You still buy Beer

[WesleyS]

@ Wesleys I would recommend Revolution Brewery, Half-Acre, Pipeworks next time in addition to the fine choices you made.

I might not make it back till next year, but I already have a list going of more to try. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[eastoak]

i (or rather, my wife who does the shopping) mostly buy various sours, foreign and domestic. other than that we drink the beer i brew.

 

[bssrf4]

I just bought a variety 12 pack from Blue Moon. I'm still waiting for my Nut Brown to carb up.

 

[timewasted]

I'm like many others here. I buy far more beer now than before I started brewing. I'm about 50/50.

 

[ctranchina]

growler shops popping up all over atlanta, I'm digging getting some fresh drafts from some of the local breweries, but really haven't shopped for it in the last 4-6 months.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

I still buy tons of beer even though I brew. I like to try all the special/new releases and seasonals. I also just returned from Chicago and bought a bunch of beer I can't get where I live.(picture below) I see no need to stop buying commercial beer because in reality I'm not going to brew every single style I like and have it on hand at any given time.


View attachment 77409
The Makers Mark is there because it was considerably cheaper than where I live.

Nice selections there!

I wish you would have gotten Goose Island's standard IPA. I'm sure it's not highly rated by the crazy IPA hop heads here, but it's my go-to lawnmower beer. Really REALLY good for a lower-end craft brew that you can find anywhere (around here, anyway). It's like BMC for a hop head. It doesn't blow you away, but you sip it thinking, "Yeahhhh... this is a nice easy-drinking beer. Nice hops! It's got some malt backbone to it too.... A real IPA, just not extreme." Less bitter than SNPA, better freshness and hoppy flavor/aroma. And a solid rich malt backbone. It's a good gateway beer for people who say they can't stand bitter/hoppy beers. (Victory Prima Pils is my other "intro to hops" beer for beer drinking newbs... not that you are one, I'm just trying to explain where these beers fit on the brewing landscape.. well crafted, dependable, easy-drinking, but displaying the unique qualities that set off the hop-head lightbulb in a BMC-drinker's head).

You're in for a treat with the Gumball Head. You'll taste it and think, "What? Beer can taste this different?!!!!" It's a fun beer.

I'm spittin' distance from 2 brothers. Their Domaine DuPage is stellar on tap, but I've always been a little disappointed in the bottles. Let it warm up and breathe.... and drink it quickly. Don't be afraid to let a bit of the carbonation knock off before sampling. If you miss the complexity and richness of the malt and sugars, it's a pretty boring ale. Think of it like a funky scottish ale and taste it accordingly.

Not being much of a hop head, I hope you like the Heavy Handed. I need to be in the right mindset for that one. But it's pretty good.

The Oberon is a must-try. It's probably a touch past its peak at this point. Drink it early. But it's a nice wheat beer. The "traditional" serving is with a wedge of orange, which honestly is just fine on a hot day. Otherwise the beer (especially when it's sat around for awhile) can lack a bit of tartness.... be kind of bland.

And I'm surprised you can't find Southern Tier out east, and I've never had any of their bombers, but I've always been very impressed with their run of the mill beers. I actually tried two of them once, just to fill out a DIY six-pack and they wound up really impressing me... I would describe their brewing technique as "sparkling clean and astonishingly honest". Goose Island, I say, takes a little more creative license, in both extreme and cautious directions at times. But I look forward to trying more from Southern Tier. And both the breweries are ones that I would recommend as being worthy of "I just want something really good and easy drinking, no weird surprises." status. That's talking about their six packs. When it comes to special releases, bombers and 4-packs, all bets are off... but I'd bet that whatever they put out in that format is probably going to be pretty good as well.

And good call on the Edmund Fitzgerald. That's a fine honest beer-lover's beer.

The five bombers to the left of Oberon and the one to the right, I do not recognize (the one to the right looks like a Kalamzoo brewing co beer, but I can't put my finger on it). I also don't recognize the 6-er on the middle level to the right of the Gumballhead, nor the single bottle in front of it. I also don't recognize the 6-er on the bottom right (Is that Founder's? I love their red rye!) so I must reserve comment on those.

Anyway, those are my suggestions and insights off the top of my head. Enjoy!!!

 

[WesleyS]

Nice selections there!

I wish you would have gotten Goose Island's standard IPA. I'm sure it's not highly rated by the crazy IPA hop heads here, but it's my go-to lawnmower beer. Really REALLY good for a lower-end craft brew that you can find anywhere (around here, anyway). It's like BMC for a hop head. It doesn't blow you away, but you sip it thinking, "Yeahhhh... this is a nice easy-drinking beer. Nice hops! It's got some malt backbone to it too.... A real IPA, just not extreme." It's a good gateway beer for people who say they can't stand bitter/hoppy beers.

You're in for a treat with the Gumball Head. You'll taste it and think, "What? Beer can taste this different?!!!!" It's a fun beer.

I'm spittin' distance from 2 brothers. Their Domaine DuPage is stellar on tap, but I've always been a little disappointed in the bottles. Let it warm up and breathe.... and then drink it quickly.

Not being much of a hop head, I hope you like the Heavy Handed. I need to be in the right mindset for that one. But it's pretty good.

The Oberon is a must-try. It's probably a touch past its peak at this point. Drink it early. But it's a nice wheat beer. The "traditional" serving is with a wedge of orange, which honestly is just fine on a hot day. Otherwise the beer (especially when it's sat around for awhile) can lack a bit of tartness.... be kind of bland.

And I'm surprised you can't find Southern Tier out east, and I've never had any of their bombers, but I've always been very impressed with their run of the mill beers. I actually tried two of them once, just to fill out a DIY six-pack and they wound up really impressing me... I would describe their brewing technique as "sparkling clean and astonishingly honest". Goose Island, I say, takes a little more creative license, in both extreme and cautious directions at times. But I look forward to trying more from Southern Tier. And both the breweries are ones that I would recommend as being worthy of "I just want something really good and easy drinking, no weird surprises." status.

I'll have to try the goose island IPA. My parents live in West Chicago, so periodically I have them bring beer back for me when they visit. I started out my trip a non-hophead, but ended it with a new appreciation for hops. As far as the heavy handed goes, I really enjoyed it at the brewery. When I was there last Saturday they were pouring a cask conditioned version that was excellent. I just wish I could have a steady supply of it, but I'll settle for the regular version. If I lived as close to Two Brothers as my parents do, I'd probably go broke eating and drinking in their brewpub.
I can't find southern tier where I live in Texas. I'm looking forward to trying the two that I bought.
I drank a Gumballhead last night and thought it was very good, although a little under carbed. I was very impressed with Three Floyds' beer overall.

 

[WesleyS]

The five bombers to the left of Oberon and the one to the right, I do not recognize (the one to the right looks like a Kalamzoo brewing co beer, but I can't put my finger on it). I also don't recognize the 6-er on the middle level to the right of the Gumballhead, nor the single bottle in front of it. I also don't recognize the 6-er on the bottom right (Is that Founder's? I love their red rye!) so I must reserve comment on those.

Anyway, those are my suggestions and insights off the top of my head. Enjoy!!!

Beer only-top to bottom and left to right:

Three Floyds Gumballhead and Pride & Joy, Founders Porter, Two Brothers Domaine DuPage and Heavy Handed, Goose Island Harvest Ale, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, Goose Island Honker's Ale.
Southern Tier Creme Brûlée Stout, Three Floyds Topless Wytch, Two Brothers Red Rye Coffee Porter, 2010 Samichlaus, Southern Tier Double Milk Stout, Shipwrecked Cherry Wheat, Bell's Oberon, Bell's Porter, Goose Island Sofie 2012, Founders Breakfast Stout.

 

[Tombraider2]

Waiting for HO HO HO IPA to come back out

 

[Twinnie]

I don't really have favourites, for me it's all about trying as many different beers as possible; I have breweries I like though. Fullers is a nice safe one that I can find in a lot of towns and Dancing Duck is my choice locally at the moment, though I'll still try something else if its new (not that I can ever remember what I've tried or even what I've liked).

I'm fortunate enough to live in Derby, UK, which is a city that Lonely Planet called the best city for real ale on the entire planet so everyone here drinks real ale and there's a different selection in every pub you go in. There's a pub at the end of my street with 11 different ales and a really good brewpub just around the corner, about 70 breweries here in all which is great considering what a small city it is.

 

[bleme]

The only bottle I bought this summer was Brux, which I had to justify by adding the dregs to my Saison. I do like to hit the Beer-Fests though.

 

[BreezyBrew]

I was shocked to see that DFH pumpkin yesterday so I had to get a 4 pack and it's not cheep.

Yeah, and just not good to me. I really enjoy most of them.

 

[BreezyBrew]

As toon gila on toon croft or as rl gila on toon croft?

Say wha?

 

[DisturbdChemist]

Say wha?

I second that

 

[downtown3641]

I probably purchase the equivalent of a six-pack a week to supplement and add variety to my homebrew supply. I also go to out to the local beer bar about twice a month. They have 60 taps and I like to see what's new. I also tend to make the rounds of the beer and wine stores once a month to see if anything new catches my interest.

My commercial beer drinking has slowed down a lot over the last year or so for several reasons. First of all, we just had a baby, so the weekend binges have all but ceased. Also, I've gotten to a point in my craft beer drinking experience where I've tried most of the standard releases available in this region. So, I no longer have the need to try as many different beers as possible driving my drinking. Finally, now that my wife is no longer pregnant, we are dipping into our wine supply.

 

[nimo]

My husband and I drink mostly what we brew. From what I read on here I am beginning to think I am the odd wife lol I brew the beer for my husband and he makes wine. This is a hobby we both enjoy, I get to wip up something new in the kitchen and he helps me bottle it.
We don't buy much beer or wine any more.
All tho I did ask him to pick up a 12 pack of what ever Sam Adams looks good on his way home today. I am running low on bottles and I like the idea that I get new bottles for my brew that come pre filled.

 

[pm5k00]

I buy about 2 six packs or four bombers a month. Used to be more before I started working 7 days straight every other week. I have 3 kegs full at all times plus atleast 3 cases of various homebrew so I can't justify spending a lot of money on commercial brew. I love variety. Currently have an APA, American Amber, and a Oktoberfest IPA hybrid on tap, and Belgian Blonde in bottels.

 

[MrRoboto]

I buy beer for the bottles. My LHBS sells 12 empty bottles for $12.. I can go to the store and buy 12 bottles of Widmir Bros Hefe with beer in them for $13. So for the same price as the empty bottles I can buy bottles with beer in them..

 

[nimo]

I buy beer for the bottles. My LHBS sells 12 empty bottles for $12.. I can go to the store and buy 12 bottles of Widmir Bros Hefe with beer in them for $13. So for the same price as the empty bottles I can buy bottles with beer in them..

Oh my, $12.00 for 12 empty bottles. My LBS sells cases of 24-12oz bottles for $13.90. And I thought that was a rip off for empty bottles. You just made me feel better about the prices I pay for my bottles.

 

[cosmo]

Freshness is the biggest issue once you start homebrewing.

Get a $10 overpriced ipa six pack that's 3 months old and you learn quick

+1 Especially in the Summer/Fall IPAs and pale ales shipped from the west coast seem to be crappy as soon as they hit the shelves in Florida. It must be the heat. In the winter/spring the're not bad. Belgians, Stouts, Porters, etc. don't seem to have that problem. My homebrew IPAs and pale ales may not be super great, but better than anything you can buy in central Florida (except on tap in bars).

 

[bleme]

The shop makes a huge difference. World Market is the worst I have experienced. They must store their beers in a kiln because by the end of summer, everything on their shelf is awful.

I don't know how far east Grocery Outlet goes, but they seem to keep much better temperature control. The only issue with them is that some breweries sell them "seconds" that never should have gone to market in the first place.

 

[BreezyBrew]

I haven't been brewing too long but, I definitely buy less commercial beer. I've had probably 97% of the beer that's available here without paying a fortune for it (ex. Cigar City sweet stout aged in Conac barrels for $20 a bomber) ill pay for quality but that's nuts. One of the reasons I got into brewing was to try new beers, and do some cost savings. Paid $11 for a 6 of DFH 60, tonight, and its def been mishandled, not good.

It might wear off, but for right now, really enjoying my own brew. Cheers!

 

[CoalCracker]

I buy less commercial but I was thirsty for a brown ale. Picked up a six pack of Goose Island Nut Brown Ale. Not bad.

 

[emiller0408]

I used to only really drink what I brewed unless I was out but my time has gotten so sparse, I don't get to brew that often anymore. My wife would complain about brew days so I started to buy more beer. Now when she freaks out over the money I spent on nice beer I say "well I could have brewed a whole batch for that much money but I haven't brewed in awhile." This technique got me my last brew day. I may need to up the scale and bring home a whole keg and tell her the kegerator doesn't work right unless it's full.

You guys are lucky....my wife ******* at every penny i spend. "What!! You needed gas? You should drive to work less." She hates when I brew even though I explain that it's a fun hobby.

Women....ugh.

 

[EnjoyGoodBeer]

You guys are lucky....my wife ******* at every penny i spend. "What!! You needed gas? You should drive to work less." She hates when I brew even though I explain that it's a fun hobby.

Women....ugh.

tht the saddest story if heard on HBT in a wile.

Just for your sake go out and brew another batch.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

And buy yourself a kegerator!!!

 

[unionrdr]

You guys are lucky....my wife ******* at every penny i spend. "What!! You needed gas? You should drive to work less." She hates when I brew even though I explain that it's a fun hobby.

Women....ugh.

I know,right? They bitch because YOU'RE spending THEIR money that YOU went out & earned. Why do you think we say marriage is $9 down & your paycheck the rest of your life?...I always told her it'll be OUR money when WE take turns EARNING it. 'nuff said

 

[Christ872]

I have a huge lot (say 8 to 12 cases full) down in my basement. But there are still 2 that I really go out for -- Newcastle Werewolf and SVYTURYS Ekstra...I'd go across state line if need be to get Svyturs

 

[Topher79]

I tend to buy beer on a weekly basis, usually seasonal beers, or something new that I haven't tried yet. Last week I bought (6) bombers of Sweetwater's latest Dank Tank offering....Danktoberfest, and it is awesome. I also visit my local Taco Mac weekly to get something new (and on draught)...I am currently at 650+ different beers tried there, and love that I can watch sports while drinking great craft beer. If i want something really different, I reach in my cellar...some of beers in there go back to 2007.

I think the reason I am drinking more store bought beer than I have brewed myself is because I want my beers to have bottled to be conditioned properly. It's so tempting to see 100+ bottled beers just sitting there waiting to be drank!

 

[downtown3641]

If nothing else, coming to this forum makes me thankful for several things: my wife enjoys beer as much as I do, we both know how to behave like adults, and she encourages supplemental beer purchases and convinces me that I'm being ridiculous when I think I need to constrict my beer budget.