The Reverse Beer Snob Pandemic

Hey now, that's just taking things too far.

 

Seems like you care.

Seriously though, I can see where you're coming from. Here's where I'm confused though....I get that people hating on Bud Light is beer snobbism. However, how does saying "give me two hearted over really expensive IPA's" reverse beer snobbism? Wouldn't it have to be "Give me Bud Light over craft IPAs" for it to be "reverse beer snobbism"? It seems like you're just pissed at both groups, those that hate on macro mass-produced stuff and those that hate on the super expensive stuff, which is totally fine; but one of these didn't create the other. Both are just expressing their somewhat douchey opinions (though I think hating on a bottle of Bud Light is much more of a douche bag move than hating on a $35 bottle of Eclipse, but that's just me).

Of course, I'm biased, as I'm absolutely someone who laughs a bit when I hear about folks waiting in line for some rare release. I realize the entertainment value of the whole experience is worth more than the price of the beer, and I dig that. But pound for pound, is that special imperial stout your waiting on really that much better than Founder's Imperial Stout? So, on a beer message board, which you astutely reminded us this to be, I am likely to say that I think chasing whales is a bit of a waste of time. My thoughts on that are no more important nor relevant than the BA who thinks it's a good use of their time. Again, it's all one big discussion.

 

I've been at this for over 30 years and have only reached stage 4 on your list. Maybe you shouldn't have allowed yourself to become so jaded so fast.

 

I have been at this a while, too, but maybe I'm just more inclined to be a cynic and skeptical.

 

You're one of the few folks that can get a chuckle out of me here man. I do hope we can meet face to face someday.

 

I certainly agree that snobbery/shaming/whatever evolves as quickly as the industry. I can vouch for standing up for the "sissy" beers I drank for a good little while. Thankfully those times were a little short lived as the scene received validation from stores beginning to stock more interesting choices, plus we had a pretty heavy hitter locally that took up the cause in Anchorage (Chilkoot Charlie's) in the form of a "beer passport" which you got stamped for each time you had one of their 200+ bottles of mostly import - and that was in the early 90's. I sensed that the community leveled out for a good while until after the second bubble. That's when I started seeing people getting shamed for drinking less obscure craft, like Sam Adams. Like unless you were drinking a barrel aged, corked and caged wax dipped brewery only release sour, than you were doing it wrong. Now we have reverse shaming? Not shocked.

I will offer this in closing though - seems like the comers and goers of the scene are the ones doing all the snob talk or shaming. You can read through threads and get an idea of who has been around craft for the long haul and how their outlook on this kind of stuff or "noise" is that it's just that - noise.

 

Duuuude, I love this post.
Also,

So funny.

But yes I agree with all of what you said. Unfortunately it is still an internet forum so there is really no stopping people's mindless banter.

 

Well, I stalled out at step 5, but I think you described a typical BA arc pretty well lol

 

I like beer.

 

"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"

-George Carlin, describing this and pretty much every situation.

 

I reserve the right to be cynical about beer when people get funny about it. i.e. Whale hunterz are totally fair game cos they bring it upon themselves.

 

Likewise mate. Hopefully next time you make it to NYC

 

I can geek out with the best of them, and drink elite/rare/brewery only beers, and truly enjoy them.

But as a rep in the industry, when I do tastings, and have people come up to my table in the liquor store and say they ONLY drink Treehouse, Trillium, Night Shift, HF, Lawsons, Heady, etc etc, that's what I have an issue with. I adore those breweries and the beers they make, but I can't help but ask these people the last time they had a shelf IPA --- Sculpin, West Coast, Flower Power, Limbo, Dirt Wolf, etc.

I love a good 6 pack of a beer I enjoy, and I wish it was less about the chase. The smaller breweries are great, but people need to understand the OGs of the industry are the ones that allow the small guys to create kick ass stuff.

 

If either one of you make it down to the Upper Piedmont of North Carolina, beer's on me!

 

There is a time and a place for just about every beer. Take Sam Adams Cherry Wheat for example, great beer before 10 am.

 

I think some of this comes from those of us who have read the hype, decided we wanted to see for ourselves, gone through all the effort of tracking down hyped beer, and then realized that many of them, frankly, weren't worth the effort. You drink enough beer, you start to realize that sometimes the hype train is just that. Then, you log on to BA and read thread after thread about the latest and greatest Northeast IPA or farmhouse sour or whatever, it can get hard not to roll your eyes...and occasionally type out snarky replies.

In some ways, the snark/reverse snobbery is (an admittedly combative) way of saying, "Hey, dudes and dudettes, there's some killer beer right on the shelf that I think you're missing. There are loads of styles you're overlooking. Don't be so myopic as to miss them!"

As for me, I've got a Sierra Nevada Summerfest Czech-style pils that I waited minutes in line at the grocery store for to go crack open. Cheers all!

 

Just out of curiosity, what rare, hyped beers have you had that you do not consider good?

 

So all of our bases are now covered.

If you drink Bud Light = douchebag
If you drink SN Torpedo = douchebag
If you're in the Bruery's reserve society = douchebag

Definitely. You ever make it up to Providence or Boston? If you do, don't hesitate to drop me a beermail.

 

Bingo.

 

Well I am one of those guys that balks at paying $8 for a bottle of beer. I have done it before and I usually feel like it was not a good value when all things are said, done, and consumed. I only have so much to spend on beer before the warden (I meant to say wife) puts a stop to it. That is why I always advocate for Sierra Nevada. It is a perfect combination of price, quality, and availability.