Boak and Bailey's Beer Blog - Beware snobbery but not afraid of change

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There’s a fine line between enthusing about better beer and being a snob.
It’s something that’s been on Tandleman’s mind lately. Pivni Filosof, Velky Al and numerous others over the years have posted variations on the point that, for many of us, beer’s appeal is, in large part, that it’s not pretentious, expensive or exclusive.
Even some posts for Session #58, including our own, reflected the same anxiety.
And it’s certainly something that’s worth being vigilant about. “Am I being a dick about this?” is probably a good question to ask yourself from time to time.
Having said that, we mustn’t let this thoughtfulness lead us to the false conclusion that, to be true to the roots of beer, we need to embrace shite pubs and crappy products. After all, eating greasy, grey meat pies might be ‘traditionally working class’, but they just don’t taste nice, and surely it’s a good thing that lots of ordinary people are now enjoying more interesting, tastier food and that the good stuff isn’t just reserved for the nobs? (In fact, is this the opposite of snobbery…?)
The “craft beer revolution” is real — you only have to look at London to know it — but, even if your town isn’t directly touched by it (Bridgwater is probably never going to have a stripped pine and chrome, forty tap craft beer bar, for example) the very fact that the idea that the idea of good beer is being talked about (in newspapers, on TV) will eventually reach every corner of the market, even if only in a modest way.
Six degrees of beer appreciation
1. Snobbery. Making a big deal about buying beer because it is expensive or exclusive. No friends.
2. Fussy. Offending people and/or causing social awkwardness in the pursuit of good beer.

3. Discerning. Drinking the best beer available for the occasion. (A fine line between this and the above.)
4. Interested. Being aware of the idea that there is good and bad beer and trying to choose the latter. Can lead to accidental snobbery.

5. Disinterested. Not interested in beer at all. Missing out.
6. Oblivious. What do you mean “good beer”? All beer is good! Wa-hey! Happiness.
7. Inverse snobbery. Drinking bad beer because to do otherwise would be pretentious. Misery.

Note: if you’ve posted on this subject — lots of people have — let us know and we’ll add a link.


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