Decisions, decisions.

Every day, I am thankful. Thankful that I didn't give up. Thankful that the day, many months before my birthday, that Eli brought a six pack of Harp lager to my apartment, I did not let my experience dictate my future beer preferences. You see, this drink that he gave me tasted foul to me - I finished no more than two ounces before finally declaring "I can't drink this".

Fast-forward to July 2006: it's my 21st birthday, and I'm on a remote island in Cananda with many of my relatives. I'm drinking Moosehead lager by the water, and it's okay. Not great, but okay. But days later, my older brother shows up with a large bottle of La Fin Du Monde (The End of the World), and shares it with me and some cousins as a belated birthday gift. Now, THIS is a beer. It's delicious. I finish one glass, and I'm looking for more. After the trip, but before my new beer advisor has to fly back home, we stop at Beers of the World. With help, but not much knowledge, I pick out a few more six packs of different brews to try. I still didn't really know the difference between an IPA and a stout. Looking back, this is laughable.

Fast forward to today: obviously, I know the difference between beer styles. However, without spending hours compiling lists and researching like the nerdy scholars that my peers are, how does one decide between beers? Obviously, there are some factors that are easy to decide. Right now, the weather has very quickly changed from 20 degrees and cloudy to 80 and sunny. Time to put the stouts and porters aside and grab a few pilsners and IPAs. But...WHICH ONES?

The answer, my friend, is simple: judge a beer by the cover. Look at the label. Is the name hilarious? Does it have an awesome design that screams manliness, hilarity, or anything else that makes it look desirable? Is there an entire story challenging your worthiness printed on the back? If any of these can be answered with "yes", then you've found a winner. Stone Brewing Company commands that I'm not worthy, so of course I'll try their brews. Moo Thunder is a stout in a can, but it's got a happy looking animated cow and a blue lightning bolt, so it's obviously a winner.

So remember this advice: when the only thing separating multiple beers of the same style is the name or label, then let those be your guiding factor. But don't be afraid to be daring: sometimes the shittiest sounding one may surprise you.