If you don't like IPA's, Micro-brews, etc... Stop acting like you do

I lost interest in being at work tonight. So I left early, and decided to go have a couple beers and watch some baseball.

Within 30-minutes of my arrival on my barstool, I'very watched 4 different people perform a similar stupid-human routine.

They all walked in, scanned the various taps, and started asking questions about the available "non-mainstream" selections.

Take a sample sip of one, and "no, that's too dark". Next sample is "too hoppy"... Or "too wheaty"...

After each of these individuals completed their taste-tests, their final decisions were...

Two ordered Bud-Light drafts, one a Miller Light draft, and the fourth decided on a Natural Light bottle.

Granted, I am pretty boring when it comes to my taste in beer, but I don't act like a "connoisseur", and then order my usual cheap beer 10 minutes later.

Maybe this bothers me more than it should...

》》》RANT OFF《《《

grafmiata wrote: I lost interest in being at work tonight. So I left early, and decided to go have a couple beers and watch some baseball. Within 30-minutes of my arrival on my barstool, I'very watched 4 different people perform a similar stupid-human routine. They all walked in, scanned the various taps, and started asking questions about the available "non-mainstream" selections. Take a sample sip of one, and "no, that's too dark". Next sample is "too hoppy"... Or "too wheaty"... After each of these individuals completed their taste-tests, their final decisions were... Two ordered Bud-Light drafts, one a Miller Light draft, and the fourth decided on a Natural Light bottle. Granted, I am pretty boring when it comes to my taste in beer, but I don't act like a "connoisseur", and then order my usual cheap beer 10 minutes later. Maybe this bothers me more than it should... 》》》RANT OFF《《《

I just laugh at those people and drink my 30 weight Guinness

I like craft beer as much as anyone but I try not to be an elitist ass about it. Nothing wrong with cheap beer though, I still like Coors as much as the next guy. But if I'm gonna drink beer ill take a good craft brew over the typical cheap domestic stuff given the choice.

Typed as I enjoy a nice Ballast Point Long Fin ale.

As much as I love good beer, PBR is my go-to cheap beer.

And to you microbrewers here on the west coast: Not everything needs to be an IPA fer cryin out loud. A nice toasty, malty red ale will make me a very happy camper.

One of my favorites. The Terminator Stout. It makes Guiness look like a blonde.

well.. give them credit for at least trying something outside of their usual?

A National bohemian is always a good cheap beer for anything.

But the need for craft beer is much needed in life, its just funny to watch those who "enjoy beer" try something truly good/interesting.

Most people like their beer like they want their cars, Boring and Safe.

A buddy brought this one the other day:

Dogfish 120

I swear I was drunk after drinking half.

I used to scan the taps and order something made with vodka.

I got tired of being pored into a car and driven home, now it's usually water or soda.

Trans_Maro wrote: As much as I love good beer, PBR is my go-to cheap beer. And to you microbrewers here on the west coast: Not everything needs to be an IPA fer cryin out loud. A nice toasty, malty red ale will make me a very happy camper.

Having lived in the Land of Jamie Floyd, QFT!

Slippery wrote: A buddy brought this one the other day: Dogfish 120 I swear I was drunk after drinking half.

A lot of IPA's are high in ABV. 10% or more isn't uncommon. Unfortunately, many of them don't hide the alcohol very well. I have a few 10% stouts that go down so easily you can be in big trouble, real quick. Brooklyn Black Chocolat Stout and Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout are good examples as is pretty much anything by Scottish maker Harvistoun.

Many of the stouts I drink make Guinness look like a light beer - but then again, based on actual calories and ABV, Guinness basically is a light beer.

I say all of this as I sip on a glass of merlot...

I do this a lot, if I haven't had the beers in question. Of course, I'll only do it if it is labeled as a lager, [non-India] Pale Ale, Pilsner, or Kolsche.

The fact is that while there are a lot of good craft beers, there are also a lot of bad ones. In that case, I'll stick with my watery macro-brews.

Trans_Maro wrote: And to you microbrewers here on the west coast: Not everything needs to be an IPA fer cryin out loud. A nice toasty, malty red ale will make me a very happy camper.

I agree. You know why microbreweries love IPA and ultra-stouts so much? Because they're easy to brew and hard to berkeley up. The true test of a good brewer is a light, balanced beer. Really big beers hide any flaws and overcome lack of complexity with pure overwhelming flavor.

As to the original post, this is why a good bartender should ask people what they typically like and offer them something high quality within that style. There are many good craft blond/kolsh and pilsner style beers. Amber and red ales too.

rebelgtp wrote: One of my favorites. The Terminator Stout. It makes Guiness look like a blonde.

I'm thirsty now. Where's the drool smiley?

Im a beer snob. I will ask about the special taps, then usually try each one.

bgkast wrote: Im a beer snob. I will ask about the special taps, then usually try each one.

That's what I do. I love a good stout though. Speedway stout in cask 12% is my favorite followed by old rasputian at 11%.

We're lucky to have a strong local microbrew scene here in Atlanta. Sweetwater, Red Brick, Monday Night, Terrapin, Red Hare, 5 Seasons, etc. My current fave is Monday Night Brewing's 'Drafty Kilt' scotch ale - even the local grocery stores carry it.

wearymicrobe wrote: That's what I do. I love a good stout though. Speedway stout in cask 12% is my favorite followed by old rasputian at 11%.

Old Rasputin is 9%. Unless you get barrel aged Ras, in which case... it's definitely more than 11%.

Yep. Microbrew yes. IPA? Generally no. Too many are like licking a Christmas tree. I really enjoy a good stout that has a balance between smooth and burnt. I'm also a sucker for a flavored beer. I really enjoyed this stuff last time I was in Birmingham.

http://www.goodpeoplebrewing.com/beers-single.php#ales-4

Slippery wrote: A buddy brought this one the other day: Dogfish 120 I swear I was drunk after drinking half.

That's because 120 min in almost 20% abv. Treat it like a barelywine instead of an IPA. Ive had 120 a few times as well as have a couple bottles aging now and I've never had a whole bottle by myself, its a good bottle to share with a friend on a special occasion.

Ian F wrote: Many of the stouts I drink make Guinness look like a light beer - but then again, based on actual calories and ABV, Guinness basically is a light beer.

Yeah a lot of people don't seem to realize that about Guinness. I was quite surprised when I learned this several weeks ago. Just as well as I am not a fan.

I have found one, and I mean ONE IPA I can stand, and I'm not 100% sure it counts. Surly did a collaboration beer with Real St? and 3 Floyds called Blakkr- it's a black IPA. I was scared of it when I bought it, because I dislike IPAs a great deal. This stuff is the bomb diggity. Super refreshing, light, not a smack in the face hoppy. Has some good bitter, but grapefruit, not pine-sol. TOTALLY awesome. Too bad it's 20 bucks for a 4 pack of tallboys and unobtanium anymore.

I don't like IPAs. I've more or less come to the conclusion I just don't really like beer. Last new thing I tried was a shandy, very nice, I just wish it was easier to find more brands beside L-what-the-hell-ever-name.

Typed as I wish I had a nice Sapphire G&T.

I'm not even close to being a beer snob, the latest beer that I have actually liked was Bell's Oberon. Other than that, it's pretty much Ice House or Killian's Red.