It is not easy being a craft beer geek. Especially when we are experiencing a down cycle of sorts. It’s extra hard when you only drink Indie Beer.
A trip the store gets more gut-wrenching every time.
At one time we thought craft beer was going to keep getting more and more shelf space as people become aware of what good tasting local and independent beer is all about.
Sadly, Big Beer fought back against this buy buying out a large portion of the formally craft breweries that were big enough to get into the grocery stores (the holy grail for a small brewery).
Nothing exposes the suck of being a beer geek more than going to the grocery store or being in a restaurant that doesn’t have great beer.
Do you buy a ‘situational beer’ (a beer you would not drink or buy normally but are in a tight spot and it needs to happen) or do you not buy anything at all.
I’d like to breakdown why it can be so difficult at the grocery store for us poor souls that stick to their independent beer guns.
I have not had a variety pack, with good beer, last so long. I mean that as a compliment. It has legs, in a good way. I’m talking about Sierra Nevada Brewing’s variety pack called “The Sampler”.
The website features cans for all but the Coffee Stout and Flipside. That would be cool to find this in cans or mixed, but I only found the ALL bottles version.
The session beer, 3 Weight, as the most interesting to me. But I love sessions, so…
I got it on sale for $15.99 in my local grocery store, which is a great deal for a craft beer 12-pack. It lasted the better part of a week. I wasn’t exclusively drinking this, mind you, but used it for palet cleansing for bigger Untappd checks.
A lot of people complain that they can’t get the Flipside or the Coffee Stout on its own. I’m not a big fan but appreciate the beer, so for me, having in the Sampler is just fine.
Overall, I would totally pick up this 12 pack again, probably will for Thanksgiving or something. For the variety of it, I would choose it over a 12 pack of Torpedo or a 12 pack of Sierra Pale, 9 of 10 times.
Or just enjoy a nice quiet Saturday night with an old friend, Sierra Nevada.
Beer Geeks need to let the whole shamming of Beer Slushies subside.
I totally get the shaming, but, slushed beers are delicious. I hate saying that, but dammit, they are.
Three big reasons I like it:
They keep money flowing in craft beer.
Big Beer can do nothing. There is no counter. You think Texas Roadhouse is going to get a Bud Light Slush machine? Actually they might. I should shut up. Shit, I’d be surprised if there ISN’T a beer slush machince the next time I go to Texas Roadhouse or whatever.
Sometimes your significant other might not be all that into beer like you so it’s hard to get them to come down to the taproom with you. But if there is a beer slush available, might be a little easier to convince them.
Aren’t breweries using beer they are having problems selling to blend into slushies?
Yeah, they probably are in many cases. What, are you a Beer Slush Snob now? Cool. Demand better from your slushes. Otherwise, what does it matter? Just drink it or don’t. Hell, it’s more interesting than a simple Lager, that brewers seem to love so much. Yeah I said it.
Because brewers are so fucking bored with flavor and the work, they just want pilsners and lagers.
It’s a good test. A test to see if the brewer knows what the hell he is doing. If he’s got a good lager or pilsner then he probably can brew.
I had always thought that tasting a brewer’s pale is how you judge.
Brewers are annoyed that you like flavors. You dick Beer Geeks, liking all that damn flavor! Screw. You. Guys. I’m going going home with Zero Hopped Pilsner.
Give us what we want, you brewing bros. Stop trying to shove your Pilsner on is. Homebrew your lagers and drink them all day for all I care.
You’re a damn Pro. And being pro means you have to make some stuff that is interesting and fun. There is nothing fucking interesting and fun about a clean lager.
If you want to be relive your Budweiser drinking days, then go get a Budwieser and leave us be. Where is my Mosaic hopped marshmellow hazy?
I am not one to be afraid to nerd out about Untappd. And I’d be willing to stay on the Untappd App longer (which is what all sites and Apps want from you) if the Untappd Overlords would add these five things.
1. Make It Easy To Do Late Check-Ins.
Half of my check-ins are after the fact. You know, you’re in a situation (like going to dinner with non-beer geeks) and you don’t want to be on your phone, checking in beers. Or you are partying too hard and don’t want to stop and use Untappd.
But later, you want credit for having that beer. So you check-in even though you’re not currently dinking. There is never been a button or added feature to idicate this. What I do and most people do is indicate in the comments that it’s a late check-in. Not the worst thing in the world but also slightly annoying.
2. Give Us One Minute Of Video.
Is that too crazy? Instagram has video so it’s obviously possible. But do I really want it? I don’t have the energy to watch IGTV videos. Barely can watch Instagram Stories.
So why am I asking for video on Untappd? It goes back to wanting to not leave the App. Being able to give a one minute review of the beer could make things more interesting on Untappd, that is for certain.
3. Simplify Finding People.
Take away the extra step in searching for users. When you first search a user name on Untappd it searches through your current friends. If you are trying to find a new-to-you person, you then have to hit the “add” button at the top right and search again. Just make one search, yeah?
4. Change “Beers” back to “Uniques”.
On your profile, it used to compile your basic check-in stats as beers and uniques. Beers is how many times you checked in a beer. Uniques are how many different beers you’ve had. Now, mysteriously, it’s “Check-ins” that represent the number of beers you drank and “Beers” for the number of unique beers you’ve drank. Weird and lame.
5. Give Us A Global and Local Leaderboard
A, Most Untappd Check-ins leader board. This could get ugly. But I really would like to know who had the most check-ins on Untappd. I can guarantee it is not someone that works at Untappd.
Maybe something like Reddit does where you can be upvoted for how good your reviews are or how interesting your check-ins are.
Anyway, Untappd. I’ll keep thinking of junk. You keep listening. Leave a comment if there is something you would like Untappd to do.
