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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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Bridging the Gap: Navigating the Craft Beer Conversation with Friends
Craft beer enthusiasts often find themselves in a unique predicament when socializing with friends who have a more casual appreciation for beer. If you’ve ever felt the urge to enlighten your group about the rich differences between generic beer and craft beer—without sounding like a snob—you’re not alone.
A common scenario unfolds at gatherings when your friends enthusiastically suggest grabbing “a beer.” You might find yourself cringing as they bring home a 30-pack of an inexpensive, mass-produced lager, completely missing the vast world of flavors and styles that craft beers offer.
Imagine attending a dinner where your friends casually point to the drink menu and declare, “I’ll take a beer,” as if there were only one type available. After introducing a few quality selections at your last get-together, you watched as they took a hesitant sip, only to return to their familiar choice of lighter, less flavorful options.
You might think, “How can they not appreciate the complexity of a well-brewed Belgian tripel or the diverse profiles of various hops?” Yet, the moment you begin discussing the nuances of brewing, it’s as if you’ve triggered a defense mechanism. Their eyes glaze over as they mentally retreat, clearly unequipped for what they perceive as a impending “craft beer lecture.”
So, how do you approach this topic without causing a rift or coming off as pretentious?
Strategies for a Flavorful Conversation
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Start with Common Ground: Ease into the discussion by referencing popular beers they already enjoy. You might say something like, “If you like this light lager, you might really enjoy trying a pale ale that has a similar balance but adds some hop flavors.”
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Share Experiences, Not Lectures: Try sharing your own experiences with specific craft beers. Rather than presenting it as an educational moment, tell a story about a great craft beer you tried recently and how it made the experience memorable.
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Host a Tasting Night: Suggest a casual beer tasting at your home. Bring a few craft options alongside their favorites. Encourage a taste test—people may be surprised by the differences when they can sample both side by side.
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Keep It Light: Use humor to highlight the differences without being judgmental. Phrases like, “Did you know there’s a beer that tastes like pineapple? I’d love for you to try it!”