Four. I have to admit, there's a difference between tap and bottle, but either way, wow, good stuff (it may have helped that the brewery was literally walking distance from the restaurant).

Maybe someday I can brew that well. I certainly hope so.

So yes, I occasionally buy microbrews, when I can afford it. I'm lucky that I have a few very knowledgeable friends who can steer me in the right direction (long time homebrewer & sommelier), so I can find stuff I like (although, to be honest, I tend to go with his wife's recommendations, because we have very similar tastes).

If there's no homebrew in the house, for me it's a Honey Brown, for a sixer to just have.

 

[Ranman481]

I LOVE home brew but I'm not what some people might call a beer snob. I still enjoy the mass produced 30-pack beers but prefer the complex flavors you get from other microbrews or homebrews. For me personally, I look at my own homebrew as a special occasion beer. My wife and I went to a Memorial Day cookout at a friend's house where an ice cold keg of mass-produced beer was available but we brought an assortment of 4 different homebrews of ours to enjoy and share with others. It was a great way to share the fruits of our labors and add to the converstaion topics. For all I know, we might have ignited a spark in a future homebrewer!

 

[E-DUBB]

I like beer

weird....i like beer too.

 

[JohnnySardonic]

Not only do I like to support breweries but I like trying different beers. Sometimes I feel like having a certain beer that I don't have on tap at home so I go buy a 6 or 12 pack of it.

This. I buy beers from local breweries because I like supporting them as much as I can. I also buy Coors Light a lot (go ahead, flame away) because I'm still young-ish and Friday night drinking games last longer when you play with watered down beer. The day I stop playing beer pong is the day I stop buying CL though.

 

[bscott1011]

I drink mostly homebrew but buy and drink commercial occasionally. Most of my commercial buying is to stock up on bottles for my brew, drinking a variety of beers is an added bonus.

 

[Kyricus]

I still buy a lot and drink a lot of commercial beer. Unfortunately my schedule and overall lazyness means I never have enough of a pipeline to keep me supplied with different tasting home brew.

So it never fails that if I have a stout ready, I feel like an IPA and visa versa. I don't buy the watery mass produced stuff however, I buy from local breweries every chance I can.

I need to really work on getting a pipe line going. And quit being so lazy about it.

 

[Calichusetts]

I probably buy 2 6 packs and a bomber a week of some nice beer. Usually one of my go to breweries like Firestone Walker, SN, Great Divide, etc, and a bomber and a sixer of something new. I always try to branch out and try new styles as I am basically a IPA guy. I was up in Canada this weekend and tried Fin du Monde, its was descent. Canada has some nice craft beer as well, I bought 4 bombers of random beers at a local shop.

I'm with some of the above posters though, I truely believe it is up to us to help support and foster the local/small breweries. Think of all the people on here who want to open a brewery, wouldn't you want fellow brewers to try your beer on a whim, to support you? I'm not really a fan of our in-town brewery (Mayflower) but I buy a sixer at least once a month and plan on doing a tour. Their IPA is nice but their oatmeal stout is their best.

Its both research and support. Finally...I also like beer

 

[Krazykripple]

i'm just starting my beer journey really and i like trying different beers and attempting to brew something similar.