by Rajan | January 20th, 2010
One of the challenges I face in drinking beer and, perhaps to a lesser extent, wine, is changing tastes. I’ve already talked here about how my general tastes have changed from stouts and porters to IPAs. And I find these days that I’m more interested in at least decently hopped beers rather than those that are predominantly malty and sweet. But there’s also the challenge of changing tastes over the short term whether it’s what you’re eating or maybe just in what shape your palate is in.
Case in point, last night I stopped by Rattle N Hum for what they called The King of Kings County featuring beers brewed in Brooklyn, from Sixpoint, Brooklyn Brewery, and Kelso. I stopped in for just one beer, Sixpoint’s Express, a beer I’ve had a couple of times before and one that I’ve mentioned here as one of my favorites. It was, frankly, disappointing, lighter in body than I remember, without the more rounded, complex notes that I was expecting from my memory. I found myself wondering what had happened? Was it the fact that I had been chewing gum a few hours earlier and my palate was still recovering? Had I just inflated its qualities in my mind? Was it just that I’m so used to big IPAs that I’m too keyed into those flavors? Or was it just that one keg, which maybe wasn’t quite up to the quality of its fellows?
I suppose it’s a good reminder not to get stuck in ruts, not to always stick to the old standbys and to try new things. I have been predominantly landing on one side of the beer spectrum and I wonder if that’s such a good thing. We like what we like, of course, but I’m starting to think it’s time to start broadening my approach, see if my tastes change again.
Anyone else out there have any similar experiences?