The “Craft Beer Gang” Atlantic Chapter. No Blundstones!

[Jimmy]

To be completely honest... I have no fucking idea what this is all about.

I hear ya!

[GuingesRock]

It was supposed to be entertainment. But I have some ideas about a group of knowledgeable beer people working to support breweries. Will try to write something more comprehensible tomorrow.

[GAM]

To be completely honest... I have no fucking idea what this is all about.

Your trying too hard.

S

[GuingesRock]

The evolution of madness is my diagnosis...but I'm no doctor

The most incredibly brilliant people are often perceived to be on the verge of insanity.

Don’t forget that I am English, and from a different culture, with a different sense of humor. Think Monty Python …although, I never did get that humour. There’s lots of British comedy I love though.

I’m going to sit down and write some serious stuff when I have time about 1) Hipsters, my understanding of them and their influence on craft beer, good and bad. 2) Lessons to be learnt from the innovative work of the “ladies beer league” and the work they do for craft beer, organising events, pictures of them in the media brewing at local breweries, organizing cask beer events with local brews, all examples of positive things that can be done by an organized group. 3) My suggestions and thoughts about the positive impact that a set of people (Brewnosers) who have both a thorough knowledge of beer, and a thorough knowledge how to make good beer, on brewing in the Maritimes. Knowledge is powerful. We could potentially get off this forum from time to time, get out there and make a difference. Not by being negative, but by being positive and supportive of the commercial brewers publically, educating people (including hipster types) and have some fun at the same time. Bit like a bridge between the brewers and the people. Beer is an easy thing to promote; it’s generally associated with fun and good times.

I've been staying up waiting for the MALT results. Doesn't look like they are out tonight. Tomorrow maybe.

[Jayme]

I see the humour - please continue! Though for the record, I'm told I'm borderline insane too haha.

[jacinthebox]

......

[GAM]

I see the humour - please continue! Though for the record, I'm told I'm borderline insane too haha.

What border would that be?

S

[LeafMan66_67]

3) My suggestions and thoughts about the positive impact that a set of people (Brewnosers) who have both a thorough knowledge of beer, and a thorough knowledge how to make good beer, on brewing in the Maritimes. Knowledge is powerful. We could potentially get off this forum from time to time, get out there and make a difference. Not by being negative, but by being positive and supportive of the commercial brewers publicly, educating people (including hipster types) and have some fun at the same time. Bit like a bridge between the brewers and the people. Beer is an easy thing to promote; it’s generally associated with fun and good times.

This one sounds intriguing. And for the record, I get the humor as well.



Sent from my ME172V using Tapatalk

[GuingesRock]

1) Hipsters

I was curious about these people and had read about them, and observed them in places like Stillwell, but until the other night hadn’t really interacted with one. I’ll describe the experience in a bit, but first my interpretation of what a hipster might be.

Hipster is a label that’s applied to a group with a certain mindset and different appearance, whether it be beards, Blundstones or whatever, they seem to be easily identified. Sometimes when you walk into Stillwells, it’s like you have gone to another planet, or as someone wrote once, like a scene from Downton Abbey.

They stand out a mile, but rarely do they self-identify. They are all different, and trying to be different, but because of that they end up being the same …the same in that they are all trying to be different. I must admit the idea appealed to me because I don’t like to conform, but the trap seems to me to be that they are conforming by not conforming.

It’s a stereotype. Is it bad to stereotype people? Well yes it’s bad if it is a group of people who are trying to be individuals. It’s bad if the stereotyped people are seen negatively. But what if it’s for positive affirmation? eg. Those Brathairs are “brewers”.

I’m going to use the stereotype for the purposes of discussion. It’s unlikely I will offend anyone because they don’t self-identify. Also because I won’t be running them down, but will be discussing the good and bad of a group of people in relation to their influence on craft beer.

I want to discuss an experience I had on Saturday night with a waiter in a fancy restaurant who had a long beard. I’m not saying he was a hipster, but the experience was a very interesting one and I thought very relevant to craft beer.

Kathleen and I had a date night and a baby sitter. We hadn’t had the opportunity for many many months so we decided to go to a fancy place. Kathleen’s sister used to work there and wait on us, she’s a wine sommelier, and we were used to a very well informed description of the wines on the wine list, together with excellent knowledge of food paring with items on the menu. She’s also brilliant at beer.

Kathleen’s sister no longer works there and there was a new waiter with a long beard. We were looking at the “wine list” and he asked if he could help. It seemed like he had an agenda and I was right. He wanted to tell us about this fantastic beer they had, and it’s all he wanted to talk about. I thought I sensed someone who knew about beer and asked him if he knew a lot about beer. He said, not really, but he thought craft beer was very much underappreciated. I of course told him about my brewing hobby, my awards and I was brewing at Beau’s next year. He thought he’d heard of Beaus. He perked up like a light went on and wanted to know what I knew about craft beer, and really wanted to try some of my beers.

He went on to tell us about (raved about) this beer he had out the back in bottles that was from Quebec or Ontario (I forget which). He said it was “unfiltered” and you “could see little flecks of those green things floating around”. I think, in a moment of insecurity, he forgot the name for hops. He really wanted me to try it, and thought it might help my brewing. I might get some ideas. I saw it coming and politely declined and ordered wine. I had an inkling Kathleen wanted to try it though …beer being her favorite drink and all.

We finished supper, almost raw salmon which turned my stomach. Kathleen’s seemed to be actually cooked a bit. I sent mine back to be cooked a bit more. I’d eaten half of mine. They warmed up the other half a bit more and brought it back .

There was time before the next reservation were to arrive and I forget whether it was Kathleen or the waiter mentioned the amazing beer again, but Kathleen ordered one. I politely declined, although pressured, but agreed I would share hers. I think it was $7 or $8. It was a very basic beer, and very cloudy. You could taste the hops. Plainly Cascade. The outstanding thing about it was the incredible astringency. I had started a thread wanting to know what astringency was like as I hadn’t experienced it before. My mouth puckered up with the first sip and stayed that way. Now I know! It was a good experience from that perspective. Kathleen couldn’t drink it either but said it was a good experience to try it.

There’s a few things I took away from this and I’ll go back to using the stereotypical word “Hipster”
1) Hipsters promote craft beer. That’s really good!
2) They really want to learn what they can about craft beer. That’s very good also.
3) When promoting craft beer, a lack of beer and brewing knowledge, can have a negative impact on craft beer. If we hadn’t known there was better beer out there, this experience could have put us off craft beer for life.
4) There’s a need for, and a hunger for, beer and brewing knowledge, and we here are well situated to provide that education.
5) Next time we want good beer, we should go to La Torta and have some of Jeff’s Mosaic IPA. That’s what we did after the restaurant and it was the best experience.
6) If a brewer grew a long beard and wore Blundstones, he could make a killing …even if he couldn’t make good beer. That’s an English style joke, but may be some truth in that.

My next lecture will be about organizations like the Lady’s Beer Leaque. But will wait a few days in case there are comments about this topic.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

But will wait a few days in case there are comments about this topic.

ive got a beard and wear blundstones

[GAM]

We were looking at you Liam!

S

[GuingesRock]

But will wait a few days in case there are comments about this topic.

ive got a beard and wear blundstones

The Blundstone thing is personal. I was in a long, not so rewarding, relationship with someone who wore them. It wasn't the Blundstones fault and I did used to have a pair and wore them during that relationship. Horsey people wear them because they have a good heel on them for riding. I have nothing against beards. If I was starting a new organization or group with a craft beer focus, these are two things that have been done already. I was looking for other signature appearances that could identify people as being members of a "craft beer gang"

Do you have any ideas Liam?

[Jimmy]

I was looking for other signature appearances that could identify people as being members of a "craft beer gang"

How about they like drinking craft beer?

As you can tell by visiting any Brewnosers gathering, it's quite a varied group of individuals. There's no particular appearance that can help identify a Brewnoser (unless they're wearing Brewnosers clothing). Not sure why appearance would matter when it comes to belonging to a group that enjoys drinking craft beer.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

i wear blundstones because they are waterproof and i dont have to tie them. hate tying boots, very mendokusai

[CorneliusAlphonse]

yeah i mean to answer your question seriously, there is nothing identifying about craft beer. Younger people tend to drink it at a higher rate than older people, i'd guess - for a variety of reasons. i started mostly because growlers were cheaper, and had more alcohol - the better taste was just a great bonus. i still feel that way to a certain extent - i drink sapporo and asahi and even happoshu here often, because it's cheaper than other options. I don't always drink beer for the taste. I think anyone who is in stillwell is a craft beer fan, and everyone in there has at least one thing in common. You can try to create false distinctions, but it doesnt serve except to separate people. drink n enjoy beer, and talk to others about it if you want. i enjoy talking about beer with people who drink nothing but alpine, i like to understand their perspective, without being judgemental. no one needs more judgement in their life

[GuingesRock]

On reflection, I think Jimmy and Liam are right. There's no need for signature appearance. I don't know if the Lady's beer league has something. Probably not. It's a free for all.

[GuingesRock]

Though for the record, I'm told I'm borderline insane too haha.

Ah Ha! I knew it!

[Jayme]

There’s a few things I took away from this and I’ll go back to using the stereotypical word “Hipster”
1) Hipsters promote craft beer. That’s really good!
2) They really want to learn what they can about craft beer. That’s very good also.
3) When promoting craft beer, a lack of beer and brewing knowledge, can have a negative impact on craft beer. If we hadn’t known there was better beer out there, this experience could have put us off craft beer for life.
4) There’s a need for, and a hunger for, beer and brewing knowledge, and we here are well situated to provide that education.
5) Next time we want good beer, we should go to La Torta and have some of Jeff’s Mosaic IPA. That’s what we did after the restaurant and it was the best experience.
6) If a brewer grew a long beard and wore Blundstones, he could make a killing …even if he couldn’t make good beer. That’s an English style joke, but may be some truth in that.

This is a point that really concerns me.

I believe I tried my first locally produced craft beer (or as touted at the time, micro brewed beer). I knew absolutely nothing about beer, and thought it was gross compared to the light lager I was more accustomed to drinking. I won't name the brewery, but they were one of the few producing bottled beer at the time. While I was a regular patron of Paddy's, for some reason I thought of them as something different from the craft beer you could buy in bottles to drink at home. Anyway, I just thought that craft beer was crappy, and merrily moved on with my life. It wasn't until I moved the Halifax in 2007 that I gave that brewery another shot. I liked the beer this time! That was around the time I started to care about the beer I made at home (previously doing kit and kilo), and became more interested in the beer I was buying to drink as well. I thought my new appreciation of craft beer was simply an evolution in my pallet.

Fast forward to the present, I've since come to realize that it's much more likely I didn't like the beer from this brewery in the early days because... well... it was crap! Over the years it got better, and today it's good sometimes, bad others (poor quality control).

Anyway, more to the point, when I try a craft beer and it's just awful, it makes me fear that average beer consumers may jump to the same conclusion I did. I've pondered from time to time that there's a need for some sort of an educated group to independently review locally produced beer. I know ratebeer, beer advocate, untapped, etc. are all great resources and can help beer consumers, but they are also only as good as the reviewers generating the content. It's pretty common to see a good beer with a bad rating, or a bad beer with a good rating. That's why I think a group that's reasonably educated and unbiased would be valuable. I find the local media currently just sugar coats everything, and is just afraid to ever shed a negative light. Not that I think extreme negatively is good, but hell, call a spade a spade.

[GuingesRock]

There's a lot of hype too. As in the example I gave of the restaurant beer. What do you think about simply promoting good beer and being a source of knowledge for people to access, and trying to avoid the negative? I say simply, because it is the easier road.

Liam said something about not being judgemental and no one needing that in their life. He wasn’t talking about judging beer though; he was talking about beer drinkers.

Think of a beer competition for professional brewers. Some take home medals and some may not at a particular competition, but no one gets a big black mark against their name.

I’m discussing. I don’t necessarily disagree with you.

These days with more choice and more craft beer, the word gets around if there is a good one. Competition on the street is naturally getting tougher. I wonder if back when you had the bad experience, there wasn’t much good craft beer around. I think it might be becoming less and less easy to sell poor beer now (although the waiter at the restaurant was having a pretty good shot at that). The fact that there is good craft beer around, and more places that specialize in good craft beer, is doing wonders, and may very well fix this issue without any intervention.

[MitchK]

I think I lucked out by becoming somewhat of a cocktail and whiskey snob before I ever really drank beer (and when I finally did try beer properly it was at the wardroom in king's college so I started with garrison) so I never really developed a taste for macro at all.

I do think it's important to recognize that macro isn't gross or beneath anyone... They just focus on drink-ability above all else so it produces something pretty boring and lifeless... Essentially the watery golfcourse lemonade or lawnmowing gatorade of beers.

[Jayme]

I guess more to my point, it's not so much what people should drink as in craft vs. macro (obviously I have my own opinion, but understand macro beer can have a place and simply appeals more to some people). When people are used to macro beer, you generally know what to expect, despite what brand you buy. It's consistent. They have great QC (majority of the time at least). The same cannot be said about craft beer. There is a vast spectrum, which of course is part of the fun to a degree, but I get pretty pissed these days when I spend premo dollars on a special one off beer, only to find it's borderline undrinkable. I think this is where an unbiased entity could be really helping out. I don't think it's just enough to praise those who are excelling. There's zero accountability when a bad beer hits the shelf, and arguably, it's hurting the whole craft industry by allowing it to just pass by with nothing being said.

IMHO, I can over generalize and lump virtually all craft breweries into 3 categories. Those who put out great beer 99% of the time, those who put out a smattering of good/bad/passable, and those that are putting out crap 99% of the time. Currently I would say 50% or more of the industry lies in the middle. I would just like the see those breweries in the later two categories stepping up their games so everyone is just putting out quality beer, 99% of the time, or be crushed and never heard from again haha. But seriously, not to say there would need to be a big black mark against a brewery, but perhaps more subtle things going on in the background. I think some of this is already starting to go on maybe, but if bars and stores were persuaded to not sell what doesn't meet a certain standard. Or something.. I don't know.

To clarify another point, I didn't/don't mean that beers should even be judged based on BJCP style guidelines. A beer that is flawless yet falls between two styles should not be punished in anyway. Otherwise new styles could never develop. I more mean the swath of beers that have serious flaws. I think it's safe to say when a beer has severe oxidation, or autolysis, or diacetyl, or infection... etc... that in no way should that be considered a 'good' beer. All these are things I see far too often.

[GuingesRock]

Good arguments, and I think I agree. I very rarely buy beer for home consumption, for the same reasons. Plus I'm happy enough with my home brew. It's true though, when I am out, it can be very hit and miss, and often very disappointing.

What you are proposing sounds like a job for qualified BJCP judges. I know from experience, and accounts on here, that for example sending beers to competitions where judges are not qualified, is a total sham. They can, and do, miss the mark by miles.

[Jayme]

I agree totally. My experience at the ACBAs this year was that overall, the quality of the judging was a lot better - that's just from my vantage point of course. The previous year, my table at least, had a 50/50 split of BJCP judges and 'beer industry folk'. The later were very frustrating to work with for a variety of reasons... While I don't think it ultimately skewed the results too much, I can definitely see how it easily could have. On a more selfish note, it also detracted from my enjoyment of judging.

The other thing as kind of a side note, is that at a regular home brew competition, judges are expected to provide suggestions in the feedback to help advance the brewer when issues are perceived. For pro-comps, you're just supposed to note what you taste, and assign a score. Makes sense, pros should not have the same beginner flaws that home brewers do (like an infected beer), and they should be brewing a beer intentionally to taste the exact way that it does - ie: I may think it needs more hops, but they meant to do that hopping rate. The irony is that judging the Brewnosers vs ACBAs... the pro beers had far more drain dumpers!! Speaks well for the home brewers entering that competition, but tells me the pros need to step up there game...

[darciandjenn]

Re: Blundstones

My "people" (the gay ladies) have been wearing blundstones forever. The hipsters just stole our look. (flannel shirts too, the beards not so much). Don't discriminate based on footwear!

Speaking of stereotypes...

[GuingesRock]

Re: Blundstones

My "people" (the gay ladies) have been wearing blundstones forever.

Ah Ha! Now I'm cluing in, maybe that's why my first marriage didn't work out Just kidding