For years I've had a strong distaste for beer snobs. Now, I'm not talking about those who call themselves beer snobs. That self-given appellation tends to be an ironic one. Most of the beer "snobs" that I'm friends with are open to all different kinds of beer. If it's good, they'll drink it. If it's bad, and it's all you have, they'll drink it to not be rude. What kind of beer lover would turn down a cold Corona while out on the lake, sunburned as hell in 95* weather, when the only two things to drink on the boat are water and Corona? There are few things as good as a lawnmower beer after a hot day in the sun.
No, the kind of beer snobs I speak of are the ones who profess to know all there is to know about beer and turn their nose up at others who choose to drink something they view as "lesser" or "macro." I've heard all the arguments over the years regarding different brewers and their "sellout" to production, and I'm tired of hearing about it. I prefer to call these people "beerdouches." They're the hipsters of the beer world, in their skinny jeans, plaid shirts, ironic beards, chunky glasses, Converse high tops and gauged earrings.
Steve Body says much of what I've been thinking over the past few years. At one time craft beer enthusiasts had to stick together. The choices were few and far between, and many of us had to resort to doing beer trades with friends just to try something from other locales.
These days there are so many different varieties and choices out there that many have lost sight of what it is we all enjoy in the community: beer. Just because you prefer Beelzebubba's Barnyard Triple Smoked Malt Cherry Saison doesn't mean that the guy next to you is wrong in his choice of Dogfish Head Namaste as his favorite brew. While I'm not a witbier fan, you're not wrong for preferring it.
The Animal and I have a friend who is not a "discerning" beer drinker. He knows what he likes and he tends to stick with it. We were in Nashville for a Jimmy Buffett concert and went out, as we are wont to do, on Broadway for an evening of self-lubrication with suds and shots. We wound up at The Beer Sellar, again as we are wont do do.
Being the Hopheads that we are, The Animal and I promptly ordered a pitcher of Yazoo Hop Project. I don't know what number it was, and won't pretend that I have any idea, since we were already 8 or 9 beers into the night. We were immediately in 7th Heaven. (After further research, I believe it was #49, as that is what was bottled and kegged in May, 2011).
We poured three glasses and slid one over the table to the non-discerning one. He put his nose in the glass and just looked at us as if to say, "OK... What have you fuckers gotten me into?" and took a big, mouth-filling, soul-cleansing pull on his glass.
He immediately started coughing, his eyes watering, and hurriedly put his beer back down on the table.
"What the? That tastes like grass! Ugh! Oh my... (grabs the server) Can I get a glass of water?"
The Animal and I were about to fall out of our chairs laughing. We had no idea he'd have this reaction, but to see the look on his face was comical. We both could remember feeling the same way the first time we tried a hop-forward beer. It's a real shock to the system. Our friend picked up the menu and chose something a little more, um, pedestrian. We didn't rag on him for his choice, and we didn't care if he didn't like what we were drinking. He likes beer. We like beer. It's just that our tastes are different from his. No harm, no foul.
But increasingly I run into people at beer stores, beer festivals and online who seem to feel a need to indoctrinate the entire world regarding *their* expertise in beer and have to, for some reason, blast everybody else for liking something that they deem to be "unworthy" or "overrated." This kind of douchery is pathetic and uncalled for. I'm of a mind that the more brewers the better, and the more beers the even better. As long as you're drinking craft beer, you're supporting the movement, and the movement is important. Your unsolicited, sanctimonious opinion is not.
I'm not a big fan of Butternuts' line of beers. Everything I've had does not appeal to my palate. There are those out there who adore the Butternuts beers and drink them all the time. I feel that they have just as much as right to their opinion as I do mine. I don't expect anybody here to change their opinions based on my tastes. I only hope to turn some people on to something different in their lives, and get people to step out of their comfort zones to try a change of pace every once in a while.
Tonight's beers:
Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale - So-so. I wasn't all that impressed, but I could drink more.
Alaskan Brewing Company Smoked Porter (2011) - Now I know what the stink is all about. This stuff is amazing.
Innis & Gunn Highland Cask - I love Innis & Gunn's beers, and this is no exception. A fine, fine beer. I'm glad I bought a 4-pack.
