Beer Snobs
Beer snobs have as many definitions as hipsters, but are generally considered pretentious and utterly dismissive of any beer that they deem to be unworthy of their palate.
Unlike beer hipsters, who don’t identify with the label, some people actually do call themselves “beer snobs.” While most people agree that being a snob is bad, some individuals seem proud of having particular tastes. They hold their heads high, and hold their beers to a standard that’s even higher.
The big problem people have with beer snobs is that they are not fun to be around. It’s hard to enjoy the beer that appeals to your palate when the person next to you is sneering through the foam of whatever exalted style their own perfect palate has deemed worthy.
In general, having personal standards is something I support. Like any consumer product, we’re free to choose craft beers according to the criteria that make sense to each of us. Our choices may be based on price, flavor or perhaps social responsibility—supporting individuals, business and industries that one thinks are worthy of support. That in itself, I believe, is not snobby. Snobbery comes in when someone feels like their tastes and interests are somehow more “correct” than someone else’s. I believe that kind of attitude is just a sign of beer adolescence.
So why is craft beer seemingly inundated with these self-centered people? And how do we fix it?
Well, first of all, I don’t believe this is really endemic to craft beer. The vast majority of craft beer lovers, like all people, are decent and open-minded folks. But for whatever reason, a minority have adopted some anti-social behaviors like forcing their views on others. You’ll find the same hipsters, zealots and snobs in just about any self-defined community you can think of.
Are we doomed to deal with these people forever? Short answer: Yes. There will always be jerks who only seem to care about themselves, but that doesn’t have to ruin your enjoyment of craft beer. And it doesn’t mean that if you’re a jerk, you have to stay a jerk. http://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-mus ... nobs-oh-my" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
