Over the Rainbow? Why Queer Beer Is Important

LMAO at the comments section link!

 

Haven't been Rick rolled since MySpace. Is @Todd related to tom?

 

I'm just here for beer. Didn't think it could get more complicated than that.

 

I think I have been doing that without being prompted or suggested to. I'm not big on doing something just because.

 

Beer doesn't fall from the sky. People make, distribute, and sell it. We should consider the lives of those people, even if only for a moment.

 

Enough with the social BS! If someone created and advertised a "heterosexual" beer the world would be up in arms.

Keep your sexual BS to yourselves!

 

There is so much heteronormative advertising! Start noticing it.

And someone making awesome beer should be able to continue making great beer with no fear of being fired for any aspect of their identity! These issues aren't just about "kumbaya feel good, why can't we all get along, etc...," they're about legal protection.

 

[ gets ready ]

 

One of the things that I've always enjoyed about the beer and brewing communities is that they're inclusive ... folks joining with other folks over the love of beer. When we start making it about identities, we fragment the community into tribes, then the tribes start pushing against each other over this or that. So it really doesn't matter your color, your gender, or your disposition - come on in and make and enjoy good beer with the folks around you ... we can all share the identify of craft brew lover without the intersectionality.

 

Beer treats all imbibers equally, just as we all should.

 

I do not buy (or not buy) beer based on political opinions of the brewers.

 

Just think of the possible slogans:

"We're here, we're queer, we brew delicious beer!"

We've had that for years: Clown Shoes' Tramp Stamp and Brown Angel (which they only retired before deciding to court Harpoon as a buyer) and Dominion's Morning Glory, Double D, Candi (all three also available in a "Pinup Variety Pack"), Oak Barrel Stout (label since changed), and Abbey Ale (retired?) are a few off the top of my head.

We've had "heterosexual" beer and advertising for years, I think we can now handle a few rainbow labels. Let's judge the beer on its own merits, and not based on the people that brew it.

 

As a gay man, I couldn't care less who a beer is made by or marketed to. If it's good, I'll drink it. I also make my own beer, have been to over 1,000 breweries across the USA, listen to heavy metal, and have lots of tattoos of skulls. Even though I am not your "stereotypical" gay person, I still go to gay pride events, I go to gay clubs and bars, even gay campgrounds, because sometimes it's just nice to be around other people like yourself. SO, is it cool they are making beer marketing towards gay people? Hell yeah, but....I do agree with the comment that if they tried to market a beer as "heterosexual", people would flip a shit. We all know it would happen. It would be the same thing if they tried to market a "white" beer. Now, I am a firm believer that a business should be able to market to whomever they like without backlash or repercussion. Hobby Lobby doesn't like gays. Guess what? I don't shop there. Simple. I don't feel the need to make an uproar, but that's just me, and I know for all the SJW's out there, this will be an unpopular answer. Sorry....On the other hand, for all the homophobic, xenophobic, racist knuckle-draggers out there who fear change, and think gay and minority rights are being shoved in your face? Well, yeah, they are, and about damn time. People have to understand that the market has been severely underserving or under-marketing to "minorities" until fairly recently, which is why the gay beer or black beer or whatever, is so cool. That is something straight people or white people or whatever people have to realize as well. So, I look at this as the same way I look at Hobby Lobby. No one is forcing you to buy it. You don't like it, look away and buy something else. Problem solved.

 

Why is this hard for people? Love is love. Let's drink beer! Cheers!

 

Amen!

I’m here for the beer, and that’s it.

 

The problem is that beer may seem inclusive to someone who's never had to worry about being included or who has always been able to see themselves represented, but for those of us in communities that still face discrimination, it's nice to see some intentional representation. Yeah, I get that the sentiment is coming from a good place, but I don't see something like this as trying to fragment people into tribes, I see it more as an invitation to communities that may not automatically feel welcome in what is a heavily white, straight, cis, male community.

And while I certainly am not implying that you were intending to be exclusionary with a statement like "share the identity of craft brew lover without the intersectionality," it kinda comes off that way. Like, if being gay is an important part of someone's identity, does that mean they can't also be a craft brew lover? Does it mean you don't want to drink beer and hang out and talk with them? Again, from the context I don't think that was your intent, but that is a very real concern for a lot of LGBT folks who, as @Whiskeymovie mentioned, have not been truly included in the scene until fairly recently.

 

I’m really disappointed in the social agenda this site has been pushing lately.

It’s a big reason I’m spending a lot less time here.