Rick — Huey would be proud (I really do have all his albums — including the one with Stan Getz playing sax — talk about hip!). If 50 is the new 40, does that make 30 the new 20? He said from the shy side of 50…

To the point of Fat Tire, I grabbed a bomber on the way home from work, inspired by this thread.

Taking the first taste, I remembered that the reason I sort of shrugged off the phenom from some non-beer loving friends when they first discovered it; the sort of musty nose and roasted malt character reminded me so much of so many brew-pub ambers I’d had in the past that it didn’t “thrill” me at all (talk about hip).

Now I realize the brett character and the complex malts and hops are something more flavorful than most BMC people could handle and wonder why this would ever be a “transition beer.”

Is it hip, rad, or phat (I did not just use that term)? Dunno, but I could think of lesser beers that would make me more uncomfortable being called cool. I think I’ll be revisiting this brew more often.

Green might be the new black, but is it hip?

Fat Tire is referred to as “the hip beer” inside.

BTW, in your first comment you mentioned that Peter should be pictured on the cover. In fact, he’s in the background.

Steve… I just turned 31.

Surprised we haven’t mentioned Phat as a descriptor, even though that was so 2005. Phat beers do have that unappealing quality to them though… then again, when I think of sick beer, I’m usually assuming it’s gonna be ropey with a wonderful snot-like texture.

So, going back to the actual article. Is “Hip” used because they’re doing/advertising the green side of business, or because the beers are that cool? I need to track down the piece, I suppose.

Many a six pack of Red Hook ESB and SNPA has graced my firdge. And Sierra got me through that first year of grad school just a little over 5 years ago (and also is directly to blame for the 15 pounds I put on that year). And although I will deny that I named my dog after a beer to my last day – her name is Sierra.

Lately I just tend to drink Chama River’s and Il Vicino’s beer and whatever I have homebrewed; at the moment it’s an 80-/- schilling scottish and a 7% IPA.

Agreed — don’t allow my defense of lesser-than-sick/rad/cool/hip beers to be misconstrued into a belief that I don’t enjoy a good Barrell Aged Stout now and again.

It’s all about the variety!

The fact that you think of Huey Lewis when you think of “hip” makes me think you’re older than you claim!

Wow, that sounds pretty limiting and somewhat elitist.

Red Hook ESB has been a go-to beer for me for a while, it’s better than most think and a great beer for those times when you just want to drink a good beer.

As to “hippest” of anything, doesn’t it become non-hip once everyone starts thinking it’s so? Personally, I think hip is taking your own road and liking what you like, no matter what anyone thinks or tells you is hip.

As someone who jumped on the “craft beer” bandwagon nearly 20 years ago, I think the wide variety of different beers is the best thing that’s happened for beer drinkers in America — you can’t limit yourself to what the hipsters think is hip!

…he exclaimed knowing that there’s the better part of a six pack of Red Hook ESB waiting at home, but thinking of supplimenting with a nice Optimator or Salvator…

I hope that one way to avoid becoming beer old is to be willing to try the beers those from what Ray calls the “somewhat younger” crowd call “sick.”

To an extent Rick’s comment explains why, though I’m a lot more interested if sick means good rather than if sick means hip.

(Typed will listening to Joe Henry’s “Civilians” – noted for Rick’s benefit.)

Don’t get me worng – I don’t want to sound as though I am putting down New Belgium (my bad there); the point I was attempting to make is that it is not a beer of my choice (or one I would think of as cool) because of a lack of character. Typically if all I can order is NB Amber, Guiness or Sam Adams – I’ll just order iced tea. That list has been growing recently with the addition of Red Hook ESB and even SNPA – both of which were once major staples. However, I still recomend all of those beers to the BMC crowd.

However, I will give NB Amber another shot with your suggestions next time it is the best beer I can find.

My point – if there is one – is in support of Stan’s statement that you wouldn’t neccesarily think of NB Amber as being the typical craft beer drinkers brew of choice. Although it may very well be for many. And as far as a beer that you think of as appealing as a “hip/cool/sick” beer (i.e. a beer that appeals to the younger alternative counterculture) then it would be more in line with Stone’s Arrogant Bastard (the best “non-marketing” marketing campaign out there) or Dogfish Heads 90 minute IPA on the East Coast drinkers. Of course I could make the argument how cool and counterculture is it when everyone is on the same bandwagon. Think of all the 20 something’s with tatoos and piercings.

Really it is all symantics though – if the author feels it is one of the hippest beers out there then good for him – I just tend to disagree.

As a younger and lesser experienced guy… when I see the word “hip” I instantly think how uncool that word is. Or, of course, Huey Luis’ hit song – “hip to be square”… occasionally Rose Hips.