Are You a Beer Geek?

Do you participate on BA? If the answer is yes, you are indeed a Beer Geek.

Cheers!

 

I think the important distinction that @Todd and @Jason bring up is the idea of beer geeks being inclusive versus the exclusive ideals of a beer snob. Beer is fun, and we should be approachable and advocate for beer, pushing people out won't help us or our local watering holes.




Except people who think shower beers are silly. Those guys can kick rocks.

 

Oh, this will be FUN .....

• Drinking beer in the shower doesn’t sound weird. I've enjoyed beer in the shower, tub, hot tub, pool (in-ground and above-ground) lake (multiple), and ocean (Atlantic and Pacific). If I can add a river, will I get additional Beer Karma for fulfilling the eight "immersible" water types?
• Traveling for work or pleasure always involves mapping out potential beer stops. Um, yes. #ScaredToElaborateInCaseBossOrWifeAreOnBA
• You’ve traveled far or waited for hours just to score some beer, because it was worth it. If driving 5 hours round trip to Decorah to spend less than 5 minutes @ TG to secure (2) cases of King Sue counts, yes. I've not stood in line - I'm a line avoider from WAAAAAAY back.
• You’ve traded for a beer with someone from across the country because you had to know how it tasted for yourself. I've traded ...... a lot, to all points across the country. Surly (especially Furious, Abrasive, and Darkness) was the gift that kept on giving whilst I lived in Minnesota.
• You’ve tried homebrewing because you find the process fascinating. I did, once, with a Mr Beer kit Little O got me for my birthday a few years ago. The beer was ..... not good, but I did enjoy the process because it was indeed fascinating - and also proved that I am a much better "acquirer" than I am a "brewer."
• When asked what your favorite beer is you’ll always answer with “the next one,” because you haven’t tried every beer on the planet, yet. That's an admirable answer, though I usually reply with a list of my "Top 10 favorite beers" that now numbers around 72 different beers.
• While you appreciate having it, a lack of proper glassware won’t stop you from enjoying a beer. Very true, though I do spend money on a glass (as in "made out of glass instead of plastic") just to have a glass. I really don't care for beer from a plastic cup, though I did have "Enjoy By" at the Super Bowl in San Jose (2016) from a plastic cup, and it was AWESOME.
• Despite being presented with limited options, you’ll always find a beer to enjoy instead of complaining about the selection. This past April, at Sims Barbecue in Little Rock (probably my favorite barbecue in the country), the choices were Miller Lite, Bud Light, and Bud in a 40. I went with the Bud in a 40. It worked really well.
• You may have a discerning palate, but you don’t look down on the opinions of other beer drinkers. Drink and let drink is my credo. I enjoy having a credo.
• You haven’t forgotten that beer is meant to be fun. If I ever forget that, will a BA smack me in the melon with a shovel, please? Beer should ALWAYS be fun because it is quite simply awesomeness by every possible measurement.

 

Fully on board with all that, but let me say that I'm proud of this beer community for evolving towards the last two. When I first joined BA there seemed to be several folks that would torch or pile on when someone dared to admit that they were enjoying something that wasn't deemed acceptable to some self important cabal of folks. I have always maintained that the "advocate" part has always been equally important to the "beer" part. Folks who enjoy any beer should always feel welcome here. If that in and of itself makes me a geek, then damn proud to be one!

 

• Drinking beer in the shower doesn’t sound weird. Definitely not weird. Nothing beats an ice cold Pilsner / Munich Helles Lager in the shower after some manual labour.
• Traveling for work or pleasure always involves mapping out potential beer stops. Yes
• You’ve traveled far or waited for hours just to score some beer, because it was worth it. Haven't traveled far o waited too long, opportunity hasn't come up but whenever I decide to go to Belgium this will be absolutely ticked off.
• You’ve traded for a beer with someone from across the country because you had to know how it tasted for yourself. No but if anyone in B.C, is willing and has access to Four Winds and Driftwood and wants to become friends, I'm more than willing
• You’ve tried homebrewing because you find the process fascinating. Not yet, but thinking about it, as I'm still pretty early in by craft beer experiences.
• When asked what your favorite beer is you’ll always answer with “the next one,” because you haven’t tried every beer on the planet, yet. Yes and no, You never know when your next beer might beer Weihenstephan Hefeweizen or Rocherfort 10 or Stickee Monkey or... or... or the next one is something new and blows you away in wonder on how the hell did the brewer accomplish what I just drank?
• While you appreciate having it, a lack of proper glassware won’t stop you from enjoying a beer. Definitely not, one of my favorite experiences was drinking St. Bernardus out of a solo cup on New Year's Eve a couple years ago and watching the expressions on my friends faces.
• Despite being presented with limited options, you’ll always find a beer to enjoy instead of complaining about the selection. Agree 100%, Guinness will do in a pinch.
• You may have a discerning palate, but you don’t look down on the opinions of other beer drinkers. No, but I actively encourage others to try new things (like craft) because they just might like it better than what they're used to.
• You haven’t forgotten that beer is meant to be fun. Beer is always fun!

 

Same here. I'm not anti-shower beer, just really doesn't wind my clock.

 

How about...You've met up with other BA's when you travel to their neck of the woods, or have hosted somebody on BA when they visit your beer haunting grounds.

Maybe we should call these, BA hookups? Beermances?

 

Only 3-10, I'm not a beer geek at all, I'm only into a few styles, I don't experiment much.

 

I'm on BA at 8am Sunday morning! No need to do any survey. But still drinking coffee at this point! Cheers

 

I'm all of those things. Although some only in rare circumstances.

 

Just hand me the advanced questionnaire. Real geeks already have an unbreakable shower mug.

 

I still can't tell whether shower beer is a real thing or some sort of long standing BA in-joke that I am not privy too.

 

. Shower beer is definitely a thing. Everyone should try it at least once. Mow a huge lawn on a hot summer day, then try it and tell me it isn't a beautiful thing...

 

Also, for those who stated that they only tried home brewing once with a Mr. Beer Kit, and found the results unsatisfactory, I urge you to try it once more with better ingredients. I got my start with it, but I am so glad I didn't stop there. The upside of starting with Mr Beer is that the fermenter that comes with the kit is actually a great fermentation vessel for small batches and the bottling attachment you can get for it makes brewing and bottling test batches a breeze. My home brewing endeavors have greatly enhanced my beer geekery and my enjoyment of beer in general. Just upgrade to breiss malts and maybe do a stovetop partial mash and you'll get much better results.

 

Talking about brewmasters and brewery founders and CEOs like they are celebrities that you would get star struck if you met them is the way I am. I'd get the same feeling when meeting Greg Koch and Ozzy Osbourne.

 

Definitely a beer geek. I have favorites but it depends on the time of year or what I feel like in any given week that I consider what my favorite beer is. Everything on this list is spot on for me.

 

If all lived by these last two principles, the beer world would be a much better place.

 

• Drinking beer in the shower doesn’t sound weird. Not my thing, but hey, why not.
• Traveling for work or pleasure always involves mapping out potential beer stops. For sure.
• You’ve traveled far or waited for hours just to score some beer, because it was worth it. Traveled far but no long waits.
• You’ve traded for a beer with someone from across the country because you had to know how it tasted for yourself. Yes.
• You’ve tried homebrewing because you find the process fascinating. I'm planning to try this fall.
• When asked what your favorite beer is you’ll always answer with “the next one,” because you haven’t tried every beer on the planet, yet. I've never used that answer. It does always depend on the situation.
• While you appreciate having it, a lack of proper glassware won’t stop you from enjoying a beer. Proper glass wear or something close is always appreciated, but not necessary.
• Despite being presented with limited options, you’ll always find a beer to enjoy instead of complaining about the selection. For sure.
• You may have a discerning palate, but you don’t look down on the opinions of other beer drinkers. Drink what you like.
• You haven’t forgotten that beer is meant to be fun. It's just beer. It's a hobby that I thoroughly enjoy but I try not to take it too seriously. Discussing beer, reading about beer and shopping for beer are almost as fun as drinking beer.

 

I've never traded. I need to do that sometime. Other than that I'm 9-9. Drinking an Upslope Citra Pale out of a can while typing this and watching the US Open, so clearly glassware is not something I get too arsed about, at least not every single day.