(no subject)
My drinking buddy, Tammy, posted an interesting article outlining the difference between a beer geek and a beer snob.
Naturally, I would like to consider myself a beer geek - an enthusiast who enjoys good beer and wants to share the joy. But we are defined by our behaviors, and I can think of any number of ways in which I might be perceived as a beer snob.
* Bars that serve macro-brews bore me.
* I'll always choose water over light beer.
* I only arrange happy hours at bars with beer selections that I approve, regardless of what others might want to drink (although I will usually make sure the bar serves liquor, too).
* I scowl a little every time my pint isn't filled to the brim, although I usually refrain from sending it back to be topped off. Ireland and the UK set my expectations high in this regard.
* I'm insulted when people assume I'd rather have wine or frou-frou cocktails. This is probably more related to my hatred of gender assumptions, though.
* I interrupt wait staff who speak down to me when describing the beers on tap, although I don't usually mean to be condescending in return. WS: "This is a Kolsch from Germany. It's kind of a light beer." Me: "That's not German. It's a lager from Delaware and not their best, either."
* I once laughed in the face of a new waiter at a brew pub for saying "Yeah, it's a really strong beer. It's 6%!" For what it's worth, the laugh was involuntary and I wasn't the only person at the table to do it, plus I was nice to him for the rest of the night.
But do these behavioral tendencies define me or are the top ten signs of beer geekery more prevalent? I hope that my enthusiasm and sincere desire to share/swap beer knowledge comes across more times than not. And I do try to temper my expectations to the others I'm drinking with, although I might cringe a little on the inside ;)
Naturally, I would like to consider myself a beer geek - an enthusiast who enjoys good beer and wants to share the joy. But we are defined by our behaviors, and I can think of any number of ways in which I might be perceived as a beer snob.
* Bars that serve macro-brews bore me.
* I'll always choose water over light beer.
* I only arrange happy hours at bars with beer selections that I approve, regardless of what others might want to drink (although I will usually make sure the bar serves liquor, too).
* I scowl a little every time my pint isn't filled to the brim, although I usually refrain from sending it back to be topped off. Ireland and the UK set my expectations high in this regard.
* I'm insulted when people assume I'd rather have wine or frou-frou cocktails. This is probably more related to my hatred of gender assumptions, though.
* I interrupt wait staff who speak down to me when describing the beers on tap, although I don't usually mean to be condescending in return. WS: "This is a Kolsch from Germany. It's kind of a light beer." Me: "That's not German. It's a lager from Delaware and not their best, either."
* I once laughed in the face of a new waiter at a brew pub for saying "Yeah, it's a really strong beer. It's 6%!" For what it's worth, the laugh was involuntary and I wasn't the only person at the table to do it, plus I was nice to him for the rest of the night.
But do these behavioral tendencies define me or are the top ten signs of beer geekery more prevalent? I hope that my enthusiasm and sincere desire to share/swap beer knowledge comes across more times than not. And I do try to temper my expectations to the others I'm drinking with, although I might cringe a little on the inside ;)