Craft Haters

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Qwest_35, Feb 11, 2013.

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  1. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,092) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society

    IMO this is an under-discussed thread topic. There's all this attention on craft beer snobbery yet so few people bring up the anti-craft hatred that is actually more common, and often more vitriolic. My most recent example was at a damn baby shower with some retired airline pilot who asked why I drink these "designer beers" and our discussion thereafter got a little unpleasant for the occasion. Even worse are those who resort to the homosexual slander labels and stuff, which is actually a bit surprising to me because I never understood how BMC is somehow equated with heterosexuality (and not that there's anything wrong with the other stuff, btw).
     
  2. semaj

    semaj Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2013 Florida

    I was a BMC drinker years ago before I was hassled enough to try good beer. My first one tasted alright to me, but I didn't know where to start or what to buy, so I just stuck with BMC. That same friend kept hassling me and getting me to try new things. As a result, I like good craft beer so much that I am on this site.

    I think beer evangelism does sound a little silly, but I'm thankful for my friend doing it because even though I resisted the change at first, I now have a new hobby that I love and it that it has brought greater taste and enjoyment to my life.
     
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  3. Moose90

    Moose90 Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2012 Washington

    I'll agree with you there. But at the same time small breweries cannot get into stores without BMC stepping in, in some instances; particularly in states with beer sales in grocery stores.
     
  4. alucard6679

    alucard6679 Pundit (997) Jul 29, 2012 Arizona

    I have a couple friends that I hang out with and we drink what we like to drink and just make a night out of having a few good beers. A lot of times half the fun is going to the store with them and figuring out what we want to try or what old favorites we want to go with. But I also have friends who drink for a completely different reason (parties, etc.), and usually stick with BMC. I give them shit and they give me shit, but its all in good fun. Unless one of us happens to be drunk.....then it can get a bit heated lol but my point is that just because somepone drinks generic beer doesnt mean they have inferior taste or that they dont know whats best for them. Craft beer is an aquired taste, and sometimes a tricky road that not everyone wants to go down. Not to mention it's pretty damn expensive. If they want to try my beer then they're more than welcome. If they like it and want to try more then I'll be happy to give some recommendations. But if they dont then thats fine with me, becasue it's not for everyone.
     
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  5. KingslayerAle

    KingslayerAle Initiate (0) Feb 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

    I'll compare it to steak:
    All you can eat steak at golden corral is good.
    Steak at Outback is even better.
    But if I treat someone to a steak at Morton's and they don't appreciate it as a better dinner than golden corral...I won't even try...lots 'o people love golden corral.
    But if they do, I'll be happy to tell them about why it's better.
     
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  6. Moose90

    Moose90 Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2012 Washington

    I'll agree with you. While I've never run into this personally, I have friends who have. I grew up in a pretty liberal town; though I could see how in a smaller working-class town, branching away from "dad's BMC" could make yourself stand out in an unfavorable way.

    I routinely go hunting, and in the small towns it is quite humorous as literally the only beer offerings are BMC 12/18/24/30, etc... packs, no craft to be found. It may just be the dynamic of the area, and absolutely the larger the town, the more accepting of craft beer.
     
  7. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,549) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    This.

    OK, just to preface, at my old job selling beer, spirits and T-shirts for Dogfish, I had a customer walk up wearing a black T-shirt with the words "BEER SNOB" in big white letters and I asked him, "Seriously dude, why wear that shirt?" and he proceeded to go on a bit of a rant about how "That's what I am and people should know before getting into a conversation with me about beer and we need to take the power back and show people what's up" and blah blah blah (obviously I'm paraphrasing). I just had to be like "OK whatever" cuz it was my job to sell him shit. I try very hard to not push the notion of trying "different" or "obscure" beers on people who either a. Aren't ready, or b. Are completely uninterested.

    That being said, at my current job serving for a Yard House, we're trained to encourage people to try different beers because we have so many and they're all on tap. And, since it's a big corporate chain, I get plenty of BMC/generic import drinkers. Honestly, I get it if you're counting calories and trying to stay in shape or whatever and you just wanna have a beer. Who am I to judge? Then there are those who just wanna drink their Stellas, Heinekens and Carlsbergs and will likely never find anything in the rest of the spectrum they like. So be it. But for the rest of the folks who like flavorful or hearty beers and are interested in trying new things, I try to turn them on to as many different styles and alternatives as possible. They say "Blue Moon" and I say "Lost Coast Great White." They say "Guinness" and I say "Left Hand Milk Stout." I never try to "break" anyone into having something they don't seem to be receptive to, because let's face it: they might just not like beer. It happens. Some people only enjoy liquor and/or wine. It's all good. It's just all about respecting peoples' tastes and knowing where to draw the line. It goes both ways where people who hate on craft beer need to grow up and quit dissing people for having broader tastes, while us beer geeks need to take a step back and try not to push what we think is best for other people onto them.
     
  8. BostonHops

    BostonHops Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2011 Massachusetts

    aha, so that's what started it. :wink:

    on a more serious note, the anti-craft sentiment you guys mention truly baffles me. it's rooted in ignorance, i guess, but why malign someone's choice of beverage? seems so absurdly silly. do people who eat london broil interrogate those who enjoy a filet mignon?
     
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  9. benjaminahudson

    benjaminahudson Initiate (0) Sep 29, 2012 North Carolina

    I'm tired of insecure craft beer drinkers. Do whatever it is you want to do, but a number of these "convert" stories seem to originate from some insecurity the OP has about what they like and the fear of ridicule or rejection by peers. Not saying you, this OP, are guilty but some of them are.
     
  10. highdesertdrinker

    highdesertdrinker Pooh-Bah (2,492) Nov 5, 2012 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I have no compunction to explain my preferences to anyone or worry in the least about what anybody thinks. I revel in, celebrate, and enjoy everything I like and look to forge friendships and spend time with people that share the same interests. I have plenty of bmc friends that are more than happy to chug my craft beer and imports when given the oppurtunity.
     
  11. cjoc83

    cjoc83 Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Okay people...NO MORE CONVERTING PEOPLE! Craft is already blowing up enough, and more and more droves of people buying up all the Nugget Nectar isn't helping us. Let them drink swill. Just my 2 cents.
     
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  12. aboucher0319

    aboucher0319 Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2011 Minnesota

    When I think about this question I think about someone loving IPAs, stouts, porters, etc. who are then handed something considered the highest of quality like an expensive Belgian sour or a barrel aged barley wine and not liking it because it's not the kind of beer they like; maybe it's too complex, or too different from what they are accustomed to. They may love the best of the best for IPAs, stouts, and porters but not like the Belgians. To use the strawberry analogy, one may love fruit, but not necessarily like apricots, and be handed the finest of apricots by an apricot aficionado and have the aficionado wonder why the person does not like the apricot. The answer is simple, the fruit lover does not love apricots.

    That said, if and IPA lover is handed a Pliny the Elder and rejects it like you have described, then that would baffle me to the highest degree of baffling.
     
  13. sketchpunx

    sketchpunx Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2008 New York

    It's funny, but I've never had somebody try to shit on craft beer to me. Could be where i live,(NYC) but I've never really run into it, and If i did, I'm a craft drinker, which makes me an inherently informed drinker, which means I'd have all sorts of ammo to pull out as to why Macro's are shit compared to micros.

    But really, like others have stated, It's all a matter of taste, and a bmc dochebag is allowed to like bmc.

    I try to get my friends to try new things that I like frequently, but I usually try to gauge their interest in beer in general or a beer style before recommending things. Some people are simply lost causes when it comes to beer, and others are super receptive to the point that they become craft beer lovers.

    Really, if everyone liked craft would it be as special to those of us who really love it?
     
  14. Sokool

    Sokool Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2013 Washington

    I love that scene in the Beer Wars documentary where they make people blind-test all the most popular brand name beers, and even the guy in the Coors Light outfit can't identify his own beer next to all the other watered down cups of crap. It's almost like some people buy into the whole idea or pop-culture of a beer more than the taste of the beer itself.
     
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  15. DPMomutant

    DPMomutant Pundit (798) Feb 10, 2004 Missouri

    Had someone like that question me. I gave them a sip of my Expedition Stout. Couldn't stand it but sure as hell didn't think I was a wuss lol.

    I don't run into as much true "anti-craft" as I used to. Most of my family is happy with Bud Light and Busch Light but is getting why I like what I do - and these are as good of people as I could imagine knowing. Got a friend who didn't like much beer but tried a Lambic at Flying Saucer and dabbles with craft a little.

    I talk about what I like but I don't need to get a complex about it. We all like what we like, it's the tolerance on both ends that should come out.
     
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  16. Jeffo

    Jeffo Pooh-Bah (2,850) Sep 7, 2008 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    FTFY. Now maybe everyone else will get it...

    Stop worrying about what other people drink. Leave them alone, and maybe they'll leave you alone. Quit trying to "save" people.

    Jeff
     
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  17. YogiBeer

    YogiBeer Initiate (0) May 10, 2012 Illinois


    No.
     
  18. LMT

    LMT Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2009 Virginia

    I've noticed this. I think that some refusal to try/like craft beer is somewhat "cultural" (can't think of a better term). I've met folks who seem that they'd never admit to liking a craft beer (even if they really did). Maybe this is just my perception, though.
     
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  19. bleakies

    bleakies Maven (1,319) Apr 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    Imagine someone collects high-end bars of soap.

    Imagine that person cornering you at a party, wanting to discuss high-end bars of soap and why you still use that off-the-shelf crap from the supermarket.

    Imagine praying for lightning from above.
     
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  20. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana
    Deactivated

    Most people like to settle into what I call a fat, dumb, and happy zone. Once they think they have arrived then they never want anything to change. This is like people who have only lived in one city their entire lives yet will argue it's the greatest place in the world to live. They do it with their jobs, their education, their beer, etc.
     
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