Exhibit A: I hate the poncey, arrogant, cicerone crap. If there has ever been a greater crime committed in the name of wine-ifying beer, I don’t know what it is.
Exhibit B: I've always hated it too, because it's boring as hell. And what is this supposed "Belgian" character?
For a social binder, beer sure does attract hate. I wouldn't say hatred so much as "hate" because I think in this context the word "hate" means something between mild irritation and the mere taking notice of something. Which may be as good a hallmark as anything for identifying when something is not "beer writing" or at least a safe indicator we are in the neighbourhood of the not so good. Speaking of hate in relation to beery stuff is about as useful as "fisking" is to discussions in blog comments. Happy, "fisking" died a number of years ago, likely when the last person recalled conversing on Usenet fondly. I don't think all blogging will follow down that path but maybe something needs to change.
There is much moanery going about, no doubt induced by the date being in late February and that sudden small glut of social media guru created craft beer enthusiast videos in the email in-box promising it is good for the bottom line, it is good for women, it is good for liver function, it is good for whatever you need it to be good for. Three weeks from now, grapefruit league baseball and setting the clocks forward will fix everything. That and a good healthy wave of bloggers making fun of larger craft brewers separately and collectively pretending, again, that they don't have PR strategies or advertising consultants but are purer, elf-like artisans merely mixing malt, hop and water as part alchemy and part gift to us all. Reality is found in the best rule so far: it is only beer.
Yet, as things beery, it is really great and worth writing about when it is well done. And few do it as well as Boak and Bailey have from London, the home they soon leave. When I read about their upcoming move to Cornwall, I immediately looked forward to reading about their new surroundings, new discoveries. A gentle spot that I hope continues as the whirl of anxious opinion and sticky fingers spins and shifts.
Comments
Ethan - February 23, 2011 1:42 AM
I'm a Cicerone- (TM) or, wait: ®. *And* it's only beer. What's the problem? This seems to come up every 1.5 months or so, often when Greg Koch does anything. Guy likes divisive, that's sure.
Maybe some people don't understand the difference between "it puts food on my kid's table" and "i'm a fan!?" Most of the opinionators don't actually rely on beer sales for a living, it seems to me. And that doesn't invalidate their opinion, but it is worth pointing out.
And no disrespect to you, natch. I'm just saying. Oh no! Beer is the new wine! Alas: beer gets no respect... All I know for sure is: simcoe smells like cat pee.
Alan - February 23, 2011 8:50 AM
I didn't know where I was going when I started writing that up there but I was happy with it when it was done about 17 minutes later. Jay and Zak add their own calls for perspective and simplicity in their own way. More haiku and less branding? That might be it.
Jim - February 23, 2011 11:47 AM
I think this is a pretty fair assessment of many views on beer, and the whinning that goes on. @Ethan, I love the point on most people not making a living on beer, which changes perspective, no doubt.
Ethan - February 23, 2011 2:49 PM
beer haikus are always appreciated. I think there's even a site dedicated to them!
http://www.beerhaikudaily.com/
I hope that wasn't perceived as harshing on your post, Alan. But "Exhibit A" really ticked me off. For years and years in the US at least, choices of beers grew narrower and narrower- and all the marketing centered on sex and sports. Beer was cheap, tasteless crap that'll help you get laid: great!
So, when the industry finally turns towards marketing variety & quality, for that to become 'poncy" and "wine-ifying" is utterly infuriating. Exhibit A can go right back to 1981 and stay there if he wishes. I quite like 2011.
FlagonofAle - February 23, 2011 3:44 PM
My comment appearing on Stan's blog, and now on yours, probably makes it the most widely-read thing I've ever written.
I think mild irritation is a better description of it. Either way, passion incites strong feelings, whether good or bad.
Bailey - February 23, 2011 3:59 PM
Aw, that's nice. Thanks.
FlagonofAle - February 23, 2011 4:36 PM
And @Ethan beer has been doing quite fine for the past 20+ years without the Cicerone program. The complaint is not of good beer, but of trying to turn good beer into the "new wine".
Alan - February 23, 2011 5:53 PM
See, Bailey - you know what it is all about.
I am not complaining about passion or even hate but at the end of the day, the quiet of the B+B blog beat all that hands down.
Mark, Real-Ale-Reviews.com - February 23, 2011 7:31 PM
It's made my day that Boak and Bailey's house move is news in the States! Also look forward to hearing about Cornwall (we might be closer but it's still a damn long way from Yorkshire!)
Alan - February 23, 2011 8:53 PM
The States?!?!??!
You are talking with the western edge of the Empire circa 1780s.
Stephen Beaumont - February 24, 2011 8:09 AM
"Hate" is indeed harsh. As "love" is extreme. I've long stated that I love my wife and my family, and I'm especially fond of beer. I also happen to, in part, make a living from it.
You make a good point about the end of February, though. March is just around the corner, though, and then April. Then my birthday and all will be well with the world.
Ed Carson - February 24, 2011 8:35 AM
"...news in the States."
"The States!?!??!"
And they say United Statans(Statists?) don't know anything about geography! (Question: Exactly which nation does the National Hockey League represent?)
Ethan - February 24, 2011 5:13 PM
@Flagon: Can you unpack what you mean by "the new wine?"
Alan - February 24, 2011 5:32 PM
Isn't it a Biblical reference? I hope so as it is far less witty if that was not the point.
FlagonofAle - March 10, 2011 9:16 PM
I don't read responses to comments I leave on other blogs. Google should have a way to track these for me.
beer is not the new wine. I'm afraid it's not as clever as you hoped, Alan. "New wine" = wine-ifying beer. That's all.
Alan - March 11, 2011 9:04 AM
I can't even remember what made us fall apart. Two weeks is an eternity in blog years