WHO GIVES A CRAFT?!?!

Awhile back, I was perusing Twitter and saw Central States post another one of their many contests giving away seats at something called Brewers Unleashed 2014. I didn't know what it was but I like winning things just like everyone else. So I retweeted and I was lucky enough to get a spot... even though I still didn't know what I had won.

Central States put together a beer dinner with a brewery that you may know of. They brought some of their lesser known beers and paired them with a local restaurant, Happy Gillis. The food was amazing but the best part food wise was dessert, an Imperial Stout cake that made a lot of people embarrass themselves with involuntary moans. Again the food was amazing.

The first beer of the night was one made by Crispin. A nice light pear cider call Lion Belge. This light and crisp cider really made me want to get brunch soon and have a mimosa. Next we were served Big Eddy's Russian Imperial Stout that was nice, smooth and malty, then a few test beers from Tenth and Blake.

During the whole presentation, it started to dawn on me that these beers were made by the MillerCoors brewery for craft and import beers. I had been enjoying beers that were considered CRAFTY!! I was getting a pit in my stomach... I didn't know how to feel. This was the enemy! This is what I had learned to sneer and turn my nose up towards. MillerCoors was yellow fuzzy beer! The source of derision towards my friends that were so ingrained in their beer of choice that it scared them try anything else.

I WAS ENJOYING THIS BEER!! I WAS IN A FULL EXISTENTIAL CRISIS!!! WHO AM I?! 

I finished my food and my drink with a facade of a jovial spirit, all the while struggling with this idea of a good beer made by Big Beer. 

Central States had a tour organized and I got to see a good portion of their operation in the warehouse. Everything from the printers that make the sign, walking through a women's restroom, and pallet upon pallet of beer. This was an awesome tour for two reasons. One it awe inspiring to see mountains of Boulevard, Stone, and Lagunitas. Each of these alters of ale taller than the previous and some even reaching to the ceiling of a three story tall warehouse.

The second reason the tour was awesome was because of Potweet and Aaron. These two gentlemen are the ones who run Central States' twitter feed, some would say that's all they do... I didn't say it! I am just saying
"some people." Potweet to me is a mesh of an awesome down to earth man that just happens to be one of top dogs at Central States and a guy who is going to say "Here, hold my beer and watch this!".  Aaron, despite being a St Louis Cardinal fan, is a fun loving funny guy who has the patience of a saint. Ask him about my trying out yeast at a beer fest and how well that went for me. However, I digress...

While Potweet was giving this tour of the warehouse, the question of craft vs crafty was tangible around the group. Between the physical beer staring us in the face, the presence of the brewers who came to Kansas City with their claim of good craft beer. Potweet quickly addressed this issue by saying, "Why fight between beer drinkers?! Why bash someone because they don't drink the same beer as you?" He is just astounded that people take the time to get so angry over beer.

Bear with me as I get on my soap box...

Potweet is correct, but I don't know if he went far enough. A really cool guy that knows a thing or two about beer and goats, Jeremy Danner is of the opinion that if you are going to turn your nose up to beer because who it is made by then good. Have fun with that. That just means more Bourbon County Stout for us, because its from Goose Island and they are owned by AB/InBev. Go ahead and pass on both Ommegang and Boulevard because they are owned by Duvel Moortgat. If you pass on that beer, that means there is more for me and I am happy.

What is the flip side of this? I have been listening to a few Under My Host podcasts. Very cool, funny, and entertaining people especially Cori. Between laughs jokes and beer talk, Cori will tell you that she thinks that every beer should have transparency about their origins if you will. If you have nothing to hide about who makes and owns you then why not say that you are an AB or MillerCoors product? This line of reasoning lends itself to the philosophy of supporting local and small brewers. It is also about drinking something that doesn't take a person only pressing a button to make.

However one of the MillerCoors guys really made me think. He said that it takes a lot of talent and beer knowledge to keep a very consistent beer on the scale that the big brewers do. He honestly felt that one of his biggest sellers was a quality beer as he put his heart and passion in to the brewing process. He also said that people who drink beer are easier to show other beers and expand their palate.

What do I think post existential crisis? What conclusions did my internal dialouge lead me to?

After reading a lot of opinions and seeing numerous people get beyond upset attempting to vanguard the definition of the word "craft" and villanizing the word "crafty", I feel that this mundane and pointless debate has run its course. I say that we get rid of these galvanizing words of craft and crafty. I say instead of categorizing breweries based on size and ownership, we force them to prove their passion with a good beer. A small brewer who makes ale that makes your cringe should not be given a honorific title, while a larger brewer that is consistent and talented at make beer that makes you swoon shouldn't be demonized. Make individual brewers do it better than the next guy! Make beer snobs and excuse my language but beer assholes get off their high horse. Get rid of the word craft! Drink good beer and chill. Good beer is all around and there is nothing to get mad about.