Man Drinks 50,000 Beers for Fun, Not Just to Get Drunk

Andy Morton, a dedicated real ale enthusiast, has sampled an impressive 50,000 different beers, emphasizing that his passion is not about intoxication but rather the experience of tasting and cataloging. Speaking to the Guardian, Morton revealed that he averages just under four pints a day, but during beer festivals, he can consume up to 17 half pints. He maintains a disciplined approach to his hobby, stating, “You have to be conscious of drinking too much and knowing when you’ve had enough.” Morton’s journey into the world of beer ticking began in 1985 when he started marking off beers he tried at festivals. This evolved into a systematic method of recording details such as name, date, venue, price, brewery, and alcohol percentage, rather than scoring the beers. The retired accountant, who met his wife at a beer festival, has attended as many as 109 festivals in a single year, averaging around 2,000 different pints annually. Recently, Morton celebrated his milestone achievement in a Sheffield micropub, where local breweries crafted a special beer in his honor. He cherishes the friendships he has formed through this hobby, often sharing stories with fellow enthusiasts who have colorful nicknames like the Alefinder General and Mick the Tick. As long as he continues to enjoy the experience and discover new beers, Morton has no intention of slowing down.