Craft Beer Snobs

Right? I can't tell you how many times I've seen people throw a fit at brewpubs, of all places, because they didn't carry their preferred brand of AAL. How many people would go to a good steak house and get pissed because they can't get a McDonald's hamburger? NOBODY! But when it comes to Big Beer snobs, for some reason they think it's acceptable to do exactly that at breweries/brewpubs.

As for the opposite? Craft beer guys having a tizzy because a bar didn't have craft on tap? Never seen it happen. Most craft beer people I know realize that if they're going to a dive bar, at best your getting Blue Moon. Or in WI, Spotted Cow. We check our expectations at the door. IME.

 

My Miller Lite drinking buddy hates all other AALs, can’t see how I drink craft beer either, of course

 

I'm glad the truth is finally coming out in this thread. In reality, you're much more likely to find an irate patron who is not being offered their macro of choice (how are you so mad about bud light instead of coors light, and I have no problem that I am getting [probably old] SNPA instead of some goodierness?) than you are to find a patron being mad about not getting a particular craft offering.

However, I have seen misplaced craft beer snobbery within craft bar employees. The worst I ever experienced was from a young, drunk, bartender at a very elaborate craft bar (and really an A-1 place) who over the course of his lecture (I was the only person other than his girlfriend at the bar, and there was a bottle share in the back to round out the patrons so he was just letting me and his gf have all the knowledge for free) revealed that he was an aspiring sommelier and professional server at a high end italian eatery, after getting this job at the fancy bar (this place specialized in craft beer from alllll over the world. Literallly probably 60 or more countries represented) he had found a love of beer (for the first time) in european blended sours. So of course I was a simpleton for enjoying non-sour beers but he would show me the light.

For the record I drank a local IPA, a localish porter, an icelandic smoked stout, an odd elderberry beer from germany ( I think called 'methusala'), and his recommendation from a swiss brewer (BFM?) that was truly a delight. This is my only experience of snobbery and he is clearly a noob

 

Wait, so you're saying it happened to you too? From most of the replies in this thread, you'd think the OP was seriously a Big Beer Snob who's confused about expectations or where to drink for daring to suggest this happened.

 

OMFG I would have loved to have been there. I love to play with these types of people SO much.

 

Only Henry J. Duff Reserve.

 

I'm a Red Tick man myself. But I've also heard good things about Düff.

 

Irate would be too strong a term, but I do get disappointed when I go into a bar that has like 25 taps and the only deemed craft beer they have is Sam Lager or maybe Harpoon. It's just lazy and reeks to me of placement fees from the big providers. It doesn't have to be an IPA...just one decent Pils or something.

 

And if I'm in a new place I'll answer, "I like this and that and whatever, but that's neither here nor there. Whaddaya got? ", be shown a listing of some sort. Get a sample or a flight, and go from there.

 

thats the one

 

Well, I like both of you, regardless.

 

I have shocked a few folks through the years. I generally take snobbery well. It doesn't matter what profession one is in, but these officious know it alls exist amongst us everywhere. I usually just calm them down by buying them a beer.

 

Me too. Once you have their level of self-absorption measured they can be made easy victims of their own snobbishness with some careful sardonicism, and they won't even know it.

 

i get it but also LOL. Im a milenial with a foot long beard and im completely covered top to bottom in tattoos. Literally. Shit was funny because we really do look like that honestly.

Im a chef. And while beer snobs are a bother, food snobs are absolutely awful. They go hand in hand too. For example......i do not enjoy meat unless it is cooked hard almost burnt because i dont like the idea of eating dead and blood and etc.....some say "its not perfect unless its medium" and are scoffing at the fact id rather eat vegetables. I feel ya.

 

Im in a recently gentrified area, ive seen it but most NJ is traditional "mind my own business" or "fuck that person, let me yell fuck you" so not many snobs here. Depending where you look. But i cook in a hipster bar though.

 

You got it. They look at you funny, not quite knowing why.

 

My problem is that I sometimes have trouble telling the difference between the true snob who thinks I'm inferior because of my tastes and the newly minted enthusiast who wants to share with me, or anyone else who will listen, some of the things they have just learned or discovered. The latter folks also tend to look at you funny if you become sardonic.

@cavedave

 

I save my best responses for the insufferable and obvious snobs. I'll never mess with youthful enthusiasm or the newly converted. It's those that speak between sighs knowing that I know nothing that are the best challenge.

 

Is this a secret Millennial shaming thread?

Maybe we should adopt the Baby Boomer habits of eating frozen food and out of boxes every day, and drinking mass produced beer/coffee.

You know that cool coffee shop that you love to go to? The 60 year old men that drink freeze dried instant Maxwell House aren't going there and keeping it in business. It's the 30 year old Millennial that you hate so much.

The whole craft beer boom in this country is because of Millennials and their tastes. Get in a time machine and go back to 2002 and look at your favorite bottle shop's offerings. The 30 year olds drinking beer at that time (aside from a few posters on here) weren't causing these stores to stock IPA's and Imperial Stouts.