I’m not exactly sure when I went from a young 20 something drinking light beers – you know, just because…to having a strong preference for beers produced with adherence to the strict “Reinheitsgebot” (German Beer Purity Law). Anyhow, I was chatting with someone the other day and they referenced a mutual friend as a “beer snob”. I wondered…Am I a Beer Snob??
I’m not sure that I am…because there is still the frequent occasion (floating down the river, sporting events, Mardi Gras parades, a hot summer day) where a Miller Lite seems to hit the spot. Maybe it’s just nostalgia…because that’s what my grandfather used to drink…and if it was good enough for him…
My earliest recollection of drinking brews with a little more “style” and living the “pub life” began at The Draught Horse in Austin, TX. Now, it’s called The Draught House Pub & Brewery. It’s a very no-nonsense pub that opens its arms to all beer drinkers in the Austin community (young, mature, hip, nerdy)- but makes little concession for individuals that perhaps don’t show the appropriate respect to the “Beer Gods”. I’m pretty fond of this place…I started drinking something exceedingly tame back around 1997 like J.W. Dundee’s Honey Brown. Then, I was introduced to and learned to love Guinness…as well as had a date that transformed a friendship into a romance (that guy’s now my husband)…all at the Draught House.
At some point (many moons and years later), a new flashy neighbor moved into the Austin area – The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium. Having already met The Flying Saucer in North Dallas…I was predetermined to detest this new suburban beer establishment…and secretly hoped it would attract away the newly minted poser type folks from my beloved Draught House Pub. However, I was somehow lured there for a friend’s get together…and I was rope-a-doped by the U.F.O. Club. Yes, that’s right I learned to have love for two distinctively different draught drinking establishments (gotta love that alliteration!)…all because of a club that let me keep track of my beers tasted with my own magnetized card – for a chance to hit 200 beers and earn my place in the Ring of Honor.
Having more recently moved back to the North Dallas area, I can still visit The Flying Saucer and add beers tasted to my list, but I still dearly miss my little Draught Horse (I have a hard time calling it Draught House). So, I will share with you my list of beers tasted – I’m at 83 (the pace slowed considerably in the last 2 years). I’ll let you decide? AM I A BEER SNOB?
***Also, I’ll share my favorite beer of the moment…is Spaten’s Premium Lager. It’s so PURE and DELICIOUS! 