I’ve been big into craft beer for many years now, though one thing that hasn’t changed is how I actually shop for beer. Whenever I go to the beer store (usually Lakeland’s Beer Revolution [pictured here]), I almost always opt to “mix a six.” First, I hit the new arrivals section as these beers are most likely to be the freshest in the store, plus they usually match the current season. Then I’ll check out the IPA shelf to see if anything catches my eye (that I haven’t already reviewed). Lastly, I’ll take a look at the international section to see if there’s anything remotely fresh available.
The majority of the beer I buy is American-made because it’s usually less expensive than imported beer and it’s much more likely to be fresh. Once in a while I’ll pursue the selections from a country not associated with high quality beer like Russia, Japan, Australia, or anywhere in Central or South America. The problem is those beers tend to be expensive and stale. I’m sure plenty of them are excellent when they’re fresh, but from what I can tell, beer from overseas just doesn’t arrive at my local bottle shop in a timely manner.
As a homebrewer, I brew beer that I want to keep in the fridge for casual consumption, so I rarely buy six or 12-packs and I almost never buy growlers. If I’m going to pick up anything other than individual 12oz or 22oz bottles, it’s usually because I’m going to a gathering of some sort (picnics, sports-watching parties, camping trips, etc.). When I do buy one of these things, it’s usually a relatively light, easy-drinking beer that’s not a hop bomb (i.e. Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen or maybe even, dare I say it, PBR!).
But what probably separates me from the average beer shopper is that the vast majority of the beer I buy is usually purchased with the intent of reviewing. I’ve reviewed so much beer at this point that when I go to the bottle shop I find it difficult to find beer that meets these three criteria:
- I haven’t already reviewed it.
- It’s fresh.
- It’s reasonably priced.
Sure, there’s always plenty of great beer that passes the first two tests, but fails the third. Call me a cheapskate if you want, but spending more than $9 on a 22oz bottle or $5 on a 12oz bottle is just too expensive. I’m sure a lot of the beers that retail for $10 to $20 or more are delicious, but unless I’m splitting the cost with someone, or it’s a special occasion or extenuating circumstance, I’ll never know. Additionally, there are beers that meet all three criteria that I still won’t buy because they’re very high in alcohol and only come in 22oz bottles. I can handle a single 22oz bomber of a 9% ABV brew solo, but anything stronger than that is a challenge. Call me a lightweight if you want, I don’t care. I’ve lost about 40lbs in the last few years and I just can’t handle as much booze (or food) as I used to. Also, I genuinely dislike being drunk.
So that’s how I shop for my beer, but how do you shop for your beer?
- Do you go the beer store already knowing what you want to buy or do you prefer to browse?
- Do you “mix a six” or do you buy six and 12-packs?
- Do you check freshness dates?
- What’s your upper price limit? How much are you willing to spend on a single bottle and/or a single six or 12-pack?
- Do you ever take a chance on an obscure brewery or country?
- Where do you get your beer: bottle shops, liquor stores, or supermarket?