Andrew’s “On the Rocks” Blog – The next thing can be exciting, but don’t forget the past

As I enjoy yet another bottle of the latest Vertical Epic from Stone Brewing today it made me think about how just a few months ago I couldn’t wait to try the latest installment.  I thought about it off and on as the days grew closer.  “What would it be?  Another porter?  Stout?”  Who knew and who cared.  All I wanted was the next thing from one of my favorite breweries.  Thankfully when that day arrived and I was lucky enough to be at the brewery to get my first sip straight from the tap I was not disappointed.  A little over a month has passed since the release of this beer and already I have begun to think about what they would do next.  Not specifically their next Vertical Epic, but just new beer in general. 

Stone is one of a number of breweries (Deschutes, Dogfish, Left Hand, Avery) that get me excited for their next foray into the beer world.  This excitement though can also be a hindrance to previous experiences.  Confused?  Let me explain.  When I walk down the beer, wine, or spirit aisle at my local adult beverage store I seem to immediately skip by previous offerings, no matter how enjoyable, simply to see what else is available.  To some this may not seem strange and by all accounts what’s wrong with looking for something different?  Nothing.  Looking for something new is never a bad thing.  Who knows what great new taste you may experience or realize that you don’t ever want to have again. 

Just don’t forget about the past.  If you enjoyed something before but haven’t had it in awhile, get it again.  Maybe with your new found tasting experience you may discover something you never knew was there.  It’s even possible something you used to find enjoyable has lost its luster and it now drops out of your go to recommendations.  A recent example of this was our Session Beer podcast here at AboutBeverages.com.  Our final beer was a Guinness draught can.  I’ll be honest with you.  I have lost count how many of this beer I have had over the years.  My brother Joe and I should probably buy stock in their company (if it was available) with the amount of sales we have thrown their way thanks to the many lows and sometimes highs of a Chicago Bears football season.  That being said, I don’t know if I had ever truly analyzed the flavors a Guinness presents to your palate until that day.  Roasted malt with hints of coffee in the aroma followed by a thin body, (who would have thought) and a sour, bittersweet chocolate finish.  For me it was eye opening.  Something I had enjoyed countless times before but had never really had.

One other example of note was being at that same adult beverage store, looking at a beer I had loved several times before and not wanting to get it simply because I had gotten it before.  I know it’s not always good to get in a rut but if it’s a rut filled with something you love, why not?  Being confident you’ll be satisfied with something is a lot better than the promise of greatness, only to be destroyed by an uncompromising hop monster that won’t go away (thanks Anchor Steam).  Although after making that last remark I should mention that the last time I had an Anchor Steam Beer was over ten years ago and at the time I hated almost all beers with even the slightest whisper of hops.  Maybe that should be my next new (old) purchase.  I’ll get something new next time.  This time, I’ll get something again and try it for the first time.

Andrew