Controversial Beer Opinions Thread

I wonder if anyone else does this: Many times I'll start drinking a beer before dinner, take a break to eat dinner (put the beer in the fridge), then finish the beer off afterwards. I usually do this with a double IPA or heavy stout. I feel like the meal would reduce the effect/flavors of the beer. I only drink during meals if it's something lighter - lager, witbier, etc.

 

Owners may prefer the atmosphere, but probably not the business. Loser adults cursing loudly and without kids in tow are likely drinking more, and it is a business after all. This is the very reason I would never own a business that served alcohol; good customers buy a lot, including alcohol - but that also renders them obnoxious and all too often too drunk to drive, though they still do. Refusing to serve the drunk is highly subjective as some folks might come in drunk and seemingly sober, have one beer, and leave walking straight but totally hammered.

 

Well this is the unpopular beer opinions thread and I am of the opinion that I don't like kids around when I drink. Unpopular or popular as it may be, it is my opinion. And yes I am kinda glad about not having dragged my kids to taprooms and not having driven buzzed with them in my car. So I may have an unpopular opinion about it, but for those who drag their kids to taprooms to taste beer I always ask in threads like these the following two questions, likely not to be popular with you:

The reason(s) I would prefer to bring my child(ren) to an adult activity for my own enjoyment, rather than a children's activity that they would enjoy, is...

I justify to myself driving buzzed with my child(ren) in the car with the following reason(s)...

 

It shouldn't be an unpopular opinion. If someone likes kids around when they drink, fine, but how is another person's preference hurting them? If someone finds it morally wrong that you enjoy adult activities around other adults (or alone), they need to get a hobby.

 

Out of curiosity, what would be the unpretentious term to use to refer to a 'taproom?' It would be imprecise to refer to the space at a brewery dedicated to pouring beers for patrons a bar or a pub. It isn't a tavern either. To simply say 'brewery' lacks precision as well.

I would hate to be pretentious, but I don't want to give the impression I am a cretin either.

 

I'm the same and have done the "fridge holding pattern" too. I do enjoy beer with certain "finger foods" like a cheese plate where the bites are small and I can choose exactly what I'm eating. But with a full meal I find most beers feel too heavy and/or they only pair well with a subset of what I'm eating at best. For meals, I'm wine or water.

Mostly wine.

 

Beer hole?

 

The best part about this whole exchange is you calling out anyone for being pretentious or cantankerous, considering that's all you've been since you entered this forum. You've also ironically been disrupted by Dave being disrupted at a taproom. It defines you. 10/10 on the unintentional comedy scale

It's really hilarious

Oh, and for what it's worth. I realize this is a controversial opinions thread in a beer forum on the Internet and "I none of them" something something gibberish

 

I find it odd that there seems to be a differentiation between taking a kid to a brewery vs taking a kid to a bar. One seems acceptable and the other not, but at the end of the day it's the same thing.

 

"Taproom" works for me as both a descriptive and unpretentious term. It is after all a part of a larger (Brewery) and is set up as being specific purpose. Being the only room in the place that has taps the term taproom seems appropriate.

 

... Typically, my enjoyment of a brewery comes around lunchtime or early afternoon, which is after a long morning of being at the Children's Museum or the Museum of Science or youth soccer. The kids are wiped and ready to grab a bite to eat. Mom and dad are happy to have a beer or a flight at a brewery we like. Also, I like my kids. I like being around them. I enjoy sharing experiences with them, both in their world and mine, whether that's a brewery or baseball game or cooking.

(Thanks for assuming that as parents we're just being 100% selfish, though. Like we just hang out drinking coffee and watching ESPN all morning while the kids run ragged through the house until it's time to get wasted at a brewery.)

... Do you typically drive buzzed after leaving a brewery? That's my question for you. When I go and have a beer, I do so responsibly. Having kids with me makes me hyper-aware of safe driving. But, the bigger concern is that, when I'm driving home from soccer practice -- totally sober -- and you're pulling out of a brewery parking lot buzzed or drunk. Even if you're without kids, that's worrisome to me.

 

By far my biggest gripe, especially as of late. Actually, if a brewery pops up and settles on "blonde, pale, and ipa," id love it. It would indicate to me that they at least know the difference.

Nowadays, its a race to win the popularity contest of cramming the most clever/trendy flavors in a single beer and slapping a dumb name on it. Everything is double dry hopped with lactose and fruit, or barrel aged with coffee/cacao nibs/cinnamon.

I definitely enjoy these when an experienced brewery puts them out on occasion, but it seems like too many new breweries are shooting straight for the gimmicks as their regular offerings.

 

Indeed. I am pretty much in favor of calling things what the folks who own them and work there call them. We have a lot of breweries with areas for serving beer they call tap rooms, and I'm okay with that. I suggest the folks who think that it is pretentious reaallllyyyyy need to get out a bit more.

 

I admit that I limit myself to only enough alcohol consumption so that I am under the legal limit. This usually is one 12 oz. 5% beer per hour. My kids all are grown, but I had a zero tolerance, no drinking at all, period, when my children were in the car, and in fact gave up drinking completely for ten years after my first boy was born. If you want to fault me for having a "double standard" about not having a zero tolerance for when I drive all the time, you got me. But I don't drive drunk.

I do note that you care not at all that you drive buzzed with kids in the car, but care that I might be on the road buzzed on my way home from a taproom while you have your kids in the car.

 

Though probably a regionalism (and, perhaps, it had died out somewhat pre-brewpub/on-premise breweries) but "taproom" was once just another synonym for "tavern", "saloon", "bar & grill" or "bar". Not particularly pretentious; less so than the borrowed-from-the-UK "pub", "cafe" or "bistro" (the latter used in another current thread).

For instance, this "snip" from a 1941 tabloid murder article. Not sure how swanky these taprooms were...:


The "taproom" usage that I recall the most was a nice little neon above the side door ....at the local bowling alley.

 

Just make sure there isn't a counterfeit jeans operation operating out of it and you're good.

 

Second attempt at a reply to: [sorry 'bout that.]

The Sternewirth!

---from 100 Years of Brewing, 1903

 

I plan to use this daily!