My friends don't care for my homebrew

[TexLaw]

I'm never offended when someone does not care for my homebrew, and that's especially true when that person is a BMC drinker. Different folks have different tastes, and that's the way the world is. Many of my beers are quite outside the American mainstream (as are most hombrewers'), so I often am surprised when a BMC drinker does like one of my homebrews. It has nothing to do with the quality of the person one bit, nor does it have anything to do with how good a friend that person is. I also like ridiculously runny, stinky cheese. Many persons I know do not. I do not feel they are unenlightened, or anything like that.

The guy that lives across the street from me, Joe, is a good example. He is one of the best persons I have ever known (as is his whole family). He is a hard worker and a true craftsman, having only recently closed the doors on his handmade furniture shop (at the age of 90, no less!) He loves good food, and he loves to laugh, but he does not care much for my beer. He likes Mickey's big mouths. You go, Joe!

However, I certainly do love it when I get praise and kudos on my beer.


TL

 

[JVD_X]

What about the 70% of the population thats drinking a coors/bud/whatever while watching the game? The joe6pack crowd?

Do they just not exist?

No... they don't. It was a horrible dream.

I can't think of any time when I encountered someone who looked down on me for drinking "fancy" beers but I have encountered many many homebrewers who look down on BMC drinkers as uncouth and boorish.

You will find this in any hobby. It is very possible that the same guy who loves his BMC loves Bentleys and can't understand why you would want to be driving anything else. It all comes around. I am guilty as charged... but this is why I got into the hobby. I enjoy and understand great beers and I have given up trying to see life from everyone elses perspective... leave that to liberal college kids. I simply do not have time nor want to waste time convicning BMC drinkers to enjoy better beer. I adhere to the axiom "you can lead a horse to water..."

 

[Shooter]

The guy that lives across the street from me, Joe, is a good example. He is one of the best persons I have ever known (as is his whole family). He is a hard worker and a true craftsman, having only recently closed the doors on his handmade furniture shop (at the age of 90, no less!) He loves good food, and he loves to laugh, but he does not care much for my beer. He likes Mickey's big mouths. You go, Joe!

Heck, I've never even met the guy and, after reading this, even I like Joe!!

I always let my dad taste my beers and he always winces and says, "Man, that's bitter!" None of the beers I've given him have been particularly bitter, but it's just not what he's used to. I had a can of Oskar Blues Gordon a while back. I offered him a small sample and with one small sip he put it down with a disgusted look on his face. My mom tried it and said, "Hmm, that's pretty good!" Not at all the reaction I was expecting.

However, I've found my dad seems to like Blue Moon. So, maybe I'll brew up my first wit soon.

 

[Handle]

Does anyone else think the title of this thread sounds like a country song?

 

[dontman]

You will find this in any hobby. It is very possible that the same guy who loves his BMC loves Bentleys and can't understand why you would want to be driving anything else. It all comes around. I am guilty as charged... but this is why I got into the hobby. I enjoy and understand great beers and I have given up trying to see life from everyone elses perspective... leave that to liberal college kids. I simply do not have time nor want to waste time convicning BMC drinkers to enjoy better beer. I adhere to the axiom "you can lead a horse to water..."

Fully agreed.

 

[Surly]

Get new friends.

 

[boo boo]

I only brew what I know I like and a few for the SWMBO. I have friends that like certian styles but not others, all like beer other than BMC as weird as that is, but don't like the majority of styles I brew. However, when I do brew a style they are fond of I like to share to get there opinion. My SWMBO likes to tell people I barely know that I brew, most of them want me to give them a bottle of something. So my natural next question is, "what do you normally drink?" The usual response is BMC. Then I tell them I would be more than happy to give them a bottle or 2 of something but they should not expect it to taste like BMC. After all I tell them, if I wanted that I would buy that. They usually just say "yeah", then end up hating the beer because it is too strong, bitter, thick, dark, heavy etc. I still share with them because I am a sharing person but I never expect to get any good feedback about my beers from someone who thinks beer should be as light and inoffensive as possible. I am always shocked a little amazed when someone really likes a style or is blown away. Some have never been introduced to other, better beer. I believe that population is shrinking however with the amount of market share the craft community is now garnering. All in all, I just take it in stride. I brew for myself, because I enjoy the craft, the process and the finished product. When I start getting all worried about what other people think of my beer then that is the time to quit b/c I will no longer be brewing for my pleasure.

This about sums it up for me also.
I live in a wasteland of beer so I don't get much beyond BMC here anyway.
Most people haven't had the chance to drink brews other then BMC on a commercial scale. Most people equate homebrew with cider tasting hootch from people doing a K&K brew. Bring them a nice amber brew ( let alone a stout or porter ) and they'll turn up their nose and say I don't like the dark thick beers.
As for me likeing BMC.... bring it on. I love the stuff as well as I do a stout, APA, IPA, Porter, or any other brew out there. Sure there are some I don't care for, but I would certainly drink one if offered, and enjoy it as something different from the norm. It's just that I wouldn't buy it.
Anyway, my 2 loonies worth

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Snobbery never pays. I wrote a blog about it if you want to read a semi-entertaining and awfully amateur blog...

The way I see it is thus: 98% of BMC drinkers just haven't tried any other styles and therefore have no experience with them. The vast majority of people who drink "good" beer are snobs about it and turn off the people drinking BMC. Therefore, craft beer has this stigma of us against them. It makes no sense, but it exists.

Many BMC drinkers like craft beer but prefer to trick themselves with the calorie thing, or just really don't care about taste at all and BMC is literally cheaper than bottled water. These are the snob BMC drinkers, and there are a lot of them. They think we as craft beer drinkers are dumb for spending money on "expensive" beer. These two groups will always butt heads.

As far as HB goes. Most of it is not good. Plain and simple. Yes I know it is fun, and you like it. But how do you expect someone who does not even really like craft beers from the best breweries in the world, to open up with loving arms to your homebrew? In many cases it just doesn't work. Those you have to let go, and hope one day to brew commercial quality beer. Some people do. I hope to one day.

Personally, I live in Wisconsin where almost everyone at least likes to sample craft beer if they don't buy it for themselves. Still a lot of these people will not like my beer. Most do, I brew passable beer. But I do not brew world class beer by any stretch of my imagination. All we as homebrewers can do is brew the best we can and be good responsible ambassadors of craft beer. Unfortunately, I would say the majority of HBers and craft beer poeple are snobs about it and turn more people off than if they just kept their traps shut.

 

[electric_beer]

However, I've found my dad seems to like Blue Moon. So, maybe I'll brew up my first wit soon.

This is what I do. I still brew for myself, but sometimes a little compromise can lead to something bigger. Who knows, if they like your Wit, they might try something even more adventurous next go round. In fact I have Edwort Haus & a cream ale coming up shortly so that during the holidays I can enjoy it with my friends and family.

 

[Lupy]

You don't need new friends, just brew a Kölsch. After three batches, I still get the same appreciative comments. I actually believe they like it , and that's quite rewarding.

 

[ghpeel]

When your male friends complain about your brew, just make a batch of liquid panty-remover (wheat with sweet cherry/peach/etc, works nicely) and give it to their girlfriends. You'll have as many brew apprentices as you can handle in no time.

 

[tysonj55]

However most of the folks I know that drink primarily BMC by and large fit into one of several categories:

1) They were responsible for getting beer for the party/game/show and didn't want to spend the money on good beers - I have done this.
2) They still play with legos or live at mom's
3) The don't live at mom's and still play with legos (or transformers or whatever) and probably don't have a girlfriend
4) Stoners

The stoners group blew me out of the water. My experiences have been the exact opposite. The stoners I know all seem to dispise BMC and drink Import, Microbrew exclusively. When I break out the homebrew they are usually all over it.

 

[dontman]

The stoners group blew me out of the water. My experiences have been the exact opposite. The stoners I know all seem to dispise BMC and drink Import, Microbrew exclusively. When I break out the homebrew they are usually all over it.

I think you just nailed why I never drank BMC. Ever. Even in high school or college. I was an import, then specialty, then homebrew, then micro drinker from the very start.

And alcohol was not my first consumable, so to speak.

 

[Ashz]

I can completely understand the need for people to enjoy your beer. There is nothing better than people telling you that what you brewed is good. Especially if it's a style they don't normally drink.

Ultimately you have to decide if you started brewing for them or you.

For me I brew for myself. If other people like it? Well that's great. I will give them a keg if they want. That being said I do tend to always have something that will generally be appealing to the masses.

If all else fails there is a case of coors bottles in the garage for my FIL that I can dust off for them.

Brew for yourself, have fun. And if a byproduct is your friends enjoying it then great. If not don't worry.

 

[zodeseeker]

There is no changing these people, just a remedy. This is the reason there is such a strong pro-gun lobby in the US

The pro-gun lobby are the people who would believe in freedom over government control.

Move to cuba or if you can transport into the past nazi germany. They have ulimate gun control and I suppose you think that is better.

 

[sudbuster]

Does anyone else think the title of this thread sounds like a country song?

yeah, it would be great! Remember "Tears in my ears lyin on my back cryin' over you"? Dude!! that was awesome....

On topic:OP: You are lucky IMO. My brother-in-law brought someone to the brew shed and so I greeted them with a 22 Wee Heavy. Well the stranger had 2 and after a while left. Couple months later the stranger shows up with two cases of empties and wonders if I would fill them up for him..... FT

 

[Shooter]

The pro-gun lobby are the people who would believe in freedom over government control.

Move to cuba or if you can transport into the past nazi germany. They have ulimate gun control and I suppose you think that is better.

Whoa, slow down there tiger. I don't think Gnome meant to offend!!

Shooter, it's not just a pretty name!

 

[Synovia]

The stoners group blew me out of the water. My experiences have been the exact opposite. The stoners I know all seem to dispise BMC and drink Import, Microbrew exclusively. When I break out the homebrew they are usually all over it.

Don't worry about it. He's just an elitist A**, and why us microbrew drinkers have such a bad reputation as snobs. Its the typical "I'm better than you because I drink more expensive beer"

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Whoa, slow down there tiger. I don't think Gnome meant to offend!!

Shooter, it's not just a pretty name!

LMAO!! I didn't see that one coming either! Best laff I've had in a while.

 

[rico567]

LMAO!! I didn't see that one coming either! Best laff I've had in a while.

Well, I saw it coming. Came back to this thread for that specific reason.

"rico567" isn't just a pretty name, either.

 

[zodeseeker]

/rant on

Well saying that we don't need one of our most precious rights, isn't really unoffensive.

Without the second, we would have no way to protect the first.

Without the first, we couldn't talk about beer in the interwebs.

If you truly didn't mean to offend then I will take no offense and drop it here.

I, however, am one that believes if you don't defend your rights to the fullest of your abilities that they will be taken from you

/rant off.

 

[tysonj55]

Don't worry about it. He's just an elitist A**, and why us microbrew drinkers have such a bad reputation as snobs. Its the typical "I'm better than you because I drink more expensive beer"

Not worried or anything. Just found it interesting that someone's experience was so much different [read: opposite] than mine. That's all.

 

[Shooter]

LMAO!! I didn't see that one coming either! Best laff I've had in a while.

I always enjoy your "unique" brand of humor sir!

"rico567" isn't just a pretty name, either.

I don't know it's darned pretty if you ask me!

/rant on

Well saying that we don't need one of our most precious rights, isn't really unoffensive.

Without the second, we would have no way to protect the first.

Without the first, we couldn't talk about beer in the interwebs.

If you truly didn't mean to offend then I will take no offense and drop it here.

I, however, am one that believes if you don't defend your rights to the fullest of your abilities that they will be taken from you

/rant off.

Totally agree with you sir! I am a firm believer in the strength of our constitution and in ALL the rights it provides. I do agree it's important to be ready to defend what you believe, but, it's also important to know when there's really a battle that needs fighting. I always like the spirit of the following in this type of situation:

If little faults, proceeding on distemper,
Shall not be wink'd at, how shall we stretch our eye
When capital crimes, chew'd, swallow'd and digested,
Appear before us?

I truly don't think Gnome meant for it to be a point of contention and only for a laugh and I'm certainly willing to laugh along with anything that may call into question something I believe in strongly. Ultimately, I think being able to laugh and still hold firm to your beliefs is a mark of strength.

All that being said, I really do appreciate where you're coming from with your feelings on this!

However, in the end, this is not really the right thread or forum for this type of discussion. So, to get us back to the topic at hand...

SWMBO really hates beer in general. So, I'm planning on brewing her some sake, which she loves. I cannot STAND sake! What a great husband I am! :rockin:

 

[uechikid]

Are you brewing beer for them or for you?? I'm in a similar boat. I don't really care if they don't like my beer. They can drink BMC and I'll drink my own.

 

[rico567]

I've never had anyone who's tried my homebrew (mostly relatives) leave any. Maybe they're just being polite. What someone else doesn't drink, just means I must make the supreme sacrifice. Oh boo-hoo!

 

[Newbeerguy]

Whenever I brew I always take a few to work with me to pass out to my buddies. It's sometimes comical the reviews I get. The majority of the guys I work with prefer BMC so I never know what to expect from them.

I only ask 2 things for my beer:
1. An honest detailed opinion
2. Save me the bottle

One batch I made was an 20IBU Marzen and I got this review and I quote "Way to bitter...I could barely drink it, it needs to be smoother like Busch Light"

Gotta take all the opinions in stride I guess. Everyone is different. I know my first batch I ever made was a Blonde Ale and I feremented it at like 80 degrees (I didn't know they meant wort temp not room temp)...I only let it age a week and sucked up almost all the trub into the bottling bucket.

A guy I work with still claims that was the best beer he has ever tasted. Me personally I couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

On the flip side I have had many great reviews too! So to me if they don't like it so be it, I will still listen to why or why not and go from there.

 

[schweaty]

Don't be mad at your friends, your pocketbook won't be I too get dissapointed that my friends (what few I have) either don't like beer styles outside of American lagers or have controlling SWMBO's. The good thing is that you save alot of money that way. The bad thing is that you have to brew less because it takes you much longer to finish a batch.

 

[seanybubbles]

The most important thing is that you enjoy your beers. I have had friends tell me some of my beer is too hoppy (my ipa's) and other beers are too dark (my stouts). What are you gonna a do.... Alot of people I know have never even heard of some of the styles I brew. When they try something for the first time they might not like it. not everyone is open minded.

 

[jtrainer]

+1060 Get new/better friends... and brew beer for yourself...

I find people like my beer but they have not been pounding down my door lately either... I am expected to bring it to various family functions too....

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Before I give my father in law a taste on my beer he will always say "I'll try it, but i won't like it".....Then he goes on about how beer should always taste like American beer always tasted.

He is an *******.

There is no changing these people, just a remedy. This is the reason there is such a strong pro-gun lobby in the US

The pro-gun lobby are the people who would believe in freedom over government control.

Move to cuba or if you can transport into the past nazi germany. They have ulimate gun control and I suppose you think that is better.

/rant on

Well saying that we don't need one of our most precious rights, isn't really unoffensive.

Without the second, we would have no way to protect the first.

Without the first, we couldn't talk about beer in the interwebs.

If you truly didn't mean to offend then I will take no offense and drop it here.

I, however, am one that believes if you don't defend your rights to the fullest of your abilities that they will be taken from you

/rant off.

look, if I wanted a debate i would go to the debate forum. My reference to the second amendment in my original post was intended as a joke! We need the second amendment so we can shoot the idiots that won't see the light and move over to better beer! Get it?

Ok, I grant you it wasn't a very good joke, not like that one that ends with the nun sitting on the monk's face just to make sure he kept his vow of silence at the crucial moment but then shouts the Lord's name in her moment of ecstasy and goes to hell herself......But a joke nonetheless. :cross: