Just what the question says: do you feel like you have somehow missed out on obtaining, drinking, experiencing the world's best beers? In other words, has your beer journey taken you everywhere you wanted it to or not? Why/why not?
I've had some of the best. I've also missed out on or will never have others of the best. But it's the journey and stops along the way that count, not the places I'll never visit. Besides, there are still lots of great beers on the horizon.
Nah. I believe beer is essentially the drink for the rest of us. I've had many very rare beers, but I don't have an encyclopedic memory for beers. I judge, consult with breweries, and get paid to write about and give talks on beer, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to commit everything to memory like some can. Maybe its for that reason, but I believe that the best beer is the one sitting in front of me...
No, imo and experince top rated beers are at best somewhat better than other highly rated beers of the same style.
It may be a while before I can find all of the top 100 beers, but I live in California, for Chrissake! It's Beer Heaven here.
I have drank a lot of great beers, I am very content with what I have enjoyed. I will seek out what interests me, there are a fair number of beers I still desire to have, but I do not feel like I am truly missing out on anything. I have my whole life ahead of me to try many more beers, no reason to regret what I still have time to change.
The only problem on the Beers of Fame for me is Blind Pig, honestly. After having BCBS last weekend, Blind Pig is still staring at me.
Yes, just because there is a not yet option. I'd like to think that even though I've had some great beers there are still plenty for me left to try. I may not always actively seek them out, but I know they're out there and one day we will meet. The beautiful thing is there are always new world class beers being made so this journey can go on as long as I can. By the way the two questions that are presented in the body of the OP are contradictory to each other when it comes to how to answer in order to convey the same information.
I'll say no, because I have been fortunate enough to try some really great beers, and I appreciate them all. Especially the ones that were the hardest to get.
For the sake of conversation, if I was given the choice between a life time supply of Pliny or Blind Pig, I take Blind Pig with out a doubt.
Since i live in Pa, i feel like i'm left out of some good brews that are avaiable, like 3floyds and pliny or some of the good west coast beers. Also sinc Pa doesn't have anything "outstanding" to trade for some of the "better" beers, i'm left out. just my opion
Founders is basically in my back yard, despite it can be very hard to get ahold of certain shot. I've never had 3 Floyd's and am 22, feel I came I to the game too late to try King Henry. The hype around many beers is ridiculous and leaves ppl in the dust.
No. Drank blind pig in temecula pre-russian river circa '94 and it tastes the same now as it did back then. So many good beers readily available now it's overwhelming. If you think you're missing out because you have not had [x] beer, you're missing the point. Cheers.
Nope. I've traded enough and made enough contacts and friends throughout the beer community across the country that I have experienced more great beer than I thought was possible 5 years ago. Thanks for asking, OP.
I know I'm outside Philly and you are in Central PA, but we have some of the best selection the in country (even if you discounted the Philly-only distribution). To answer the OP, there are beers I've wanted to try I've never gotten a chance to try and many that will never be made again, but I don't feel like I've missed out. For every beer I want that I won't get to try there are multiples I wasn't even looking for that have been (and continue to be) amazing.
I used to be worried about this and obsessed with trying to get all the special releases I could. While there's still certain beers I persue, I'm way more laid back now. I'm mostly buying is packs, and the last five trades I've made with my trading partners have been complete surprises to me; i never bothered to ask what they were sending me. I'm just happy to have good beer.
I drink too many great beers to worry about what I might miss,lagers are my favorite style and are 75% of what I stock.Plus I have a price point that I won't go beyond no matter what whale may be available. Cheers
I live in Arkansas. I feel obliged to answer yes. But on the other hand, there is still great beer around here and even better people to drink it with.
Since I really got into beer, I have been having enough great beer as it is so I don't think I am missing anything.
You should drive out Teresa's Next Door in Wayne, PA. Somehow they always get a good supply of Pliny the elder/younger when it gets released on this side of the US (and three floyds). Have a beer roadtrip and stop by some other breweries on the way! I disagree with you on PA not having any crafts as significant as others on the beer map. I believe we have a lot of great crafters who are willing to brew something out of the ordinary and experiment even if not everyone will like the product. Sometimes the number of microbreweries overwhelms me and its always a good experience to try their beers. A lot of them are hidden and are town secrets. Good examples, Lavery Brewing Comp, St. Bonifice, Appalachian, and Weyerbacher. I could keep listing them. I doubt I would ever be able to visit all of PA's breweries. I could try though.
Despite the wide range of beers I've tried in my time I've always run on the premise that I've missed out on something or that something explosive is just around the corner. Isn't that what keeps our beer fires stoked?
dont feel like I missed out, I try to actively seek out the beers "I have to have", so, the answer is no.
The only time that I feel like I have missed out on anything way when I had the chance to buy the elijah craigh 12 and elijah craig 18 50/50 and I only bought the 12...
Not really. Living in SoCal grants me access to a lot of world class beer. Plus my beer buddies are always generous in sharing lots of traded beer at tastings and whatnot.
Constantly in Texas. We have solid locals and all of the major breweries from the east and west... but because of our outdated liquor laws and high license fees (around $6,000 for each brewery, regardless of the amount of beer they send to the state along with fees for label approval for each bottle) we miss out on a lot of the small/mid-size breweries... especially from the mid-west. Reading outside of the Southwest forum is a constant source of disappointment for me. Luckily we DO get a lot of solid locals to make up for it.
I came of beer drinking age at a time when there were not very many, okay, change that, when there were almost no fine beers available in America. Certainly I have missed out on many fine and fresh European beers, but also have tried many here in this country as imports. People who came of age in fine beer European countries, surrounded by those beers, and were taught an appreciation for them, also never appreciate fine beer in the way someone like me can and does. America arguably brews as fine a portfolio of beer today as any country on the face of the Earth ever has, or will. I feel like I appreciate them, and all the fine imports, in a way that makes me feel as though I haven't missed out on anything.
I drink good beer every day. I could care less about the Stouts and IPAs that are over-hyped. I also don't like to spend excessive amounts of money on beer. I pay $ 45/ case (24 12 oz bottles) for Fuller's London Pride which is more than enough.
Me missing out on the best of the best beer?? No way..Once a week i get to enjoy CCB, Funky Buddha, Due South, and Tequesta what more can you ask for? Florida beer has all other beers beat..
No. Where there's a will there's a way, both thru trading and finding on line stores in area's where they have beers I love I have a chance to get a lot of my favorites. Mostly IPA's and such, BA stuff is a lot harder to get, but there's enough good stuff out there to keep me happy. If and when my son gets stationed in Europe I'm going on a 2 week beer quest, hopefully Germany and Belgium.
The beer selection available within 2 miles of my house (in central OH of all places) is so much better now than what I could get in Chicago 20 yrs ago. So the answer is NO, we're living in a golden age as beer consumers in the US. Plus, I honestly have tried every rare beer that I've ever wanted.
Not at all, I've been able to get two bottles of Westy 12 (always, thanks Thjis!), I have constant access to fresh Founders, SN (who doesn't?, so everyone is enjoying SN at least), and most of the beers I've had were shared with family or friends so regardless of whether it was FBS or the Westy 12 I'm not missing on out when it comes beer/experiences.
