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Steven Coulson
Steven has been drinking beers, wines and spirits for decades and has a propensity to go about them at length after a few drinks.
Latest Posts
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- Does anyone else get treated like a beer snob for ordering literally anything that isn’t a macro lager?
- Is there a polite way to refuse a beer that’s being served in the wrong glassware without making everyone at the table uncomfortable?
- # What’s the most pretentious thing you’ve ever said about beer that you secretly didn’t understand yourself?
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The Price of Perception: My $47 Beer Experience
Have you ever found yourself splurging on a single drink only to question if it was truly worth it? Recently, I encountered this predicament when I made the decision to purchase a bottle of barrel-aged imperial stout for an astonishing $47. This wasn’t just any beer; it boasted an impressive pedigree, having aged in bourbon barrels for a whopping 18 months, infused with Madagascar vanilla and Ecuadorian cacao.
The clerk at the bottle shop presented it as a coveted treasure, emphasizing the brewery’s accolades, including a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). With glowing remarks about the meticulous barrel selection process, I felt compelled to take the plunge, convinced this experience would be extraordinary—one that I would talk about for years to come.
Once I returned home, I prepared for the tasting. The beer was properly chilled, and I poured it into the appropriate glassware, eager to savor every sip. However, what unfolded was a flavor profile that, while enjoyable, felt more akin to decadent chocolate milk with a hint of bourbon than the groundbreaking experience I had anticipated. Sure, it was good, but was it truly worth the hefty price tag? The answer was a resounding no. In fact, I couldn’t help but reflect on how that sum could have acquired a respectable bottle of actual bourbon.
It struck me that I wanted to convince myself of the beer’s excellence, primarily because of the investment I had made in it. I found myself posting about the experience on social media platforms like Untappd, Facebook, and Instagram, touting the “complex flavor profile” and the “exceptional barrel character.” Deep down, though, I was merely trying to validate my expenditure.
This experience prompted me to consider how easily we can become ensnared by hype and how a high price can lead us to presume quality. Have you ever experienced something similar? What’s the most you’ve spent on a single beer, and did it live up to your expectations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!