I am a simple man. I like routine and consistency in my life and while I do enjoy trying beer from all over the world and in any style, I expect a few things when it comes to those beers. The easiest one for all of us to get behind is that a beer should be what the label says it is. If a brewery describes their beer as being "X", it had better be just that or we will most assuredly have a problem. Now I'm not talking about our personal likes and dislikes when it comes to flavours or styles, I'm strictly talking about truth in advertising here folks, be what you say you are.
The rapid expansion of "craft" beer across this province and the ensuing local pride in having a close by brewery can often blind people to the truth that the word "local" doesn't necessarily mean quality. Wanting to be part of the community is what drives some to ignore the truth that the beer they are drinking is sub par and not up to snuff. Off flavours, pale ales that give a muted performance or watered down stouts with little body or flavour are but a few things I've encountered over the years. I've had beer that tastes like bad home-brew and turned around and seen it being praised because so many can't say the truth because either they lack the knowledge or don't want to rock the boat. I don't write about bad beer very often because I don't want to waste my time or yours' unless it is egregiously poorly made or mislabelled. This year of recording every single beer I drink is giving me some insight into things I would usually just pour out and move on from to be sure.
For me, it is all about trust and staying true to what is delivered in every pint. I will reference the term 'Trusted Brewery' a lot of the time when I record a video because I really do have a list of places I trust with my beer money implicitly because they have never let me down when it comes to quality, consistency and style. These few are breweries I would gladly purchase a six pack from of a new beer without trying it because they always describe what it is I will be tasting later that day when I get the beer into my glass. They may do strict, to-style beers or they may make crazy fruited up sours or adjunct laden stouts, but they always tell me what I'm getting up front and deliver right to the last sip. In a day and age where more than 300 plus brewers are competing for space in our fridges, bad beer and false advertising should have no place to hide.
I never understand when someone will tear down a well made lager because they find it boring or "only drink IPAs". Why bother drinking it at all if you're not going to be truthful? One thing about going back on UnTappd has been the rise in anger I get from reading descriptions of great beers being denigrated because someone doesn't like a flavour or style that is clearly defined on the label. I shake my head as they talk about everything the beer has said it is and then watch them go off because they don't like that particular thing. Just stop. If you don't like dark roasted malt beers, don't drink 'em and especially don't rate or review them because at that point, ignorance triumphs over truth and that is never a good look. Opinions based on facts and style guidelines with an eye to what the beer says it is going to be are fine and dandy, a bad beer is a bad beer, but it's lazy and disingenuous to bring shade on a beer because you have a preference. I've always tried to look at the beer as it is presented and leave my personal flavour biases on the side, I can't stand most dry-hopped sours, but when I have one I always try to see if it is what it says its going to be and relate that truth to the world.
This Wednesday finds me leaning into this rant a little more than usual because I care about what people ask me when they want a recommendation about beer. So, I will always fall back on my Trusted Breweries and know that anything I suggest to someone that comes from them is sure to deliver. That isn't something I give easily and after almost 6 years of drinking, learning and writing about beer, I still wish to find more places to give that kind of trust to. I hope today's little journey through my mind helps someone to examine their relationship with their beer and the breweries they frequent. The choices we have now are almost infinite and our dollars speak volumes about who and what we are.
Polk
Ten of my most trusted breweries, click to order beer from any of them and enjoy!
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