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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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A Toast to Taste: Navigating Beer Preferences in a Macro Lager World
Have you ever felt like a beer connoisseur simply for opting for anything other than a mainstream lager? If so, you’re not alone. Recently, I found myself in a dinner setting with colleagues where my choice of a house IPA turned heads—prompting reactions that felt more suited for a wine-tasting event than a casual meal.
As I placed my order, I was met with raised eyebrows and the familiar chorus of, “Wow, you’re really into that craft beer scene!” One coworker, eager to showcase his appreciation for ‘regular’ beer, declared he had no use for “all those fancy flavors,” settling instead on a Stella Artois, which he deemed a more sophisticated option. To him, it seemed that being imported automatically elevated a beer’s status over a locally brewed IPA, as if that alone justified his choice.
What struck me was the stark contrast between our perspectives. While I was simply looking for a beer with some depth and character, he interpreted my choice as an almost pretentious move. I tried to explain that the flavors in an IPA aren’t just gimmicks but rather a celebration of hops. Yet, he remained convinced that anything beyond a Bud Light was over-the-top. Ironically, he was paying a premium for his “imported” lager, which, in my opinion, merely mirrored the taste of the most ubiquitous macro brews, complete with the dreaded corn syrup.
This encounter left me wondering: how do you engage with others about your beer preferences without being labeled a snob? I certainly didn’t mean to spark a debate—my goal was simply to enjoy a flavorful beverage. Yet, it appears that opting for an IPA or any craft beer can carry an unintended stigma, painting one as an elitist who craves exotic tasting notes reminiscent of “cleaning products and exotic fruit.”
Have you found yourself in similar situations, defending your choice of a flavorful brew to those who consider Corona with lime the height of craftiness? It certainly seems that the world of beer is filled with labels and stereotypes, but at the end of the day, it’s all about personal preference and enjoying what we love. Cheers to that!