"It's just beer"

Physically they were all fine, it was the latter. I had them on shelves in our bathroom downstairs because that room stays a constant 60 degrees. Unfortunately, that room was ground zero for the sewage backup. Luckily there wasn't anything irreplacable. I had a full case of Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Saison, and partial cases of Pale Ale, Torpedo, and Hop Hunter (I wasn't really cellaring these - I just don't have room in my fridge for all of it). And a few odds and ends, but oh well.

 

I like the OP's point of view quite a bit. Seems like there's context where it's a reasonable sentiment, but mostly (on this site anyways) it's a way for the "it's just beer" guy to look down on something another person has said or done (or said he/she has done?), which seems disingenuous since it's often keyed in by someone with hundreds of BA karma points. If it's "just beer" you spend a lot of time on a website dedicated to it. Just seems pretty hypocritical in a lot of situations.

(hyperbole warning) When people fly to Paris to see the Louvre and ancient French architecture, has anyone said "Calm down, it's just art."?

 

I hate to break it to you but it is just art. It's just one more piece added to the collective known as art. Sure some may be valued higher because it was painted by da Vinci, but it is still JUST A PIECE OF ART. Just like Limited Edition X beer, is just another beer on the shelf.

 

I try to remind myself it's a consumable. The enjoyment it produces is fleeting, no use getting too wrapped up in it. It's supposed to be fun!

 

People used to say the same thing about my beanie baby collection. Well who's laughing now?

 

I have heard a LOT of wine people say, "It's just fermented grape juice." In fact, I've said it myself, but it's almost always in the context of "chill out and don't let it (whatever the situation is) upset you so much." I've never used it to mean "don't be fussy" or "don't take it so seriously." Heck, I have 8 different SETS of wine glasses, all of which serve a different purpose (still need to up my beer glassware collection, but I've run out of room). As others have said, it's more of a reminder that, at the end of the day, this hobby should be rewarding/enjoyable instead of something that causes massive frustration/anxiety/anger. Honestly, I've never looked at it as an insult, but I can see the reasoning behind that. I will say that the drive-by "it's only beer" comments, those without any additional context or discussion, can be pretty darn annoying.

 

About three years ago, when I first started getting seriously into craft, I felt much like the OP; in fact, I started a very similar thread around that time, with many of the same gripes.

Fast forward three years later: more and more, I find myself thinking, "It's just beer." A couple of things contributed to this shift. First, I started keeping track, in Quicken, of all my beer expenses, including all beer purchases, brewery trips, and trading expenses, including shipping costs and materials. At the end of my first year of tracking, I was kind of shocked. When I compared it to other things I was spending money on (like travel, gifts for friends and family, etc.), I got some major perspective. Also, I started realizing what a lot of people realize after a while: there are so many good local, shelf, non-whales that are just as good or better than some perceived "better beers."

Don't get me wrong, I still trade for tasty VT beers, and I still appreciate the occasional beer release/festival, but, overall, it's become a more reasonable hobby that has its place.

 

As my college son would say, Slap that bag

 

Statement = true, as is any statement made in that format (It's just money...it's just a relationship...it's just a job). However, my point is, do people say that to art lovers, who travel around the world to admire it? Seems like you would, but I feel like you're in the minority. Just based on my experience, no scientific data to back that up.

 

Fair enough, although my use of the term "hobby site" was really more to indicate that it's a site dedicated to interest in a specialized subculture, rather than it being a hobby or not for the members who participate here. The point is that if one comments here on the regular, they are already engaged in behavior that is above and beyond how most people behave in relation to beer.

It's certainly not dysfunctional behavior, but I wouldn't call it commonplace either. Which is why it would be hard for such a person to say "it's just beer" for any reason other than criticizing dysfunctional/antisocial behaviors without skirting hypocrisy.

 

In thinking about this, I don't know what I would call it. Me and my wife are always seeking out different places to eat. When we go on a trip, we (and our kids) always research and plan where we will eat out. Now I find myself doing the same with bars. So maybe this fascination isn't so much a hobby as it is a quest. Now I don't homebrew, but that definitely falls under hobby. So from now on I will refer to my drinking everything different I can find a "Quest". Sounds more noble. So next time someone tells you "it is just beer", you can respond with don't belittle my quest

 

Agree 100%. The comparison's here are almost comical. I love beer. I don't know much about art. Still, I wouldn't trade my 20 minutes admiring the David in person for any case of beer in the world.

I can't imagine many people saying "its just art".

I mean, beer is freaking consumable. If you are comparing it to anything other than booze, wine, or food, you are way off base.

 

Perhaps more importantly I think most of us can agree that wine is "just grape juice" LOL

 

some beers are more than "just beer" to me. they usually don't require waiting or overpaying. hype is "just hype"

 

Right there with you. People stating that "it's just beer", especially on this site, is about the Goddamned dumbest thing I've heard. This is a beer website. If you care enough about beer to join a website about it, then clearly it is more than "just beer" to you; and that's great! It's an awesome hobby, and it should be treated with the same enthusiasm as any other hobby. Personally, I have never stood in line for beer; but I don't judge anyone who does. Sometimes, that's the only way you can procure extremely rare stuff. Plus, the level of brewing is so high now, that it can no longer be dismissed as "just beer"; it's truly a unique phenomenon at this point.

 

My dad is fond of trying a good wine from time to time, and then following it up with "Eh, wine is just fermented grape juice; how good can it really be?" I look at him aghast as we just shared an exquisite, expensive bottle of some Paso Robles red blend that I managed to procure from a close friend. I always tell people, "When you have cheap wine, and then you have excellent wine, there is indeed a huge difference."

 

I think I get the angst behind the "it's just beer" comment when context isn't considered. For instance, I get a little wrapped up in a certain sport of Canadian origin. When my team gets beat by certain members of a team wearing orange, or when they get booted from the playoffs, the last thing I want to hear is "it's just a game". I KNOW it's just a game, but unfortunately for me, a percentage (albeit small percentage) of my identity is intertwined with the success and to some degree perception of my team. Like it or not. It takes a day or two for me to lose that gut punch feeling as well.

How's that relate to "it's just beer"? Real easy in my opinion. Boiled down to the most basic interaction, the person saying it is belittling a little part of the receiver's identity. It's not the beer which is diminished when "it's just beer" is uttered, it's the person it's uttered to that's diminished.

Now then, it's just beer, relax........

 

Agreed, and I should mention, not trying to compare a beer directly to famous works of art, as much as to say if someone is passionate about something, especially a creative endeavor, let that passion manifest however it may, without judgement, assuming no one's being harmed (except your judgement filled sensibilities).

 

IF this happend to me which i pray it never does and I wish the best to those who have experienced it, I would still drink it all. Quick dunk into hot bleach and water and right back onto another shelf.

 

You are a rare breed Warren for sure! You have the best outlook on beer that I've ever known. I've definitely tried doing the same myself, and have been successful in resisting the urge to horde, and it's been very rewarding!