On occasion some BAs will post an opinion that they think they would be better off if the demand for craft beer diminished, mostly so that they can more easily or cheaply acquire whales instead of the n00bs who couldn't possibly appreciate the beers as much as they. At other times it seems that they are just hipsters who are upset that the sheep are now flocking to their beloved hobby which they identify and differentiate themselves with. I know sometimes this is said in jest, but other times it clearly is not. I think that this is a misguided attitude and they are not seeing the forest for the trees. Overall the booming growth in demand drives innovation, growth, competition, variety, availability, freshness, etc. etc. It's a good thing for all of us. What say you?
"On occasion some BAs will post an opinion that they think they would be better off if the demand for craft beer diminished, mostly so that they can more easily or cheaply acquire whales instead of the n00bs who couldn't possibly appreciate the beers as much as they" I dont think Ive ever heard a BA say that. At least not that last part... I realy think you just typed all of that so you could use the word "differentiate" in a sentence. Good job.
I've definitely heard this, and I agree with you. Demand and accumulation of capital is the whole reason these brews get made in the first place. Wanting a smaller market is like wanting to pull funding from brewers while still expecting them to continue making new and delicious beers.
like it or not this is the future for one offs ,regional releases. seasonal releases , demand is here and supply is not
One thing I find funny is that so many people on here love to talk about converting the BMC drinkers. Which are the best beers to lure them over to craft and whatnot. Then people are complaining that there is too much demand for the top 50 or so rare beers.
I agree with you. I have heard people complain about the growth and how they haven't been able to obtain rare/limited/seasonal releases quite as easily. I have also had a harder time getting some of these beers. I just don't care. There is sooooo much good beer out there right now and a ton more on the way it seems. There will always be another great beer you can pick up. It is a good time for good beer.
Although I am frustrated with the need to "hunt" beers down that I typically could walk into the store and grab (see: Cantillon, DFH, Allagash, MS Berserker/Arctic Devil, Goose Island, et al), I do understand this is good news for the brewing industry as a whole. There seems to be a substantial amount of poo-pooing on n00bs and their impact on availability, but I doubt it is simply an influx of people. There are plenty of old timers that are running out preemptively and ordering up and buying up a ton of beer because they don't want others to take it (therefore providing the feeling of the good old days where they could just grab it, but now from their cellar). Shogo and somebody discussed the impact of the feared/welcomed 'bubble' recently and how the influx of craft beer drinkers will wax/wane, and we will be left with a net increase in hobbyists, and this is a good thing. I for one would greatly appreciate an increase in hi quality brews coming out of my area, and an increase in market will likely potentiate that reality.
I don't mind the influx of craft beer drinkers at all. I was little bit suprised by the increase of Lambic and Sour drinkers in the last 8 years. I used to by annoyed by the fact that since 2005 it has been becoming increasingly hard to buy beers that used to sit on the shelves and collect dust. But I moved to Brazil and now I can by Cantillon anytime I want already aged for me because down here nobody likes the stuff. But when the supply runs out it will suck. But back to the point, if you really look at it these so called whales and limited releases really didn't exist before 2000.
