Has brewing beer demystified beer for you?

[NAVYSQURL]

Remember sitting in your local 'BAR' drinking the Happy Hour Special.. Now think about sitting in the tasting room of your local craft brewery, your homebrew tasting room or events with other homebrewers. The thing that has been demystified for me is the people I drink with now. A Homebrew Club, LHBS or Craft beer Fest are some of the best times you can have.

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

What's with the underlying criticism towards "those beer drinkers" that always come out in these threads? Seems like every other post is some crack at breweries experimenting or people wanting to try them. What's wrong with experimenting? What's wrong with people being enthusiastic towards a style or brewery? They probably spend more money and help that brewery than I ever would.



Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't wait in line either but I just don't get why we have to play the "I'm too cool for the hipsters" card. Anyone who supports craft beer is okay in my book. Whether its to "fit it" or seem cool, doesn't matter to me. They are buying beers and growing the industry.



If it takes rare/experimental beer to drive out the masses and spend $30 a bottle, so be it. Remember, that large influx of cash can allow the brewery to do a one-off experiment of your favorite style, whether its a witbier or a mild. No one is going to pay $20 for a california common and it won't bring in some insane sales day either. They are a business and as they profit, they grow, they experiment.



Not trying to flame, but some of the comments I see on threads like this about "beer snobs" or the "uninformed" often, ironically, sound like snobbery.

I would never make the assertion I'm too cool for the hipsters. Hell, my first homebrew club I showed up in a plaid shirt and my trimmed full beard and ended up chatting about kayaking with the club president, I know I'm already half way to being a hipster.

I would bet there's communities online that sneer about the homebrewers and how we are the mouthbreathers talking about our homebrew. Not that it excuses the holier than thou attitude, but participating in the creative process and putting your creation out there for criticism puts you a step beyond the average beer taster. I wouldn't trust an art critic that doesn't create art, or music critic that doesn't make music, why would I trust the critiques of someone tastin a beer that has no understanding of the creation of that beer? Not saying they don't have a sense of smell and sense of taste. Part of the reason I quit doing ratebeer (other reason people describing any New Glarus beers as "syrup").

 

[unionrdr]

Well, you know what they say, those that can't do teach. Saw that on Cold Case last night personified. Beer, wine & food seem to all have those with no intimate knowledge of the medium talking like snobs.