Comments on: Has beer lost its democratic edge?

By: Jeff Alworth

Jeff Alworth — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:40:18 +0000

This is not an uncommon charge, but a misplaced one, in my view. When you take any population, you can find cliques within it. As a journalistic trope, it’s easy to try to make a larger ethnographic point by highlighting a clique–and the yuppie gangs sipping IPAs make an easy target.

But don’t macros also cater to the rich and elite? Go into the finest restaurants in any American city and you may or may not find a micro. You will certainly find a macro, though. If macros are so blue-collar, how does one describe this? (You don’t find jug wines in those same restaurants, after all.) Similarly, at least in the micro-rich cities on the west coast, if you cruise into most brewpubs, you’ll see almost exclusively people in the middle class band (lower- to upper-). You may see some elites in there, but it’s unliikely. Cultural elites haven’t abandoned their wines; economic elites don’t hang out in brewpubs.

It’s true that you can get snobby if you start to get into good beer. But the only continuum that snobbery runs is along beer lines. I don’t think you can generalize beyond that. And of course, that kind of snobbery exists in everything–chocolate, baseball fandom, cars, etc. It’s human nature.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:25:42 +0000

I try to avoid the beer gangs whenever possible. I’ve had plans with friends to go to a decent beer bar only to find out some special beer event is happening there that evening. The beer gang takes over the bar and has big long speeches where I am told to “be quiet” when I’m there with my friends enjoying a fine beer. I’m hoping they put on their biker jackets and go away.

I’m an avid homebrewer as well and I’ve decided not to renew my AHA membership. The attempts to herd people who appreciate good beer has turned me off to such organizations. Mostly due to the efforts of the Small Brewers Caucus. I didn’t get involved with homebrewing and the AHA to be a political force, but to share some of the joys of the craft which seems to be giving way more and more to a closed group.

Thanks for reposting.

By: Pivní Filosof

Pivní Filosof — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:21:16 +0000

It hasn’t. There is, though, a very loud minority of snobs that feel better people because the only think they drink is Triple Oak Aged Double Imperial Whatever and there are not few brewers who want to keep them happy so their brews will climb to the top of the ratings.

The press, of course, simply picks up the story without bothering to do much research on the subject.

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:21:37 +0000

That is the point I have been making over "pairing" - otherwise known as eating and drinking. If good beer is to advance it need to do so broadly. Special interest beer and high priced beer (leading people to suggest the alarming idea of "under priced") is ultimately a dead end.

By: Beantown Brews

Beantown Brews — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:45:28 +0000

So more beer-variety in the market place is somehow causing it to be undemocratic? Also, how is an informed consumer-population less democratic than a passive, dare I say, ignorant consumer base? How does that work?

The craft beer industry represents exactly that – educated choices, with choice really being paramount. I have no problem with a bud light in your hand, so long as it is the beer that you wanted there and not the only option you have in the market place.

I’ll never judge a man for making a sandwich with Kraft-singles, so long as I can still make mine with Gouda.

By: J T. Ramsay

J T. Ramsay — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:08:59 +0000

I think the beer media may be overstating their own significance here. Plenty of people unabashedly drink macro-brews, and it’s not like self-professed beer geeks are spitting on them as they enter choice gastropubs and ask for whatever tastes most like Miller Lite.

Plenty of people are being initiated into the craft beer trend and there’s room for everyone!