"I'm no beer snob"-- Bryan Baird
I'll never forget when I heard Bryan say that the first time I met him at The Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu. It was refreshing for me to hear, because often times I feel that I am out of place in the world of meticulous beer judges and elitists. I admit that back home I often enjoy drinking PBR, High Life, or whatever else my cheap friends decide to buy. Of course, I love a good craft brew, but bringing a twelve pack of Bell's Hopslam out to the creek just doesn't fit like a case of cold Coronas does.
Is craft beer becoming the new wine?
I love making fun on winos. I like to see people who don't know jack squat about wine talk about how this one is better than that one while they try to use words that they read in a magazine or heard their brother's sister's ex-husband who just happens to be the sommelier at the finest restaurant in New York use. Most have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to wine. Wine is not a drink of the common man, beer is.
Sometimes when I go to the bar, or drink a nice beer I have bought at my home--I like to savor something nice and enjoy the interesting flavors. Usually this is when I am alone. If I am with friends, often times I want to drink something good, but something that doesn't require note-taking and analyzing. I think we lose something when we analyze a can of PBR. (which you can find on Ratebeer and BeerAdvocate) PBR isn't brewed to be anything else than what it is: A common beer for the common man.
Being a bartender at my local pub in Kentucky helped me realize this. We sell Bud Light 10-1 over any craft beer, and in fact our bars top three beers were 1. Bud Light 2. Miller Lite 3. Bud Heavy. Many of the guys coming in after work weren't looking for an Imperial Stout or an IPA. In fact, IPA's don't sell well in KY at all. We aren't an IPA loving state. (I love them of course.) Does this make Kentuckians less knowledgeable about good beer? Does it make their opinions and likes a non-issue?
I think that BeerAdvocate and Rate Beer are great sites. I wish I had started them, and then I wouldn't be working today. But, we have to remember, that these sites are full of opinions of everyday Tom, Dick and Harry's like you and me. I trust BeerAdvocate's top 25 beers about as much as I trust the Fox News Poll about Obama's approval rating.
The great thing about beer is that what I like--you may hate. Also, I may think a beer that you really like tastes like complete crap. (Guiness? Boddington's? Leffe?) BUT, Good Beer lover's know that this is what makes beer great and gives it the mass appeal. My love of beer doesn't require you to love the same beers that I do. I am just appreciative that you have found a good beer that you like. My friend, "The Birdman", only drinks Bud Heavy, Corona, or anything else very close to those two. Should I consider myself better off than he? I remember the days when he drank Parrot Bay and 151, and couldn't stomach a brew. As a Good Beer Brother--I must simply respect the fact that he has found brews that he likes--and leave that at that.
I can't help but think of CAMRA and those that turn up their noses at all the "other beer" out there. I see these people in the same way as I see those who listen only to classical music and snub those who listen to anything made after 1900. Open your eyes! We are all different! We like different foods, colors, hobbies, AND beer.Nate and I were asked to help with the judging of last years Asia Beer Cup. We declined. Part of the reason is because Tokyo is far away and I don't have a trust fund, but the main reason is that I have more business going to the moon than I do judging a beer contest. I can tell you what beer I like, and what beers I don't like (few that they are), but I can't drone on for hours about "Carmel overtones" and "tannins" and pick out the taste of a pube that fell into the brew pot. I leave that to the Real Beer Nerds, or as the funny British comic calls them--the Real Ale Twats.
It's true that Nate and I dream of having our own Brew Pub in Kentucky one day. We are taking steps to make that happen. We want to make great, exciting brews that we love for people to enjoy. If I see the Real Ale Twats come in our door and ask about cask ales, I'll oblige them of course. Then, I'll tell them to grab a pint of something cold, go sit down, and talk to the locals about where the small mouth are hitting on the creek, how UK basketball is doing, and bourbon. I promise whatever you they are drinking will taste just a bit better...
So, weigh in Good Beer Lovers and Beer Nerds alike. What do you think? Do you still like to drink Asahi when you have it? Will you take a water over an Ichiban Shibori? Do you pack a tasting glass with you everywhere you go??
And read the comics. They are great!!!!
The Real Ale Twats. (From Jeffrey's Beer Blog --formerly Stonch's Beer Blog)
9 comments:
Nice post. You know I love great beer as much as the next man but i will drink whats available too. I drank Super Dry at a wedding on the weekend - no gripes from me!
The only problem I have, which some may find strange, is drinking a good beer out of the bottle. If I pay 500 yen plus for a beer I don't want to skol it out of the bottle, so I will use a glass - even a plastic glass will suffice! Otherwise I love my Yona Yona on the streets after work straight outta the can (yes yona yona - money in the pockets of the smaller guys and better beer for me). BUT I am quite happy to drink Suntory Malts or Yebisu (!?!) if no craft option is available...
Jonno--Nate has to drink beer out of the can. He will always buy the bottle over the can. I happen to like the can, bottle, jig, nipple, whatever is handy.
I swear, if one more person calls me a beer snob I might go mad. It all depends on the situation I'm in, though. I feel perfectly comfortable with a pen and paper jotting a couple notes about the beer I'm drinking. I also expect, when paying the high prices most craft beer bars charge, a certain level of service, etc. But, gimmie some good friends, a 12-pack of Nati Light, and a campfire and I'm just as happy. I figure "bad" beer has it's place, just as McDonalds has it's place, too.
Elitist?- Never.
Snob? - I don't think so.
Drunk as f*ck? - Ya gotta ask?
The mass produced stuff is usually more or less the same stuff. Craft beer encompasses a multitude of styles. Much morie nteresting. What stops people from drinkin the stuff is often the price, plain and simple. Why should they pay forthis weird brown d black stuff withtbe fancy names when thegood old 6 packthat they were brought up on seems to do the job ok? Never mind the only thing they can compare it to is other similar cheap booze. I say lets have more beer festivals that dont cost the earth and at least give the common man a chance to at least try this stuff out. Who knows, Joe the plumber may just switch from
his miller light to a Sierra Nevada. I neverthink less of someone for drinking a beer they like. I just feel it's a shame so many will know no different or never really get the chance. I have friends who prefer the mass produced stuff. That's cool. They save money and can find their booze everywhere.
Good points guys... Chuwy--there was a beer festival in Lexington, KY this year that had 180 brews..all the standards were there: Stone, Rogue, Bells, Green Flash, Great Lakes, etc, and they all brought good stuff. The price was $25 for beer and food all day. That is what we need here!!!
Capa--the situation does determine the brew. Like I was saying, a hot day on the front porch is better suited for PBR than Pliny--and no one will jerk your pencil out of your hand if you write some notes.
If you do start running with The Real Ale Twats though......
Funny stuff!
Light lager out of a can tastes like metal. the majority of Japanese lager is a high quality beer compared to the common lagers of other countries. Like Taiwan Beer and San Miguel in HK. That stuff is decently shitty. Yebisu blows goats for quarters, though. All Yebisus and many goats.
Don't worry bout me, I can't stand the twats anymore than you. The day I take my beer that seriously is the day I give you permission to "re-educate" me.
I guess everyone needs a beer to hate on - you have yebisu, I have something else. But I personally think it is decent. Not good, not great, but better than most macros available...Opinions are like arseholes blah blah blah.
p.s i wouldn't personally know what blowing goats is like...;)
Yes, there are times when I sleaze out. Typically, the sleazy beer is from one of the few 'regional breweries' still producing in the U.S.A. - such as Iron City "American" (brand) [Pittsburgh], Cold Spring "Gluek" [Minnesota], Hudepohl-Schoenling "Little Kings" [Cincinnati], or an old standby, "Genesee Cream Ale" [Rochester, NY.]
To me, that these beers sell keeps the brewery going another day; and one of these days, if it has not yet done so; this brewery is going to brew a great beer. Or at least I hope so.
I must drink out of a glass or cup as well.
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