How do you refer to a preference for imported beer?

Question

I have several relatives who like expensive, imported beer. As a gift for them, I bought six 6-packs of nice beer and will give each relative a six pack containing one each of the 6 types. The hope is they will have a chance to try a beer or two they might not otherwise have tried. Since I don't know anything about such beers, I made a list by asking bar tenders to tell me what varities are popular these days.

In the course of buying these beers, I have found myself at a loss to describe just what belongs in this category. I understand the concept of "fine" wines and/or liquors, but when it comes to beer, I really don't have a clue. Clearly there is more to it then "expensive" beers or "imported" beers and I suspect my relatives might be insulted if I used either of those terms to refer to their beer preferences.

Even as I write this question I can hear people saying, "What is your problem?" But they don't know my family. It seems they fall into two camps. In the one camp are the folks for whom I am buying this beer. And the other camp is made up of folks who accuse the first group of being snobs who are just trying to show off with their beer brand choices. This causes a fair degree of defensiveness in the first group. I don't want to insult anyone, I just want to give a gift that my relatives might enjoy.

Can anyone out there identify with this and tell me a safe, noninsulting way to refer to my relatives' beer preference?

Any help, thoughts, insights will be welcomed without judgment.

Answer 1

Call it beer.



If they're beer snobs, they have to try to be insulted by having it called beer.



All beer is made of 4 essential things. Water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. (Gott erhaltz!)



All the differences are in different types of hops, types of barley (or ways of processing it), strains of yeast, and to a small degree, sources of water. Amounts of ingredients also influence style. Some beer styles add other ingredients like corn or rice malt, fruit, spices, etc. You can imagine all the possibilities.



Here's a pretty good guide to beer styles:

http://www.beerhunter.com/beerstyles.html

If you don't look at anything else, look at ale, lager, and pilsner.



The best way to handle this, though, is talk to them. Tell them, "I don't know much about this beer you're drinking, what's it like?" Beer fans love to talk about their beer.



I know a pretty good handful about beer, but when I encounter something I don't know, I'm never shy about asking. It broadens my horizons, and usually results in having some beer!

Answer 2

I believe you answered it already. "Can anyone out there identify with this and tell me a safe, noninsulting way to refer to my relatives' beer preference?' The last word being key, it is a beer preference. You might add aficionado/connoisseurs if that works. In another turn of events some people and myself included call themselves beer-snobs. A snob acts as such so it does not apply to people that simple prefer flavors in the foods or beverages that they consume. It is an outward attitude of defiance and superiority. Myself and friends use it as a means to defy those that cannot accept a different set of standards for preference and we use it much in the same way an African American might use the "N" word. Does this encapsulate your beer loving side of the family? Tell them all to relax and have a beer.

Answer 3

Ok, so, if your in America, Imported beer should be refered to as "good taste" or "common sense" since all the US beers I have tried have been like making love in a canoe.



Having said that, beer, just like wine, is a very personal taste, you don't hear the shiraz drinkers bagging the merlot drinkers..just because a person likes a different beer does not make him a snob, if it was 1/2 the price and tasted the same he would still drink it !!

Answer 4

Anyone who likes different beers will NOT be insulted by your generous gift. It is a very thoughtful gesture and should be greatly appreciated.