I was at my favorite craft brewpub recently, Triple 7 Restaurant and Brewery, and noticed how many people order bottled macro beers like Bud Light, Corona, Coors Light, etc. when there is fresh craft beer on tap. I have seen it many times and at many different brew pubs, but I just now decided to write about it.
Before I start, I would just like to say that I am not one to judge anybody on their beer choices because I can understand why some people don't take the plunge and try a craft beer. Once most people find a beer that they like, that is all they drink. For example, if a person has been drinking Bud Light or Corona their whole life, it is hard to change that habit. It is perfectly understandable to drink these beers at home or at a traditional restaurant, but it makes me somewhat vexed when it's drank at a craft brewery.
Most microbreweries aren't arrogant beer snobs enough, which most people think, to understand that most people are fixated on one type of beer. Traditional macro breweries have been around for a very long time and craft breweries have only been around the last 20 years or so, but is now finally starting to take off. As a result, they brew a wide variety of beers that can satisfy most beer consumers, ranging from light lagers to IPAs and stouts. Most casual beer drinkers tell me they are intimidated by craft beer and don't feel sophisticated enough to try them. Don't be! You don't need to be a beer connoisseur to enjoy craft beer. If you are a Bud Light drinker, many microbreweries craft beers within the pilsner style and if you are a Blue Moon fan, there are many hefeweizens crafted that you would enjoy. You don't need to venture away from what you like to enjoy craft beer. All you need to do is expand your mind and be willing to experience all the different variations of the beer style that you have trained your taste buds to like.
A good way of explaining craft beer is to compare it to food. There is the classic hamburger consisting of meet, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and onions. Then someones decided to alter the classic hamburger by putting blue cheese on it or grilled onions. Next thing you know people are putting bacon and BBQ sauce on their burgers. That is basically what craft beer brewers do to the classic beer consisting of water, barley, yeast and hops. Some craft brewers try putting coffee and fruit into beer and some don't deviate from the classic beer style at all. Some brewers just use fresher and better ingredients or have a different method of brewing it to enhance the taste of a traditional beer for the better.
So if you ever find yourself eating at a microbrewery, such as Triple 7, for example, try ordering a High Roller Gold if you are a B.M.C (Bud, Miller, Coors) Light drinker, a Black Chip Stout if you are a Guinness fan or a hefeweizen if you are a Blue Moon drinker. That is really all it takes. You never know what will happen. Either you will be pleasantly surprised and mad at yourself for drinking the same old stuff for so long, or you might think it's not for you and go back to drinking your usual, which is perfectly fine as well. All craft brewers want are people to keep an open mind by giving it a try when it is sitting right next to the bottles of BMC. Thank you and go Niners!
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
