Your cart is currently empty!
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?
Categories
Tags
Social Links
Navigating the Craft Beer Conversation: How to Share Your Passion without Sounding Pretentious
As a craft beer enthusiast, you may have experienced the frustrating disconnect that arises when discussing beer with friends who haven’t ventured beyond mainstream options. It often becomes apparent during social gatherings where the singular call for “let’s grab a beer” leads to a predictable response: a familiar thirty-pack of a budget-friendly brand. This pattern can be disheartening, especially when you’ve brought a carefully selected assortment of craft brews to share.
Imagine this scenario: You’re at a dinner table, and someone casually gestures to the menu, indicating their choice with a simple, “I’ll have a beer.” It’s as if they believe there’s only one type of beer available, overlooking the immense variety the craft beer scene offers. Witnessing your friends take a single sip of a flavorful, carefully crafted brew before returning to their preferred light lagers can feel disheartening, to say the least.
When the conversation shifts toward beer fundamentals—discussing hops, brewing techniques, or tasting notes—you may notice your friends glazing over. It can seem like they’ve activated an internal switch, opting to tune out rather than engage with the rich tapestry of flavors in the craft beer world. This reaction often leads you to question whether you should downplay your enthusiasm for craft beer, burying your appreciation for the nuanced differences between, say, a Miller High Life and a Belgian tripel.
So, how can you approach this situation in a way that’s both genuine and engaging without coming across as pretentious? Here are a few strategies:
-
Share the Experience: Frame the conversation around experiences rather than technicalities. Talk about enjoyable moments you’ve had while trying a craft beer and encourage your friends to join you in exploring new flavors.
-
Encourage Exploration: Rather than making a comparison, invite your friends to try something new together. Suggest a beer tasting evening where everyone brings a unique brew to share, fostering an environment of discovery rather than judgment.
-
Highlight Common Ground: Identify flavor profiles and styles that align with your friends’ preferences. If they enjoy lighter beers, introduce them to a refreshing craft lager or a fruity wheat beer. This can spark their interest without overwhelming them.
-
Be Open and Patient: Remember that everyone’s palate is different and that broadening beer horizons is often a gradual process. Be patient and open to their responses, allowing them to explore at their