As I began to make the transition from a non-discerning beer consumer into someone who sought out craft-brewed beers, many times my companions would characterize me as a “beer snob”. Even I referenced myself that way once in a while.

I mean, really, given the choice between Budweiser, Miller Lite, and Sam Adams Boston Ale, which would you choose? Sam, of course.

But then I got to thinking, is that really true? After a long, hot day of mowing and trimming my lawn, by golly that Coors Light tastes like the best beer in the world. Not to mention one of the closest things to Nirvana I’ve ever experienced: The tailgate party before (and after) a New York Giants game, eating things like buffalo wings and sausage burgers and nary a vegetable in sight (except perhaps the salsa) and drinking Red Dog. From a can.

Wouldn’t a snob refuse to “lower” himself to drink one of these “unworthy” brews? Sure, I’d rather have a good beer instead of a bland beer, but when the choice is bland beer versus no beer, well, a man gets thirsty.

I was learning about beer and was eager to learn more. Knowing what it took to brew beer, from malting the barley, to the mash, to hopping, was, and is, fascinating to me. I like knowing what kind of hops a beer uses (I really like Cascade) and what kind of style it is.

So, I started referring to myself as a beer geek.

One definition of a geek is:

[A] person who is fascinated, perhaps obsessively, by obscure or very specific areas of knowledge and imagination.¹

Sounds like me.

What do you think? Snob, or geek?

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