Saturday, March 21, 2015

WEEK 46--Born of a Beer Geek

Just like being mesmerized by any other things in life--getting hooked on the idea of craft beer has got it's own process..which sort of goes like this:-

像迷上任何事物一样,迷上撞意啤酒会有过程。虽然每个人过程时间长短不一,不过,整个过程大概可以这样描述:-
the Blurry stage:-
"beer? must be ice cold--and drink in big beer mug as fast one could manage.."
"taste of beer? not much idea---important is there's drinking buddies--even better if drinking at the hottest bar/club in town.."
the Light-Bulb moment:-
"oh--there's such thing called Craft Beer..."
"ok--beer is more than just to drink ice cold--there's much more to beer than just drinking fast or cold..."

the Exploring stage:-
"started to know the varieties of craft beer---started checking out beers on ratebeer or beeradvocate--getting more curious about beers others having or the next beer to try..."
"more of a MINUS method drinker---would minus out beer with taste profile that is similar/close to food item you don't like...like no Lambic if you dislike sour..."
懵懂期
对啤酒的认知?很简单,啤酒要够冷够大杯,最好杯子也雪冷似的,然后,大口大口痛快喝就对了。(有谁不是从喝大厂啤酒开始的?)
啤酒什么味道,什么口感,没什么概念,最重要有一起喝的酒伴,喜欢热闹的,在城中热门夜店喝就更美妙了。

萌芽期
突然发现,噢,世上原来有种玩意儿叫CRAFT BEER,原来啤酒不只黑啤白啤罢了。
还有,原来撞意啤酒不应该只是大口大口喝,或越冷越好喝的,有些啤酒不同温度会有不同层次,慢慢尝味才是享受。
探索期
开始知道IPAPORTER IMPERIAL STOUTBARREL AGED是什么概念,会跟同好们讨论某支啤酒,或者经常上网查看RATEBEER.COMBEER ADVOCATE其他人对某支酒意见。
对没喝过的啤酒,特别是网上评价不错,或者是朋友喝过推荐瓶子具有好奇心,会记录下来,准备下次看到就试。
这时期,比较多是使用“减法”,先移除自己不太喜欢的食物相关味道啤酒,说白了就是挑食。比如不爱吃酸就不会尝试LAMBIC,不爱咖啡会避开浓咖啡STOUT,不吃苦瓜之类的可能就不会选喝DOUBLE/TRIPLE IPA。。

the Molding stage:-
"would want to try more varieties than just sticking to the regulars----tendency of becoming a ADD ON drinker--looking to try more varieties--unfamiliar beer styles included..." 
the Fixed stage:-
"typically would have a BENCHMARK beer of your own--for whatever beer styles--like for an IPA some might just use Stone or Ballast Point( i hear you say Heady Topper/Pliny the Elder)...or stout with Mikkeller/Alesmith.....the thing about Benchmark beer is that it is very personal--it's all about one's taste/preferences...not much of an objective view here..."

雕塑期
不再满足于只喝惯常几款顺口啤酒,会想逐步尝试更多不同类型,比如只喝IPA的会想尝试SMOKE BEERBARLEY WINE或是IMPERIAL STOUTLAMBIC等较复杂/另类口感啤酒。
这是“减法”逐渐转换成“加法”期,已经知道自己大概喜欢啤酒类型,反而会尽量在个人口味能接受范围内多尝试平时不喝的类别,让味蕾口感更多“训练”。
成型期
会有自己的BENCHMARK BEER(个人指标性啤酒),会以指标来衡量同类型其它酿品的优劣高低。举例说,喝低度黑啤的可能会以MIKKELLER啤迷早餐当指标,喝IPA的会以STONEBALLAST POINT作指标(或者更高标的HEADY TOPPER/PLINY THE ELDER),喝高度黑啤的以ALESMITH SPEEDWAY STOUT当指标等等。当然,指标只是个人口味为准,没多大客观性可言。
进入成型期的啤迷,一是会继续不停尝试其他不同类型啤酒,想在浩瀚啤海中寻宝。另一个可能性是逐步减少喝低指标同类型啤酒,只专注喝“好酒”,或者说,变成一个更大的BEER SNOB(鼻子更朝上,质感口感要求更挑剔的啤傲)。
各自修行
成型期之后,基本就是各自修行了。这时候的你,不管是喝过几百,过千或几千杯都好,量不是重点,更注重的是味蕾享受。当然,喝过一定质量啤酒的好处是,至少清楚知道什么是什么,个人口味成型,不固步自封的话,相对的也可以比较客观看待什么是好啤酒这回事。

不管是专注某类型啤酒,或继续探寻各种新瓶子,可以肯定的是,CRAFT BEER路上精彩不断,总会有新酿坊,新瓶子,新朋友冒出来。

after all those small different stages?--well--it's each man/woman going his/her own way---you could become more of a quality seeker and cut down on quantity, become a beer snob---or continue to seek for even wider range of beer styles/breweries....

It's all good---we all do what suits our taste/preferences.... 
  

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