A
lot of cool things are happening these days – organic foods are suddenly
accessible, locally-owned stores and restaurants are hugely popular, talented
people are becoming successful on the internet without waiting to be
discovered, and microbrews outnumber the big brands at most new bars I see. In
some areas, it seems creativity and quality now mean more than brand names and
low prices. Suddenly, the underdogs have a shot against the corporate
juggernauts.
However, the same thing that feeds
and nurtures these movements can also be what limits their appeal. To promote a
grass-roots movement, you need a passionate, loyal, and outspoken support base.
A strong core of vocal followers is necessary to spread the word and expand. But if these followers take things too far, they risk alienating the
outsiders that are needed for growth. Supporting a movement is a delicate
balancing act because it introduces the risk of violating the only two rules in
this world:
1.
Everything
in moderation.
2.
Don’t
be a dick.
If
you’re all about healthy foods, you have to understand that I, like most people,
want Taco Bell and Pizza Rolls every now and then. If you’re into indie movies,
you can’t give me a shitty look when I tell you I’m renting The Expendables 2 as soon as it comes
out on Blu-Ray. And if you’re a fan of good beer, get off my ass when I order a
Bud Light.
Don’t
get me wrong – I like good beer, I just choose not to buy it on most occasions.
Unfortunately, the best bars and restaurants are the most pretentious about beer
selection. As a result, I've recently been faced with bartenders, waitresses, and other clowns who give me shit every time I order a Bud Light.
And
so we return to the fanaticism issue. It’s ok to tell people that better beer
choices exist, but when they decide to buy a cheap beer, leave them alone. When I get judged by a bartender or a co-worker because
of my selection, I want to tell him I’m not stupid, or cheap, or uncultured. In
fact, I used to drink good beer too. He may have just discovered the good
stuff, but I’ve already gone through that phase.
When I could finally
afford microbrews after college, I bought them all the time. I tried new beers
every week, and most of them tasted great. However, I eventually decided it was
time for a downgrade. When I switched to Bud Light, I had no idea I'd meet so much resistance. I didn't know I'd have to defend my selection. But, since I do, here it is...
Why I drink
Bud Light:
1.
I
know exactly how many I can drink.
·
It’s
simple – if you stick with what you know, you’ll never be surprised. Even if I
don’t feel it yet, I can think about how many I’ve had and know how drunk I’ll
be when it hits me. Once you start trying new beers with varying alcohol content,
an unexpected drunken night is bound to happen.
2.
I
can drink it all night.
·
If
I want to start early and drink until the bar closes, I don’t even need to
slow down. If you want to do that with craft beers, good luck. I bet a few
breaks will be necessary.
3.
It
doesn’t give me a hangover.
·
When
I drink a bunch of heavy beers all night, I’m going to wake up feeling like I
was smacked with a brick. After a long night of Bud Lights, I may not feel
amazing, but it’s a lot better than the alternative.
4.
I
save money.
·
I’m
not cheap, but it doesn’t make sense to spend extra money unless it produces
additional benefits. Sure, craft beers taste better. And if I’m trying to be
classy or I’m having a good dinner, it’s worth the money. Otherwise, no way. Same
result (i.e. drunk), same amount of fun, much smaller (by 25-50%) bill.
5.
I’m
left out of douchey beer conversations.
· Does the brewery only make 20 kegs a year and require a blood oath to obtain it? Did the brewmaster wrestle a shark and rescue a 17th century pirate’s lost recipe? Fine, that sounds interesting. Otherwise, I don’t give a shit. I’ll be over here, talking to someone else.
I'm just saying there's room for all kinds. I hope the good beers keep coming; just remember to drink and let drink.
