Why I'm a Beer Snob Part 1

What does it mean to be a beer snob? Arguably it's in the same class as people who are wine snobs. The critical thing that sets apart a real (and arguably good) snob from your average
snobbery-as-a-social-indicator-type snob is a real, deep, and abiding passion for beer.

I started drinking beer regularly with a friend who is definitely passionate about his beer--so much so he home brews. My first beer was a Guinness on tap in Scotland, my second a Summit Great Northern Porter. Hooked then and there. Since then I've had Heineken (not a fan),
Summit's IPA, EPA, Grand; Sam Adam's Boston Lager, Strongbow, Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale, and a couple of different home brew varieties.

Also since that day I've done three batches of home brew. Two are in the fermenter right now.

Passion about beer brings something new to the table: the pursuit of the perfect beer. Anyone can sit down and have a decent--even a good beer--enjoy it, and move on. Someone really passionate about beer takes it to the next level. Every beer is an experience, a test, a meeting of
minds, a criticism . . . it's something that can't be duplicated. It's a little bit of life right there in a bottle.

Telling People I Brew Beer

"I brew beer. "

Those three little words have probably started more non-geeky conversations than any other statement I know. This is really cool, because as you have probably already noticed, I can be pretty geeky.

Interestingly, I usually get one or both of the following reactions: (a) Oh cool! How does that work? or (b) Oh cool! I or some person I know brews/brewed beer.

When someone has brewed before, the conversation quickly turns to best practices, recipies, and fond memories of good or bad batches. On the other hand, when someone has never brewed before, it's more of a toss-up.

One thing is for sure: everyone who drinks beer wants to know how it tastes.