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Steven Coulson
Steven has been drinking beers, wines and spirits for decades and has a propensity to go about them at length after a few drinks.
Latest Posts
- 57/m: Love beer, but it doesn’t love me as much anymore
- No Stupid Questions Wednesday – ask anything about beer
- Does anyone else get treated like a beer snob for ordering literally anything that isn’t a macro lager?
- Is there a polite way to refuse a beer that’s being served in the wrong glassware without making everyone at the table uncomfortable?
- # What’s the most pretentious thing you’ve ever said about beer that you secretly didn’t understand yourself?
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Navigating Beer Preferences: Why Choosing Craft Can Feel Like a Statement
Have you ever found yourself feeling judged for your choice of beverage at a casual dinner? If you enjoy craft beer, you might relate to the experience of being labeled as a “beer snob” simply for opting for something other than mainstream lagers.
A recent outing with colleagues illustrated this perfectly. As I placed my order for the house IPA, the server responded with a mix of surprise and curiosity. “Wow, you’re really into that craft beer stuff,” they remarked, as though I had opted for a sophisticated wine pairing instead of a refreshing beer.
At one point during the evening, a coworker chimed in, expressing his preference for “normal beer that tastes like beer.” He confidently ordered a Stella Artois, fancying it an upscale option simply due to its imported status. It was amusing to see how he considered selecting a European lager as a marker of sophistication, while I was enjoying a local IPA that was bursting with flavor.
What struck me most was the misunderstanding surrounding craft beers. I attempted to explain that hops are a natural ingredient that contribute to the beer’s unique profile, but to him, anything outside of a macro lager was deemed pretentious. Ironically, he was paying a premium for his “imported” choice, which would hardly beat the innovative craft options available at local breweries.
So how do you engage in these discussions without being pigeonholed as a beer snob? It can be challenging to convey that you simply wish to enjoy a drink with real character, rather than make a statement about your tastes. Yet, it appears that opting for an IPA invites assumptions about my preference for unconventional flavors—leading to comments about tasting like “Pine Sol and clementine peels.”
If you find yourself frequently defending your beverage choices in the face of traditionalists who consider a lime in a Corona to be exotic, you’re not alone. For many craft beer enthusiasts, sipping a well-crafted IPA is about appreciating the artistry behind brewing and the joy of diverse flavors, not making a fashion statement. The next time you choose your drink, remember that your taste is valid, and sometimes, it’s just about enjoying something that truly delights your palate. Cheers to that!