Monday Rant: Will the Real Snobs Please Stand Up?

I once had a friend tell me a story about how he once was made fun of at the beer distributor because of the fact he was purchasing some sort of fancy beer. The culprit of the the transgression had a case of Coors Light cans tucked snugly under his arm in the check out line.

I had an incident over the weekend which was quite similar. Surprisingly, the guilty party was also a fan of the beers we deem unworthy in many cases. I brought a six pack of beer from my home collection to a social event, announced that anyone was free to take one or more and was quickly barraged by comments concerning these beers. They went as follows:

"If I had to have one of these it would be a dessert!"

"This one here looks like something I'd give to my wife."

I'm rarely one to cause a scene. Everyone has a right to express their thoughts. I didn't say anything to this individual that continued to drink Miller Lite. It struck me as ironic that someone can quickly say detrimental things towards a certain product yet still cling to a product they deem superior when it's fairly obvious that their product is made solely for the fact of being mass produced. The Miller and Coors light beers are essentially that to many of us in the craft beer movement. Yet, some of us are considered snobs.

I, along with the friend I mentioned at the beginning of this post, were always jokingly referred to as snobs. Hence the the name of my blog. With that said, I've never actually considered myself a beer snob after figuring out the existence of real beer snobs. I never realized it was such a divisive term. How ironic is it that the greater number of beer snobs could be residing on the other side of the fence?

Monday Rant: Blessed With Beer?

I'm a Catholic and certainly a terrible one at that. I've probably gone to mass voluntarily twice in the past calendar year. What brought me to church grounds this past weekend was the annual church festival. There I found myself drinking a beer on the very hillside in which I played games and completed activities when I was in preschool. For me, it was also ironic that I was drinking alcohol on church grounds as someone that's a very stubborn Catholic.

A lot of us craft beer folk wouldn't approve of the small selection that was at this festival. It consisted of Coors Light, George Killian's Irish Red and Blue Moon. It was quite hot on Saturday. So, I decided to pitch in and get a beer. After all I certainly wanted to consume a beer on church property! I decided that a Blue Moon was the  best choice (what an oxymoron) of the three, but the keg was kicked. Thus, I settle for the Irish Red.

While I was sitting on the hillside I naturally thought what would happen if there was a small craft selection available at the church festival. It seemed as if money was being made. One beer was already gone for the night. Then I looked around at the people that were attending this festival. Mostly middle-aged people that lived here in Munhall.

If it came to be one of these years, most of these people are so familiar with the concept of Blue Moon, etc being the new age of beer that they might not have any idea what the more exotic selections would be like. That means less sales. It's a sad thing to think about if you're among us that really enjoy the different brews. Like it or not, that's just reality.

Personally, I've accepted the fact that I might not ever see some of my favorite beers at a church festival. At least the one at my parish. I won't lose sleep over it. Maybe it's one of those "society is broken" kind of things? I can't blame many middle-aged people that see well-done commercials like this Blue Moon one and assume that it's some of the best beer around. Especially if they don't do much outside of their local municipalities.

 

Monday Rant: Beer Crusades

In the world of craft beer blogs, when the major American brewers are mentioned in someone's post (even on this blog) it's usually in a negative light. To be honest, we aren't the country's biggest fans of Coors, Miller, Budweiser etc. That especially goes for those of us that indulge in the many craft offerings we regularly enjoy.

Sometimes the attitude some in the craft community cause some of us to hide some of our feelings towards certain companies and some beers. I know there are some of you out there that will agree with what I'm about to say.

I sometimes get the feeling that craft beer has formed into its own persecuting society. I feel that if you don't like a certain type or a particular beer that you sometimes would get a reaction to the sort of "how dare you not like this beer!" It's kind of like living during the time of the Christian Crusades, although not to such a violent extent. When I want to write a piece like this (saying I don't enjoy really hoppy brews or a small nice thing about a major American brewer) it takes me some time to actually get it done in fear that many craft fans will be quick on the trigger.

When it comes to beer in America, I can sometimes go for a product from one of the American majors. I can sometimes go for a Coors Original Banquet Beer. There I said it. I don't think it's the worst thing out there. Before you want to crucify me know that I've always made it clear that beers like Coors Light, Miller Lite and Bud are abominations to brewing. The allegations that Budweiser might have been watering down its product might even shed light on what a lot of us have been saying for years. Those taste like watered-down soggy bread.

I'm not saying Coors Banquet is one of the great beer sin existence. In fact, it's far from that. What if you were in a situation where there wasn't a lot of craft offerings and a beer like Coors Banquet was there? What I'm saying is that once in a while a beer as such can be a decent fall-back when you can't have something that's outstanding and memorable. I was presented with such a dilemma while at the North Shore's Stage AE. It was all Miller and Coors products. If given the choices of something like a Lagunitas IPA, a Troegs Sunshine Pils and Coors Banquet the last beer named wouldn't stand a chance. I don't believe Banquet is that low on the American totem poll. I've never seen a ton of people in dive bars while in college downing pitchers of Banquet. It was always Coors Light.

As I've always said on this blog, I hold no biases when it comes to the beer I drink. I don't hold grudges against certain breweries. If you can pull off a good beer I'm very appreciative. If I don't like it that doesn't mean the entire world has to either. I've also been a bad critic of American beer advertising. I hate the Bud Light Pitbull ads. i hate the Coors Light train in the ice age ads. Banquet, on the other hand, has the voice of Sam Elliot. I have to give props to that. Sam Elliot makes a lot of things better on television and in movies. It's still not on par with the Breckenridge Truth in Beervertising ads, but it's not bad.

Don't worry. I still really love all of the craft breweries out there and the beers that are offered. For tomorrow's post I'm planning on a small list of my favorite craft brews that are made locally here in Pittsburgh! So, it'll be back to praising great craft breweries as usual.

God Bless Breckenridge

You were most likely watching an NFL game on television when a Coors Light commercial hit the screen and you pondered to yourself what in the world the phrase "Taste the Cold" meant.

For me, it's one of those things where you have to remind yourself to breath because the phrase doesn't make one bit of sense. When I learned about the five senses in elementary school I knew pretty well that you could only feel the cold, but not taste it. Then again Coors Light doesn't taste real great, in my opinion. So, we can obviously see a possibility as to why that phrase was thrown together in the first place. If you can't tell, I don't really like Coors Light.

This isn't the first time I've posted about the advertising campaigns of Breckenridge Brewery. They're well-known for the television ads mocking big market beer commercials. I really can't get enough of them. According to a newer post by Beer Pulse, there is a new set of mockery commercials.

This new ad campaign puts me in the mood for possibly receiving a case of the Breckenridge sampler this Christmas which includes Vanilla Porter and Oatmeal Stout.
 

Beer Review: Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale 2012

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 5.1 percent

Appearance: If you looked at Pumpkinhead Ale without knowing what it was the percentages say that you wouldn't guess that it's a pumpkin ale. The body has a goldish hue to it. It's slightly hazy and has a thin white head with pretty weak retention. When the waiter asked us if we wanted another beer his words were "More Coors Lights?"

Smell: There's a tiny bit of pumpkin in the aroma of this beer, but you kind of have to make a couple of attempts to even notice it. Not much spice hits you either.

Taste: Where the spices were absent in the smell, they are quite noticeable here. Some nutmeg and cinnamon are prevalent. Just when you think you're on the upside you suddenly find yourself looking for the pumpkin. which there extremely noticeable. I didn't taste much at all. This beer is really watered down, too.

Overall Rating:  

This didn't go well for me at all. It comes off as a really light beer. The flavors and scents don't come all of the way through and the waiter thought my uncle and I were drinking Coors Light. I still encourage you to give it a try for yourself, though. You be the judge.

Crowd Control in Craft Pubs?

You're sitting in your local craft beer pub around lunch time. So what? It's your day off. You see a couple wander in and sit their behinds down at a table to indulge in what they believe to be an amazing lunch experience.

You watch and eavesdrop on the encounter as the waiter/waitress walks over to say hello and ask for their drink orders. They aren't sure what they want at first. So, they squint at the board that lists all of the funky-named beers and try to decipher what's what in this unfamiliar land that they've wandered to.

The ever-so-creative beer board at Fat Head's Pittsburgh.

The male in the couple blurts out that he just wants a Coors Light draft, only to be told that the establishment only has it in bottle. The couple then looks bewildered. What was to be a glorious and relaxing lunch is now destroyed.

I'm sure you've noticed this if you frequent any bars featuring craft brews. This vivid, but entertaining memory  popped back into my head after reading a piece on such debacles via a beer blog through the Houston Press.

I'm sure there are some out there (people and establishments) that prefer these types just stay out of the craft pub and the tap lists certainly play a huge role in doing that in most cases.

I, for one, enjoy talking with someone that's curious about new and exotic beers and opening up an entire new world for them. That's how I see it. If you're willing and open, there's room for you in the craft beer movement. The article that inspired this post even gets to that same point towards the end, too.

It's one big learning experience for all of us that's meant to be enjoyed.

Monday Rant: Heinz Field - Where's the Good Beer?

Where's the good beer? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I'm sure many of you have spent a Sunday afternoon/evening tailgating around Heinz Field for a Steelers game. If you're geeky about craft beer, as I am, then you've most likely noticed the lack of craft beer selections inside and out of Heinz Field.

Let me fill you in on my North Shore journey yesterday. I stopped at the new Pittsburgh Grille and Sports Bar. There was a pretty decent selection of craft beer. After paying $9 for a  Raging Bitch IPA, I decided to move along and see if I could get something a bit cheaper.

My venture's brought me to Stage AE, right down the street. I knew there was at least beer taps there. I was highly disappointed in the beer selection as it is mostly Coors offerings on draft (Blue Moon, Killians Irish Red and Coors Light). I decided to buy myself a Coors Banquet, which I haven't had in a while. It's nothing to be thrilled about, but at least it didn't cost me another Alexander Hamilton.

Places like the bar I visited previously and Rivertowne right next door get the job done in terms of a beer selection, but outside and in Heinz Field is somewhat disappointing. Not sure if it has something to do with money, contracts or what not but it's still sad. Even sadder is the fact that the majority of football fans everywhere will still buy it. It's almost like a monopoly in NFL stadiums.

Celebrate Freedom: Drink Local

To many, the best way to celebrate the Fourth of July is to invite over some friends, fire up the grill and pop a few beers. So, if you're a fan of craft beer it's a good idea tomorrow to try and drink good beer from your local brewers.

I know that some of the liquor laws here in Pennsylvania are among the most ancient in all of America, but there has appeared to be a light at the end of some of those tunnels over the past two years. We aren't there yet, but for this state it's definitely progress.

Your local brewers exemplify what freedom and independence is all about. They put more into their products than what the American majors do. Despite what your television will tell you during commercial breaks all day, knocking back an ice cold Budweiser or Coors Light isn't exactly the American way anymore.

Other than that, there's nothing more American than watching the Ghostbusters make the Statue of Liberty walk through New York Harbor

 

Monday Rant: Thank You, Breckenridge Brewery

I'm a little late to the game on this one (mostly because I'm nowhere near the Colorado market), but I just came across it. Breckenridge Brewery had a genius advertising campaign at some point in 2011 which featured a brilliant tag line that was even more brilliant than when Guinness used the word.

The commercial that I found pokes fun at all of the Coors Light commercials we've had forced down our throats as we watched our favorite television shows and features Breckenridge's "If you touch it and it's cold, then it's cold."



If you're still confused at the joke then I'll refresh you on it. The ad is to poke fun at all of those old Coors commercials that brag about how you can "taste cold" or "taste the Rockies." Not sure about you, but I have no idea what or how cold actually tastes. I do know that all of us can feel some cold, though.

I'm sure plenty of you have had the experience of seeing someone fire some Coors light into their fridge and foam at the mouth like a rabid dog when the cold-activation part of the can turns blue, which means it's cold enough to drink.

As a craft beer fan, I sure as hell don't need a can or bottle with some fancy color-changing apparatus to enhance my drinking experience of said beer. It's sad that some beer drinkers (if we can even call them that) out there drink their beer so cold, that they miss out on some of the flavors of their brews. Apologies, most of the people that do that don't drink what some of us refer to as beer. In fact what some of them drink is a slap to the face of some of us.

Now, you still might drink well-crafted beer and like it really close to the freezing mark. I can live with that. It's just my opinion that you're probably missing out on a portion of the experience that some beers provide.