Stop being snobs

I hate to say it, but I've run into many people who aren't that welcoming at bottle shops and breweries. I really don't feel like plopping down any money at a store or brewery that acts like I'm doing them a favor by purchasing their beer.

 

I understand the sentiment of the OP. I am a snob in that I will not drink BMC out of principle. I am a ticker. I go out of my way to try new things. But it isn't the snobs that turn the n00bs away. Normally, it is either the crotchety dudes who have always had a better beer than you and love reminding you about it OR the straight up geeks who just sit there and talk about how many beers in the beer/mug club they have.

I am an active member of a club at Flying Saucer, but I don't like talking about how many I have or how great my first time around was. This is just lame and boring.

I think a certain level of snobbery is fine as long as it snobbery for an internal purpose.

 

Best thing I ever learned in my life is to stop caring about what other people think and do. There are snobs in every group of people, don't let them ruin anything for you.

 

Let's all drink to that!! Just choose something good....

 

I don't run into too many people like that in Wisconsin, but if I did I'd probably order them a round of PBR's

 

at first i thought this was just an attempt to troll me into a fight, but it's way too early in the day to catch me buzzed and looking for that kind of entertainment

as someone who doesn't really check the trade forums much (let alone comment on trade posts) i was curious what drove you to call me a prime example of a beer snob by commenting on what's wrong with a trade so i clicked on your profile and i see that you are the individual who posted last snow, 120 min, hop stoopid, etc for trade seeking pliny the younger and others and i believe the word "rare" was thrown around in your post...though now edited out. if providing feedback in an effort to help you out by alerting you that you are off on what is "rare" and also details concerning the fact that you are looking for a beer that can only be had by going to a brewery/bar at a certain time makes me a snob, then i guess pinky's up! you are the prime reason that trade ****** happens...you get your jimmies all rustled up when anyone tries to actually help you, but you miss the 15 posts of people goofing on you in your own thread. get a clue...with an attitude like yours, good luck trading.

 

Your friends' experience is very different to mine, and it's a significant generational difference.

For starters, when I was their age the total number of brands in the American market was far lower in number than what is available today. Depending on your local market, there can be upwards of a thousand brands, nowadays, and that scales to point of sale. Back then (late 1980s and early 1990s) we had access to flagships and seasonals from Boston Brewing, Sierra Nevada, and Anchor, plus a handful of regional specialty lagers (mostly seasonal, all-malt offerings) and some of us were lucky to have access to other, regional pale and amber ales -- when we made road trips!

Those fortunate enough to have had access to ales and seasonals from pioneering, local microbreweries know the score: Specialty and/or Import selection was also just a fraction (dozens as opposed to hundreds) of what is now available.

But back then, the snobbery really wasn't there. The: "beer is good, some beer is better than others" ethos was what we livd by, along with the fact that taste was subjective. Any perception of snobbery was mainly a product of the perceived stratification of the hobby, with those who preferred to pursue their interest in beer in a "solo" manner (using the Jackson and Robertson books as a guide) taking a dim view of those who chose the (mostly) group-focused homebrewing, where critical appraisal inevitably leads to BJCP. There was a snobbery of sorts, back then, and from where I sat there were a lot of commercial brewers who perceived the homebrewers as being sort of snobbery, as well.

But homebrewing was still in its 'awkward teenaged' years, then, and there was plenty of crossover between the "homebodies" and the "groupthinkers', just as there is now.

That seems to bring us to where we are today, where the beer hobby has become an obsession for more people than ever before, and with more zealots than ever, so I definitely feel for you youngsters.

The simple solution to: "STOP THE INSANITY!" is a direct approach, but it's hard to enforce, eh? Even after all this time, it's hard for me to keep myself from at least mentally turning my nose up at some things, but I sure won't knock someone for what their personal preference happens to be. The main thing to remember, too, is that "Beer Advocates" and 'ratebeerians' (and beer hobbyists in general) tend to comprise a smaller part of the adult drinking population than we think.

 

That's top shelf compared to Lonestar

 

Poor behavior within the craft beer industry and craft beer community is a much larger threat than the perceived "bubble"...I'd rather drink a Bud with someone who is respectful of all tastes than drink a Heady with someone who needs to look down on others...I embraced the craft beer community because of its camaraderie I hate to see that diminished

 

What he said. OP, this is not a craft beer issue, it's a "there-are-assholes-in-all-walks-of-life" issue. Even in our precious world of good beer.

As for people who are too intimidated to walk in a store and ask about beer, that's their problem, not snobbery. I've seen and heard it up close, but usually at bars/events and things like that. It definitely happens at stores to a much lesser degree, but if you're too scared to ask for help, that's on you.

 

But momma said I can be whatever I want to be.

 

I don't consider myself a beer snob (I've been known to recycle Clydesdale urine). Also, I don't like foodies for the reasons discussed in this thread. I would, however, enjoy being called a "Beerie."

 

Right? I'm not one to break rules, so I read the TOS and FAQs before I ever posted one thing. After a pic I posted was stricken, I searched around and never did find the rule I violated. (Mod said it was non beer related without any further mention of such a rule).

I don't usually read WBAYDN, because I read on my phone mostly. But there seem to be a shiite ton of videos that have far less to do with beer than the picture of my grandpop who looks just like the Founders Breakfast Stout "baby."

 

I thought my wife was only a lurker on this forum.

 

Great post, great thoughts, too many adjuncts in my fridge to ever be considered a snob.

 

I will have this put on a t-shirt.

To be completely honest, I have run into far more beer snobs on the internet, than in all the breweries, tap rooms, and bottle shops I have been to combined.

 

A few people mentioned my thoughts on the matter. Sorry I didn't note who you are!

For me it comes down to the willingness to lecture. That is, an unsolicited, unwarranted, and--most importantly--unwanted rant that attempts to normalize its own subjective bias. It is not difficult at all to offer information in other formats.

 

Being a snob is different from knowing a lot. You can know a lot and not flaunt it, and also, adopt a tone that is pleasant and in tune with the group you are with. That's just common sense, being polite. Some people though tend to flaunt their knowledge, or lecture as the above post states, even if the context or occasion isn't right. Ironically, they often show their ignorance - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, as the expression goes.

But knowing a lot about beer is no different than knowing a lot about cars, vintage Winchesters, banzai trees or anything else, it isn't good or bad, but just is.

I once read a review of a book by the late beer authority, Michael Jackson, which said he was the best kind of expert because he never stopped wanting to learn more. That is the obverse of the beer snob.

 

I read this post in my head in Trey's voice because of your avi, which was splendid

Shots. Fired.

 

I agree with this sentiment entirely, but one thing we all have to be careful about is that some people also just don't care. I love sharing knowledge, but sometimes I feel like people consider me a snob because I try and help them. When I say that I don't mean I wwalk up to everyone and tell them everything they need to know about their beer or grill them about it. Just some people are happy drinking beer that was "brewed the hard way"