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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
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- 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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Embracing Craft Beer: Navigating Conversations in a Macro Lager World
It’s a familiar scenario for many aficionados of craft beer: you step into a social setting, excited to order your favorite hoppy brew, only to be met with raised eyebrows and bemused comments about your choice. Just last week, while dining with colleagues, I found myself in this very situation.
Upon ordering the house IPA, I was immediately branded as a “beer snob.” The server’s reaction was almost palpable, giving the impression that I had requested an elaborate wine pairing rather than a simple beer. One coworker chimed in, expressing his preference for “normal” beer that tastes like—well, beer. He then ordered a Stella Artois, proclaiming it as a “fancy” option solely because it was imported. This interaction left me perplexed, particularly when I reflected on the fact that he was paying a premium for a lager that tasted to me like beer flavored with corn syrup.
As I attempted to articulate my appreciation for the complexities of hops—ingredients that add character and depth to craft beers—it became clear that my perspective was lost on him. To him, anything beyond a macro lager seemed pretentious, a sentiment I certainly wasn’t trying to provoke. My only desire was to savor a beer with real flavor, but in a world where ordering an IPA can lead to snide remarks about “hipster” beers, I found myself defending my choice.
This encounter raises a broader question: how do you navigate these conversations without coming off as overly elitist in your beer preferences? After all, the last thing I wanted was to create an air of superiority over something as simple as a drink order. It’s frustrating to realize that for some, the height of beer sophistication is a popular, mass-produced label, while anything else seems like a curious venture into the realm of the unknown.
Has anyone else found themselves in a similar predicament? When encountering individuals who consider a Corona with lime the height of exotic choices, how can we express our passion for craft beer without coming across as snobs? Sharing experiences and insights might not only foster a better understanding of the craft but also promote a more inclusive dialogue about beer that celebrates variety rather than dismisses it. Cheers to enjoying what we love—unapologetically!