Has homebrew changed your tastes in beer?

[Piratwolf]

'm not looking to start a BMC-bash here. That's been done to death.

The occasion for my post is that I just sat down with a Loose Seas Heavy Cannon IPA. It's been my go to beer for a couple years now when I hit Friday happy hour after work. It's bright, bitter, and hoppy... Plus you get a pitcher @ 7+% for $9.00!

But I've been brewing so much that I haven't had much besides home brew since well before Christmas. I just sat down w/ a loose cannon, to a long awaited sip, and went, "blah!"

It's not bad. It's just not what I recall. And it's less tasty to me than several of my own beers. I feel kinda sad about that.

Anyone else have a similar experience?
--pirat

 

[atom]

not for me. i still appreciate a good beer, no matter who makes it.

 

[rhamilton]

Homebrewing has encouraged me to try beers that I normally wouldn't have tried. I used to go to the beer store to get what I like -- but now I brew what I like and I go to the beer store to try new things. If I like the commercial variety, I'll add it to my brew list

 

[Piratwolf]

not for me. i still appreciate a good beer, no matter who makes it.

You have a good point there. Guess I was just surprised. I like your philosophy!

 

[copyright1997]

Somewhat. I've found that there are now a bunch of commercial (semi-craft) beers that if I now drink it's like, ho hum, and I'd rather have one of my home brews. Things like Saranac (whatever), Magic Hat, etc.

 

[sweetcell]

Maybe you just got a bad batch of
Loose Seas?

 

[Genjin]

I find that I appreciate subtle things more. When you start brewing you discover that imperfections can be masked with bold hops or specialty grains. So I appreciate a well balanced pilsner or a blonde ale much more than I used to. This was a bit surprising to me because I got into brewing thanks to beers like Arrogant Bastard and Old Rasputin.

 

[LiquidLunch5211]

Homebrewing has encouraged me to try beers that I normally wouldn't have tried. I used to go to the beer store to get what I like -- but now I brew what I like and I go to the beer store to try new things. If I like the commercial variety, I'll add it to my brew list

I agree completely. Every since I started home brewing I now find myself trying a huge selection of commercial beers that I would normally never try just to see if I can pick out certain flavors maybe brewing techniques. Also I am always looking for a new beer to try and brew I feel that trying a commercial version of a style will give me an quick example of it before I brew it.

 

[Revvy]

Homebrewing has encouraged me to try beers that I normally wouldn't have tried. I used to go to the beer store to get what I like -- but now I brew what I like and I go to the beer store to try new things. ...

+1,000 INCLUDING trying more American Lagers, and CAPs something in my younger "Brewdouche" days I would have ignored, and skoffed at the drinkers of. Now I actually try them, including the BMC versions, and now I know what I like and don't like about them...Like I don't like rice adjuncted lagers, so I know why I don't like Bud products, but I do like Labatts and other corn ones. I don't just sneer or judge them or the drinkers.

I understand from brewing, just how difficult a style it is to brew. Even the brands I don't like....And I have more respect for them, especially their historical and cultural contributions to brewing....

 

[wolverinebrewer]

I like my own but I will try seasonal or specialty beers once in awhile. I generally stick to Michigan made stuff and when I see some new Founders, Shorts, or Bells hit the shelves, I will pick some up. Or I might attend beer festivals to try beers I won't see in stores. Other than that, I drink my own.

That reminds me, I need to pick up more Hopslam since its now down to $14.99!!

 

[Piratwolf]

I agree w/ the subtleties. Never recognized them before. And brewing has led me to try stuff I never even heard of... Like a mild. Who knew a 3.5% brew could have complex flavors?!

It's just amazing to me how this hob-session has changed my life in just over a year!

 

[homebrewdad]

I used to go to the beer store to get what I like -- but now I brew what I like and I go to the beer store to try new things.

This is exactly how I now view commercial beer (for the most part) these days. I love "build you own six packs" for this exact reason.

 

[copyright1997]

This is exactly how I now view commercial beer (for the most part) these days. I love "build you own six packs" for this exact reason.

I've also been doing this, trying to try new things and to get brew ideas, and to compare when I do a clone brew. I've also taken to brewing clones of beers unavailable in my area.

 

[Brewsncrabs]

'm not looking to start a BMC-bash here. That's been done to death.

The occasion for my post is that I just sat down with a Loose Seas Heavy Cannon IPA. It's been my go to beer for a couple years now when I hit Friday happy hour after work. It's bright, bitter, and hoppy... Plus you get a pitcher @ 7+% for $9.00!

--pirat

This is still my favorite and I have brewed a couple clones of it. Dont worry, you will enjoy it again sometime. Til your taste buds come back, try as many different styles as you can. I dont particularly like stoudts, but I still try them and have actually liked a few of them.

 

[Piratwolf]

This is still my favorite and I have brewed a couple clones of it. Dont worry, you will enjoy it again sometime. Til your taste buds come back, try as many different styles as you can. I dont particularly like stoudts, but I still try them and have actually liked a few of them.

I think you're right. Especially once baseball season comes 'round! And, like an earlier post said, maybe I just got a bad bottle.

 

[DoubleAught]

My taste in styles change. I was on an IPA kick for awhile, then after a few months I couldn't stand them. I'm now beginning to like them again. I do this with all styles.

 

[Captainfester]

homebrewing has encouraged me to try beers that i normally wouldn't have tried. I used to go to the beer store to get what i like -- but now i brew what i like and i go to the beer store to try new things. If i like the commercial variety, i'll add it to my brew list

+1

 

[9Frogs]

Brewing has absolutely improved my appreciation of commercial beers. Much like my cooking has evolved over the years, I now appreciate the work, research, and complexity of the craft. I appreciate how the founders of this did it hundreds of years ago with little to no understanding of why certain things happened, and I appreciate how a commercial brewer can produce the same product, time after time, and the work it takes to get there. Yep, I drink Dogfish. You know what, I also drink Busch bought in a gas station while fishing in Northern WI. You just gotta love it....

 

[passedpawn]

Reminds me of an old joke:

Michelle Obama is jogging around the Capitol when she comes across a boy in his yard with a box of newborn puppies. She stops, and the boy tells her "... and they're all big fans of Barack!". She gets back to the White House and tells the president. Barack is thrilled, and the next day he assembles his press staff and goes back to the boy's house, where they find the same boy and pups. Inside the circle of press and cameras, Barrack converses with the boy, then finishes by turning to the press and stating "... and these pups are Democrats!".

"No", says the boy, "they're Libertarians. Last night they opened their eyes".
​

Sorry for the bad political joke, but thats what happened when I started homebrewing. It made me see the great range of beers that I was completely unaware of before.

 

[Brewsday]

I've only really been brewing for about a year. Started with all-extract from recipes...then to kits with some grain and now all-grain (thanks to craigslist). I have decent brewers telling me the all-grain kits I'm brewing are on-the-mark. This month my goal is to brew weekly...why? Because I found myself going back to my old favorite at the grocery store and it dawned on me "Hey dummy, you can brew a tasty IPA extremely cost-effectively and save the cash for the really complex and challenging beers at the good beer stores!" So..50 bottles of homemade IPA costs about $16 by re-using yeast and buying hops in 8 oz. bags. That's $40-50 less than store-bought. I'm using the savings to (1) upgrade my brewgear and (2) try beers I used to pass up because they're like $9-10 a bottle. I needed to brew-around a little before could lock into a "philosophy". I expect that to change some day too...but for now I need some focus! And yes, I do indeed appreciate consistent and good commercial beer more than ever! Top of my list is Sam Adams Boston Lager...not ready to tackle/invest in lager yet (OK, I did one last winter) so going after #2...Harpoon IPA (be nice, I know some of you don't appreciate it as much as I do!) Bottom line...have fun..do what you want...there's no "requirement" to brew heavy, fancy, fruity beers....unless that's what you want! I do admire you guys who have a wide variety in your keg/fridge though.

 

[Robin0782]

Back to the original post... I sort of know what you mean when you say that it kinda makes you sad that your go-to beer doesn't taste as good as some of your own brews. But, the first time I brewed an IPA that I thought was significantly better than my go-to beer (Two Hearted) I was more ecstatic than sad.

I think brewing my own beer has indeed changed how I see beer. How I taste beer. It sort of makes me even more discerning... If I can brew this good using extract and partial boils... a professional brewery should always be able to impress me. I find it amazing that so many craft breweries just aren't that good. But when I taste a great brew, I definitely appreciate even more how good the brewery is. Sort of like how playing golf has made me understand just how good the pros are at it.

 

[steelerfanatic7]

Home brewing has definitely changed my taste buds. Whenever i tried beers before i could just taste "hops". I find now that i can taste more of the different flavors of different kinds of hops whether it be banana or citrus etc. i still drink some commercial beers but i will only buy from craft breweries or from small time people, nothing by any of the big corps. Kinda hard nowadays with Budweiser buying up everything that gets popular e.g grolsch, stella, beck's. The documentary called Beer Wars opened my eyes to that. But ever since i began brewing i can definitely pick out more flavors in beer and identify them. Much happier to drink my own but still look for inspiration in the supermarket

 

[Piratwolf]

@9Frogs--I like the correlation between cooking and brewing that you've drawn. That makes a lot of sense!

@Robin-- first time I brewed an IPA I thought was awesome, I was ecstatic too! I feel ya! And there are many out there I really appreciate still...in fact, I appreciate them more just as others have said. I guess it's those middle of the road beers that I used to think were really good that now seem to pale by comparison.