How would the beer world be different without BeerAdvocate?

I'd probably be where I was 10 years ago. Living in PA, buying by the case and hoping I liked it. Would not know of bottle shops, Founders, and likely would still be drinking mostly British imports. Thanks Bros!! (btw, my wife has a somewhat different opinion of your fine services)

 

I certainly wouldn't have ever considered trading beer by mail and thus probably wouldn't have ever discovered how beautiful a beer like Zombie Dust could be.

 

True.

But then do you see it as a positive that the 'spark' has caused the fire that has engulfed special releases ten years later?

 

pro: limited releases would be easy to get and would sit on shelves
con: finding a decent beer on tap at regular non-beer-centric places would be something we'd all still be wishing for

 

Shelton Brothers would be considerably smaller and less influential.

 

I drank lots and lots and lots of beer of greater and lesser quality for years and years, but prior to finding this site I never thought to argue about it.

 

Then the question is stupid. Another site like this already exists, and one would certainly fill the void. I see no particular point in imagining a world that cannot exist.

 

...we'd likely have fewer self-styled beer "experts" (those who discuss the variations in rare beer verticals from year to year, etc.) and more beer "guides" (people who point you/take you to cool places where excellent beer is readily available for anyone willing to go get it).

 

Well there are several philosophers who'd disagree with you that there's no point (e.g., Aristotle, Plato, Leibniz) and at least one Nobel Laureate (Kahneman), as well as more than one successful Science Fiction author, but if you choose to not to play the OP's "game" by his rules, there's no point in raining on his parade by calling his question studid.

 

There would be no whales

 

My wallet would be happier which would be good, but I've met some cool people through this site, which I wouldn't have had it not existed.

 

I wouldn't know what beers I'm supposed to like.

 

I wouldn't be much different I think. I would be trying more beers only to find out they are crap, because I don't generally try anything that has terrible ratings, but the work in large? I think it would be very much the same.

Gotta love BA though. BA>RB

 

Yes, because "how would things be different without Beer Advocate" is clearly the philosophical question of our times.

Even if you take the question at face value it's just an exercise in saying things you don't like about BA without any justification for them. A few of the ones I've seen ("there'd be no whales", "Cantillon would be on the shelves") don't stop to think at all if these things were caused by events in which BA played a key role, or if they were the results of exogenous forces. (Hint: Are there "whales" in other collectable communities?) Maybe this is just me, but I think we could use less "BA has ruined beer" whining going on around here.

 

I know at least 3 PhD students in philosophy here writing their dissertations on this question.

Edit: Working titles:

"Two Dogmas of Embeericism: Quine's Critique of the Analytic-Synthetic Dichotomy Applied to the Question of the Necessity of BeerAdvocate"

"The Best of All Possible World(-Wide Beer Websites): the Logical Modalities of BeerAdvocate in Leibniz's Theodicy"

"Being in Line: A Heideggerian Interrogation of the 'Always Already' of Chasing Whales and the Dasein of the Beer Advocate"

 

RB/BA have both brought huge amounts of attention to the craft beer scene, and allow the knowledge of one to be the knowledge of all. It includes everyone in that sense. Without either website, craft would likely remain the way it was in the 90's, 80's, etc. Now, with this vast sea of beer knowledge at the fingertips of literally anyone, is anyone surprised that delicious cheap (relatively) funny juice has seen an influx of interest?

Also, if anyone can plunk their line into the water and pull up a whale, then who's to say it's white?

 

While at work, craft beer enthusiasts everywhere would do a lot more, you know, work.

 

They'll be the most highly educated workers at Starbucks. Congrats to them.

 

Highly doubtful. A brewery would still sell their beer and UPS/FEDEX wouldn't be unwittingly involved in violating federal laws.