Changing tastes

[hopshead]

I have been homebrewing now since February '06. Most if not all of the beer I have consumed since that first batch has been only my homebrews. This week I had some family in town and my current batch of homebrew got consumed quickly. Since my next batch is up this Friday I decided to get a six pack or two of my favorite brews. I bought a Fuller's ESB and Sam adams brown ale. Man, my tastes have changed I guess. I find that even the Fuller's to be lacking the taste I desire from my beers. Has this happened to others as well. I am quite surprised that I think my beer tastes better.

[chazwicke]

I've had some ongoing medical problems since last March. So I've been on and off different meds. I have had to refrain from drinking for periods and I find when I finally do taste that first beer after not drinking for a couple of months that it tastes SOOOO much better than I had anticipated. I've begun to wonder if your tastes can become used to certain things and they become a little more mundane or run of the mill. Seriously, try to stop drinking for a month and see how much more your tastes seemed to be awakend when you finally get to enjoy that first beer.

[MikShau]

It's a common reaction among homebrewers. My revelation came while drinking a Beck's. I took a taste, looked at it, and thought "I make betetr beer than this???"

Now the hard part comes. Do I brew every weekend to keep up with demand? Do I drink less ( although better) beer to have a non-brewing life on weekends? Do I find a beer store with lots and lots of bombers to choose from to supliment? Do I stoop to drinking megaswill in a pinch?

[corkybstewart]

You gotta have a life, you can't spend your life sweating over a boiling kettle. I homebrew as much as possible, but lately I supplement my homebrew with craft and imported beers I buy when I'm out of town or when my kids come to visit.
But never, never stoop to the megaswill. Even though my beer choices are very limited in my small town, the grocery store does stock some things like Deschutes, SNPA, some Stoen. Megaswill is never the answer, although when beer is tight maybe you could have some swill on hands for guests you don't like-the people who think your homebrew is their free beer.

[HogieWan]

everyone's palate matures. At first, that hop-laden IPA is too bitter, but eventually you love that bitterness. As a consequence, the brews that were your stepping stones to those you now love seem to be lacking because you want more from your beer. Eventually, those more subtle beers start to shine again in a new light as your palate comes back around to enjoy the nuances of flavor.

[Otis_The_Drunk]

I look at it this way, brewing and beer drinking should be an adventure. If there is something that you are passionate about your taste within that scope are going to change with it.

Corky for example has embarked on a love affair with Belgian brews since his recent trip to Belgium.
I also have found that you will always find something is lacking somewhere in each brew and commercial example. Although the commercial example seems to be lacking more.
In 18 years of pursuing this hobby my brews have gotten better and better at my craft, but I am also my own worst critic.

I have found that being your own worse critic keeps you on your toes and helps to make you strive to do even better. Of course we all have our troubles along the way. But always learn from it.

So yes your tastes will change as you find that some things don't satisfy over time and you want to embark onto your next adventure.

[corkybstewart]

Brewing is like anything else in life. You continually learn and develop your interest in it or it will wither and die. I started out brewing simple English style ales. Went to Belgium the first time and got serious about my brewing. Then I started brewing more complicated Belgian ales, lagers and hoppier beers. Went back to Belgium and now I'm in way too deep. I'm about to start brewing sour beers that take 2-3 years to age.
Tastes will change over time and as you develop a true love of beer you'll run across something that will kick you in the crotch and suddenly everything you've ever drank before is just ordinary. So sit back and enjoy the ride, wherever it takes you.

[Mill Rat]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
the people who think your homebrew is their free beer.
Just because you can't sell it doesn't mean you should be giving it away for free.
Originally posted by corkybstewart
So sit back and enjoy the ride, wherever it takes you.
It much more fun going to hell in a bucket when it's filled with your own homebrew!

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Mill Rat
It much more fun going to hell in a bucket when it's filled with your own homebrew!

Ok, we definately need a "Quote of the Week" feature on this site!

[gone_fishing]

My own tastes have changed alot... I know enjoy hoppier beers for example, but my kids also say, "once you aquire the taste for homebrew you really like it!" That might NOT be a good thing though.... they still live here! (Son just moved back in last night)

[markaberrant]

I thought that my homebrew had turned me off of commercial beers, until my recent holiday when I was able to purchase many of the top rated beers in the world. So now I don't think my homebrew is that great... it is good, don't get me wrong, but now I've tasted truly great beers which have given me a whole new inspiration to brew better.

The point is that it's a journey filled with new discovery. Occassionally, it's even fun to retrace your steps. The best beer is the one I haven't tried yet, which is exciting because it just might be the next one... be it commercial or homebrew.

[TrojanAnteater]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I've had some ongoing medical problems since last March. So I've been on and off different meds. I have had to refrain from drinking for periods and I find when I finally do taste that first beer after not drinking for a couple of months that it tastes SOOOO much better than I had anticipated. I've begun to wonder if your tastes can become used to certain things and they become a little more mundane or run of the mill. Seriously, try to stop drinking for a month and see how much more your tastes seemed to be awakend when you finally get to enjoy that first beer.

Chaz, experienced that same sort of thing, was off of beer from about july 05 to may 06. I really did not like IPA's in general back before, but after getting back on the horse, I found them delicious and they've even quickly become of my fav. styles. Interesting huh