Why are some professional craft brewers apathetic?

It's hard to be jacked up or emotionally high all the time. Just because they, who are technically at work, arent as excited as you OP, who are visiting the brewery as a leisure destination. Doesnt mean that they're apathetic.

Some of the topics on this forum really nit pick the industry of beer needlessly.

I once saw a topic asking how to open a barrel aged stout properly. Im like REALLY?

 

Not my experience at all. I know several brewers in Minnesota and they all act excited about what they are doing and appear interested in talking about it.

 

Most owners of aquarium stores no longer have an aquarium at home. I agree, the brewers probably need a break as a lot of the excitement diminishes once it becomes your source of income.

 

Not apathy, rather the desire to discuss things outside of your job.

I own a few restaurant franchises. Every time I'm around my wife's co-workers, or a friendly talkative customer, it's always "how's biz? You guys must be killing it man!...I love your new menu offerings..... You guys are way better than your competition, etc..." While I certainly appreciate the praise and feedback, it gets a bit sterile after a while.

I'm sure many conversations and reactions go similarly with Brewers, especially given the recent boost in growth for the industry.

Nobody wants to talk about work all the time, even if they have a bad-ass job, do it well, and they love what they do.

Next time you want to go chatting up the brewer about recipes, limited releases, and experimental hop varieties, think about asking your welder friend "how's welding?" Chances are he doesn't really want to talk shop either.

 

Come to Saint Somewhere. I spend every Thur and Fri evening doing nothing but hanging out with my customers sharing beer and talking beer. There is a little bit of "swollen head" syndrome going on at several Florida breweries. Maybe you've mistaken arrogance for apathy.

 

Don't share the experience myself. My guess is either that the brewers think you're cozying to get special treatment or insider info, or you're expressing sentiments that they had before going into it professionally and they don't feel like spending the conversation going "wellll actualllllly..."

Also if you've seriously never met a passionate pro brewer and you've talked to more than 5, it's probably something you're saying or doing. Almost all the ones i meet are friendly, knowledgeable, and driven. They're all too happy to explain process stuff to me, though naturally they rarely "geek out" to me-- they don't even know me, why would i be the gushfest partner?

 

Yeah I worked for one for a couple of years and have been to many all over the country. The people that work in beer have an entirely different community than do those that drink beer as a hobby. Of course there may be some breweries with BAesque brewers, but I haven't met any yet. I do think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's work for them. Beer isn't their release necessarily like it is many of ours. Instead it's something they have around them at all times of the day, which does make it less glamorous.

 

Some of it has to do with the anticipation you have built up in your mind. I am guilty of the same thing. You are excited to meet the owner/brewer. You want to tell them how much you enjoy the creation they've been working so hard on for so long. Or maybe you just want to talk to them about craft beer in general because it's your favorite hobby. And when you get the chance to do so and the excitement is not reciprocated, it can be a bit of a let down. It's not the case with every brewery, I've had plenty of great experiences too, but it's disappointing when it happens.

 

I usually ack pretty cold-shouldered and douchy to brewers on purpose, as to not be deifying them.
That way they know they are nothing special, and will want to give me five minutes to find out why Im so sour.
Sometimes I get free beer out of it.

 

I can speak of this on the wine side - most people who are fans have only a very rudimentary understanding of the craft, don't understand the science at all, and carry many wives tales and misperceptions as fact. It gets tiring explaining in detail the misperceptions of consumers. When a professional spends their conversations correcting the amateur or enthusiast, they can come off as condescending and negative, and the professional is well aware of this and may prefer to simply avoid the situation altogether.

 

Many good posts. As a few have already noted, there's a difference between doing something for fun on the side, and having it be your sole source of income. i'm sure it's just having the same conversation countless times every day that get tedious.

 

Sometimes, as a professional you meet the "hobbyist" (fill in the blank occupation) and they want to talk "shop". This is sometimes fun and other times tedious and even down right insulting on occasion. Why? Because many of the "hobbyists" think they know what they are talking about when often they don't. I recently had someone try to argue with me what type of bread I sell. He was a "home baker" and as a result, he thought (wrongly) that he knew more about my product than I did. Not only is this incredibly arrogant but it is really insult when that person gets indignant about their position. Sometimes, rather than talking about their beer exclusively or beer in general, just talk to them about their day. You might find that many more are willing to just chat rather than have someone else tell them about their craft. Just my 2cents. Cheers.

 

I think a lot has been said that probably hits the nail on the head. Also, could be their initial passion they had when they first leaped into the brewing thing has faded due to many reasons (stress from the wife and kids, not making enough money, less time to pursue other interests now they own this business, beer business isn't quite as enjoyable as initially thought it would be, beers they are producing not living up to their expectations etc. etc.) Just perhaps they are feeling stuck now with their brewery business (even if you like their beers) and they just don't have an escape plan figured out.

 

Well sir, with all due respect, if I were a brewer and met you I would be one very cordial fellow!

 

Similar experience with a political news personality. He came to speak at our college and had a reception afterwards. Everyone went up to him to discuss politics. 6 months earlier I just so happened to have seen him on the streets in Venice Italy when I did my obligatory backpacking trip to Europe. When I went up to him I mentioned I saw him there and he enthusiastically talked to me about his trip and asked about mine. Much different energy level when compared to his conversations with the other students.

 

It's like a Major League baseball GM talking to a passionate fan about putting together a team. The fan thinks they know exactly what the job entails and they would do it. The GM doesn't have the time or energy to explain how wrong and misinformed the fan is in his assumptions. It's a bit harsh, but the difference between what you know and think is interesting, is probably a far cry what a true professional finds interesting.

 

I will opine...

I did not read all of the responses, but I did read the original post. I think you are seeing a couple of things here....

1) Some people thing its cool to act smug. "you couldnt possibly know more than me, I am in the business". The recent trend and excitement around craft beers has turned brewmasters and owners in to rock stars, at least in the beer circle. Pretty funny when you think about it, but true. I have actually seen people getting autographs of brewmasters and brewery owners. Kinda like getting an autograph from your local mechanic or machine shop owner.

2) One of the quickest ways for some people to ruin a hobby they are passionate about, is to turn it in to a business. Once you have to deal with the business side, and you are relying on it to provide for your family, it isnt all just fun stuff....it becomes a JOB. This isnt always the case, but for some, it certainly is.

3) You might be the tenth person that day to try and engage in the same basic conversation and it gets old...