Is It me?

Recently, I was browsing the beer forums and blogs for the show and came across the an article, and like most good articles it made me question myself. Let me explain. In the article in question the author was at a bar and overheard a group of guys talking about the beer they were ordering. He agreed with most of the acronyms they were throwing around and I’m guessing most of the major descriptors as well. The only thing that really irked him was that they were saying how the IBU’s were low on the amber ales, the stouts, and even the IPA’s for christ’s sake!

Now the question I asked myself was “Am I one of those guys?” really? “Do I dislike a beer based on its relative IBU count?” And if I dig down deep and am truly honest with myself the answer is NO! Ok maybe I do. However, in most situations when I am at a new bar I look at the menu and choose a beer that they describe as one I might like. This is an IPA more than anything. If they have more than one of the same style and nothing between them is that different, than yes I might use IBU’s as a deciding factor. But. that is not the defacto reason I choose to drink a beer. Most of the time it is more of an after thought more that anything. I drink the craft beer (probably an IPA) and think to myself or out loud “What’s the IBU’s on this beast?” But, even if its below what in my amateur taste buds might assume that it should be I still do not feel it affects my overall assessment of the beer. Continue reading