I was recently asked, “How do you choose a new beer to try?”

Honestly, I’d never really thought about it. I don’t have some big list of beers I haven’t tried that I want to pick up (although ratebeer.com and Beer Advocate would be a good start to such a list). I don’t read brewer trade magazines nor do I get press releases about newly released beers. To date, no craft brewer has sent me a beer to sample.

But while I have my favorites, I often have something new and different in the house that I’ve never tried before. That’s part of the fun of being a beer fan: The almost limitless variety.

My favorite retailer has a nice large selection, so I have no worries about running out of choices for some time. How do I make my selection? Here are the top criteria I use when taking a new beer off the shelf:

1. Skip the megabrewers

No elitism here. I’ve simply already had them all. As they pride themselves on their consistency, there seems little point to looking at any of their offerings, no matter how long it’s been since I’ve had one. And as for those pseudo-boutique beers they put out every once in a while, I’ve tried most of those too, and their track record isn’t so great. I’m willing to be surprised, of course, but I am literally putting my money where my mouth is, so the pickings would have to be very slim before I went there.

2. A new beer from an old friend

There are a few brewers whose offerings I have found to be consistently outstanding. Brooklyn Brewery, Saranac, and Sierra Nevada are just a few. If they have a new style out, or perhaps something they’ve had for a while that I haven’t yet tried, that’s certainly a point in its favor. If I’ve liked their other selections, there’s a good chance I’ll like a new one.

3. A favorite style from a new friend

I have some favorite styles: ESBs and Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters, Pilsners, Scotch ale. While I’m willing to drink just about any style, a new beer in a favorite style will definitely get my attention. Lately I’ve been on a kick of having multiple beers of the same style back-to-back in order to compare them.

4. An interesting name

Here’s where the marketing guys earn their keep. If neither of the previous two points have made anything jump out at me, an interesting name might. It’s how I ended up with a six-pack of Old Leghumper, for instance.

5. Attractive packaging

More marketing, of course. I know it makes me seem superficial, but I’m trying to find new beer to try. A pretty package won’t make me buy it again if it’s swill. Of course, this can backfire too, as Ron skipped the entire line from Flying Dog for a long time because he didn’t like the labeling.

6. Recommendations

I suppose this has more weight than any of the other points. A recommendation from a friend who is a beer fan (and there’s only a few whose beer-opinions I value) or from one of the many beer bloggers I read daily will almost certainly cause a new beer to end up in my refrigerator.

What did I miss? How do you find new beers to try?

Addendum: Here’s a tip on which beers not to choose. No matter how interesting it looks, if the bottles are dusty, skip it. I’ve stopped going to my local retailer, because in spite of a decent selection he doesn’t move the product fast enough and doesn’t take old product off the shelf. There’s nothing worse than a beer that is too old too drink. If they have ‘em, be sure to check the dates on the bottle.