I feel at times, as a beer geek, that I have to apologize for the beer snobs of the world.
Here’s the scene: I am in a bar that has a Bourbon County Stout night. Black Friday with Goose Island. As someone who has been to many beer events, I know that events are not super fun for the staff and require extra work. If I see an issue, I will bring it up later when the dust has settled. During the event, I try to not be an additional problem.
Or, you could loudly proclaim that you are a sommelier (master, no less) and a BJCP judge and that the glassware is inadequate for the beer. You could also swirl your glass so roughly that you are making a beer milk shake. Then you could let a beer breathe for thirty minutes. All the while loudly talking about each aroma as if it were the Word of God.
If you really wanted to snob it up, you could ask the sniggering under his breath beer blogger about the horrible glassware and have said blogger tell you that a snifter would be better then the wine glass.
I didn’t want to be a dick to the guy. But I felt my hand was forced. The bartender had lost it after being told about wine glasses. Basically telling the bar that it was one of those nights. I couldn’t let beer snobbery stand unchecked so when the guy produced a home brew BCS clone and told me it was 45 out of 50 points, I told him no thanks. I don’t believe in points. Everybody’s palate is different and I trust certain people. With the implication being, I don’t know who you are and therefore I don’t trust you.
I could have easily been much harsher. I know of two beer people I wished had been there to really dig into the beer snob and left wounds.
It’s pretty simple. Don’t be a dick to the staff or your bartender. Tell them you appreciate their extra work and don’t ask for wine glasses when tasters will do on a busy night. Here’s a thought, if you stop before you speak, and ask yourself if you are being beer snobby,you just might get better service and enjoy your beer more.