Yeah, I think for me, right now with where I'm at on my beer journey is that I want my beer to taste a certain way. If that makes sense. Your food analogy is apt and I totally get that. I guess I'm just never in the mood for anything other than steak (if you know what I mean). That's not totally true, obviously, but you get the gist, I'm sure. I want beer to be refreshing and complex and citrusy and bitter. That IS beer to me right now.

But it took me a long time to get there. I used to hate IPAs. I'm sure I'll find that one sour that just clicks and changes my mind one day. The same happened with Bell's Two Hearted Ale for me (sorry guys, I'm bringing it up again). I tasted that and fucking fireworks went off. It became what I wanted all beer to taste like. And I get bummed sometimes when I order a new IPA I've never had and it's too light or too crisp or not enough like Bell's. Usually, I find something to like in most of the beers I try.

So far, the sours I've tasted just aren't refreshing. I don't want to take another sip. But it's a flavor profile thing and the more I try, the more I'll get into them. I guess to draw comparisons to what you said about drinking sparkling wine being nothing like drinking bourbon... great analogy... but, again, for me the difference is that I know those are different things. I want them to be different and I expect them to be different and I crave them at different times for their differences. When I want a beer, I want it to be the beer I like. Which, I know is closed minded because there are so many different kinds. A better analogy might be looking at just wines. Pinots are different than Malbecs or whatever. Sometimes I want a Bordeaux and sometimes I want a Montepulciano. That I totally get.

Hopefully, one day I'll be able to cast a wider net with beer. I'd like that. And don't get me wrong, I'll drink whatever. But my level of pure enjoyment is capped by the kinds of beers that I truly love. IPAs, some Rye beers, some Ambers, some stouts. But mostly IPAs right now. But I'm always behind the curve. I got into IPAs when everyone else was already starting to move on. To sours apparently.

Don't apologize for liking a beer man. There's absolutely nothing to apologize for. You are wherever you want to be. Two Hearted is a damn fine beer.

The beer community is in a specials of the second cycle. It's ok to drink a beer more than once. I've discovered I really like Mosiac hops, so I drink a lot of similar beers because I really like that hop. 25 years ago we basically had, Bud, Bud Light, Killians Red, Guinness, Miller, Coors, Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada and one or two randoms. People have never had this much variety. Not all of it is actually good.

I'm pretty ignorant to the beer making process. I'm starting to learn more but I really don't know shit. When you say Mosiac hops... is that a brand/label or a kind of hops? Or both? If it's just strand of hops, how do you know which beers use that particular kind?

boiled down (pun intended), it's a type of hops. each type tastes different. i love, love, love galaxy hops, but they're in high demand and hard to come by. a lot of people like citra hops because they impart a little more sweet/citrus taste. and most beers will advertise what hops are used.

also, some beers tend to cost more than others because of (i) the type of hops used, and (ii) how much hops are in (double dry hopped v. single hopped ipa)

I'll try about any IPA.

Interesting. Thank you.

It rained last night so we decided not to walk around and look at window displays. We went to a movie instead. At Alamo, of course. I was ordered an IPA that I'd never tried before but they were out of it. Rather than jump to a familiar IPA, I decided to try something new. I was going to do a sour just to be a good sport but they actually weren't offering any last night. The one they had was also out.

I did a Rockaway Black Gold Nitro Stout and KCBC's Pinball Pandamonium Baltic Porter.

Both excellent. I just wanted you guys to know I tried something different. Or rather, the universe made me try something different.

Currently drinking the best brute IPA I have ever had.

Dick is so hard right now.

I had a Brut IPA at Greenpoint Brewery this past Monday night and it was excellent. Which one did you have?

It's part of a brut series from AZ Wilderness.

Vic Secret and Citra hops. Typical brut dryness and super crisp and refreshing finish.

Merry Christmas to me!

That's the kind of present I like!

I picked up a 4pack of this while in Ohio. It tastes like Santa kicking you in the face.

This was weird, but tasty. Wyabbo from Desert Monks Brewing. A creamy, guava-infused wheat beer that finishes sour.

Sierra Nevada Coffee Stout =

Yum. More.

Heart healthy?

How was that Strawberry and Guava milkshake IPA?