Seattlest: Beer's Better Than Wine

maggie d

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:54:33 -0800

True. True, all true. Beer's biggest edge is the fact that bottles are tagged by style with a big clue as to taste, and wine requires too much effort to know, beyond a reasonable doubt, what the hell is in the bottle and what it will taste like. But don't get me started. And Jaisn, just go buy a growler from the brewery, it can last in the fridge for a week. Better get two.

Bob H.

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:51:19 -0800

The article in question got it all wrong.....I agree with what you have to say. I work as a beer specialist for a national specialty/grocery chain and I personaly do my best to have alot of good beers from around the world. I only have one US Macro currently and that is for my customers that requested it in cans for golfing. I have a first hand knowledge of what people are looking for and belive me it is not the Macros. My customers ask for any thing from barrel-aged Iperial Stouts to the latest Micro Hop monsters and seasonals. Being in Las Vegas I get people fromm around the country, and most of them come to me looking for good beers. The main problem I see is that like our friend who wrote the article, most Distributors are foucused on the Macro beers being the "money makers" in the beer world.It is time that they start getting us the good beers to sell so we can make people see that there are choices out there. Sure I could make money by selling 500 units of Bud,corrs or Miller, but my goal is quality and awareness that there are good beers to be had. I think that the Macros are starting to die a little. I don't see them going away. In wine terms that would be like White Zin going by the wayside, it won't happen, but most Americans are looking else where for beer choices beyond blindly grabbing a sixer of bud light.

Jaisn

Thu, 31 May 2007 17:26:53 -0800

Please god let there be more [good] Belgian style craft beers! And why can't I buy Manny's at the grocery store? The day I can do that will be the best. day. ever.

walter

Thu, 31 May 2007 15:54:57 -0800

Agreed. If you were using the same criteria to make your argument you would be comparing craft beers to a box of wine. While both industries pump out a lot of garbage you have to look a little deeper than your corner liquor store to find out where the quality is. The distribution of beer seems to be the thing that holds it back. If you can look at the quality beers today across the country and globe you would be amazed. While light domestic beers can be compared to water an imperial barrel aged stout might be compared to a port. The craft is not appreciated by the general public. What once was straight forward and boring is now complex with a lot of variety. Like wine it can be intimidating to explore. But unlike wine it is difficult to find quality bottle shops that reach a little deeper into the craft beer world. The attitude in the wine argument is fine by me. More beer for the rest of us.