ON BEING A BEER SNOB

by Carol A Westbrook

The late Kingsley Amis, a noted authority on drink and a beer-lover himself, acknowledged that "the best wine is much better than the best beer," but also pointed out that "wine is a lot of trouble, requiring energy and forethought."  He might be pleased today to find that beer, which requires a lot less trouble, has finally come into its own. 

Not long ago, beer was considered to be an uninspired, bitter-tasting beverage that was drunk in large amounts by fraternity boys or construction workers.  Wine was preferred among intellectuals, the educated, and the true gourmet. We struggled to learn enough about wine so as not to embarrass ourselves when presented with a wine list. And any self-made wine expert--a wine snob--was held in high regard.  But the increasing popularity of craft beer means it is now appearing on the menus of even the most discerning restaurants, because it is a delightfully tasty, complex beverage that pairs well with food.  So now, in addition to being able to navigate a wine list, we must learn to read a beer list as well.

Fortunately, it's easy to master craft beer--in part because there are only a limited number of beer styles and breweries for you to remember.  Furthermore, even the most posh menu will feature only a short selection of beers, and most are inexpensive, in contrast to dozens of expensive wines.  If you follow a few simple rules you can quickly reach point where you can hold your own with a beer list--or at least bluff your way through it.  With a little effort you can become recognized by your friends as one who knows craft beer, can select the best brands, and can wax elequent about breweries and beer trivia. Yes, you can become a beer snob.

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