Sharing My Passion

My passion for "better beer" largely got started by two things. The first was working closely with Rick Larson at the Beverages and More store I work at now. He had a passion for beer before I knew a pilsener from a porter, and he taught me a lot. He no longer works there, and I wish we kept in touch more often.

The second important step in my becoming a beer geek was finding the most fantastic website the world has ever known, BeerAdvocate.com. The site was founded by two brothers in Boston in 1996, and they still run it today on donations. I encourage you to check it out, even if you think beer is not for you. There is an amazing amount of information on the site, and it has zero ads!

So, what does it mean to be a beer geek (or beer snob)? Well, I can't speak for all of us, but this beer geek believes in these five core principles: 1) Beer should be brewed from the finest quality ingredients available; 2) Beer should not contain cheap adjuncts like rice, corn, millet, or sorghum; 3) Beer should be flavorful and complex; 4) Beer is meant to be consumed in moderation and can greatly enhance a meal; 5) Beer should never be brewed with the sole purpose of making a profit from the selling of it. Cheers!