haveigotboozeforyou.com

Navigating Beer Preferences: Craft Beer vs. Macro Lagers

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where simply ordering a craft beer labels you as a “beer snob”? Recently, I had an experience that highlighted this tension during a dinner outing with colleagues. When the server inquired about my drink choice, I opted for the house IPA—an innocent decision, or so I thought.

Much to my chagrin, this choice was met with surprised reactions, as if I had just selected a rare vintage wine to accompany my meal. One colleague, in an enthusiastic but misguided attempt to defend his beer preferences, began touting the virtues of sticking to “normal” beers. He dismissively remarked that he didn’t need “fancy flavors,” choosing instead to order a Stella, which he deemed more sophisticated simply because it was imported.

As I attempted to explain that hops are not some mysterious addition to beer but rather a fundamental ingredient that adds character and flavor, it became clear that my enthusiasm for craft beer was being misconstrued as elitism. This individual seemed to equate anything beyond the realm of mainstream lagers with pretentiousness, leaving me feeling as though I needed to justify my taste while he was happy to spend extra on a European lager that, to be frank, didn’t offer much beyond his preferred macro brands.

This encounter raises an intriguing question: how do you express your appreciation for diverse flavors in beer without being labeled a snob? As someone who simply enjoys the rich varieties that craft breweries have to offer, it can be disheartening to feel like one must defend their choices, particularly when others take pride in their simplicity, mistaking it for sophistication.

Have you encountered similar situations? How do you manage conversations about beer preferences with those who may see anything beyond a light lager as overly complex? It seems that for some, enjoying an IPA comes with the territory of being grouped in with a specific demographic—one that relishes flavors that might be described as “out there.”

For anyone who enjoys exploring the world of craft beer, it can be a challenge to share that passion without facing skepticism from those who prefer a more traditional approach. Let’s continue to celebrate our diverse tastes—even if it means occasionally defending our preferences against those who view a Corona with lime as a bold choice!