Some of you may know who Chad is. Whatever you may think of video beer reviewers (and I speak as one who has been both praised and villified for my activities), Chad is perhaps one of the best known. I personally think it's a pretty harmless activity - you drink a beer and say whatever comes into your head. If it's about the beer, bonus. Nobody's trying to be the new Michael Jackson, it's just a bit of fun.
What has really put my nose out of joint lately are the comments left on my Youtube channel here. The commenter seems to imply that Chad isn't a worthy recipient of a bottle of The Kernel Suke Quto Coffee IPA that I sent.
This post isn't really about Chad, it's about the idea that you have to reach a level of 'beerdom' in order to be allowed to drink certain types of beers. Sure, there are some beers that benefit from a little explanation, most sour beers and rauchbiers being the primary examples. But surely beer is a democratic, egalitarian drink that can be shared by everyone? Or do you disagree?
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good god, what a load of utter elitist shite in those comments.
ReplyDeleteI fear craft beer is becoming more and more stuck up its own arse.
Comments like those on YouTube are Amongst the reasons I'm getting a bit sick of online beery stuff!
ReplyDeleteIt's getting all to up it's own arse and to political!
Totally agree, beer should be an all inclusive drink, for everyone. In fact the idea that someone is not worthy of drinking a particular beer is quite repulsive. I'd prefer more people to want to drink good beer, and for them to be able to get it if that is what they want.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more - beer is for everyone. The more elitist people make it - the more people opt out of beer and drink wine - bad times
ReplyDeleteBeer is for everyone.
ReplyDeleteReality is that not all beers are to everyone's taste, and you DO need to work your way up to enjoying some beers. The fact that some people have no interest in expanding their palette is just a fact of life, a fact of different tastes and interests. No need to gripe!
Best policy is to float above the elitism. It isn't a beerier-than-thou contest. Debate is fine as long as the spirit of fun prevails!
Cheers,
-Adventures In Alcohol
Zak, how dare you send something to someone that they might derive pleasure from. Your failure to restrict beer drinking to a select group of nerd appointed figures does the entire field of beer a great disservice.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, you should ask this arsehole if they think you should adopt their ludicrously narrow minded and elitist perspective in your shop. What would they do if they ran it? A customer walks in and asks for a beer recommendation, to which the owner demands an extensive palatte testing, failure of which results in only fosters being sold. If they're lucky.
ReplyDelete"it's about the idea that you have to reach a level of 'beerdom' in order to be allowed to drink certain types of beers"
ReplyDeleteClearly this isn't true but do you not think that you have a greater appreciation of something if you have an understanding of it's peer group and it's position within that group - is that not what separates a critic from just a random reaction? I agree beer is for everyone but I think there's much more to being a critic than just saying the first thing that comes into your head. But then this is the last word on youtube comments: http://xkcd.com/481/
I can't stand beer reviews which focus on aroma and appearance - there's a big difference between a beer that looks bad but tastes nice and one that looks nice but tastes bad (ditto aroma). Basically I want to see more beer reviews which involving downing the whole thing, belching and then ranting about how the beer was too burpy.
I think I know exactly what Evin O'Riordain would say to this - his beer is meant to be drunk, and enjoyed whilst doing so. Whether it's by a beer blogger or an 85yr old granny, doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteHaving watched Chad's review, I thought he was bang on. IPA comes first, then coffee charges all over the finish...
Um, I hate to disagree, but beer is not for everyone. Beer is for winners, right?
ReplyDeleteI know you were looking to defend Chad (and I would want to, as well) but some arguments aren't even worth expending the time to type a response. Chad's a good guy and a good reviewer. Someone might not agree with his critique, but to insist that he or anyone else—as a human being—isn't worthy of drinking something, is down right ignorant. Honestly were talking about beer.
ReplyDeleteI think Chads review is pretty good to be honest and he seems like a nice guty to boot. I think there's obviously a little bit of jealousy from the commenter on YouTube, who obviously felt they would have been a better recipient of the beer. Their statement about him not knowing the beer well enough is a moot point, how can everyone know every brewery? I mean I watched your opening of Chad's beers and you had never heard of some of the beers and didn't really know what to expect from most of them. But isn't that the point? To try something new. How can Chad be expected to know the ins and outs of a ridiculously tiny brewery thousands of miles away!
ReplyDeleteWell, there is nothing new about a dog fetching stuff. The animal talent shows are full of circus-trained animals (they are not, but they might as well be)fetching stuff and dancing on their heels. This form of training might actually be viewed as a form of animal cruelty. Instead of being proud, this man might as well train his dog to do something useful that will benefit the poor animal.
ReplyDeleteAce work, Chad. I'd love to know how old the bottle is but it looks quite fresh judging by the amount of pinal notes Chad is receiving. It's an artisanal coffee, smelling the coffee itself at the brewery I got a lot of fruity notes from the actual coffee itself. Wonder which other British marvels made the trip.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who reviews/talks about beer on YouTube I can say from personal experience that Chad has been very supportive and a big role in me getting more into the world of the "Beer Tuber". I've chosen to go more down the video route as it communicates those true emotions and reactions that my writing skills frankly cannot do. I started blogging a video-blogging because of what Zak does.
ReplyDeleteBeer is for everyone, I love sharing a lambic with a less aware drinker to see their reaction and you never know it may win them over. No one is right and no one is wrong and just personal opinion. I'm like watching Simon on The Real Ale Guide but am often wound up by the things he says. But I watch him because its fun, if I want insight I'll watch Pete Brown's monthly vlog or head over to The Hopry for a articulate and well considered opinion from Mark Starr.
As for the RIRedRooster I think I met him at The Grove the other night. Or he's just another uppity little shit.
I think the comments you are refering to are definitly elitist however at the risk of going against the grain I'm not sure I totally agree that beer reviewing/blogging/videoblogging should be for everyone. Yes beer drinking should be for everyone but creating content comes with a few responsibilities. I do think when you start creating content about beer it should be informed and hopefully factual and as a bonus entertaining. There is currently an explosion of beer writing and video blogging around the world and alot of it is pretty poor quality (thankfully alot is fantastic to). Im not talking about Chad in particular but there is some stuff out there that threatens to spread mis information. We dont all have to aspire to be MJ but I do think if we create content we should have something positive to offer. Passion without knowledge can be a dangerous combination. Well dangerous is the wrong word concerning perhaps.
ReplyDeleteKieran,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that videoblogging about your hobby of beer drinking to a few hundred people really comes with much responsibility.
Keyboard Warriors, mate. In a related note, I gave up reading Leeds United forums for the same reason.If Chad's enjoying beer, sharing experience and encouraging people to go out and buy the good stuff instead of choosing macro, then he's doing a good job.
ReplyDeletebtw - agree with KHM's comments above, but I'd like to think I have a good bullshit-o-meter and generally know when the reviewer doesnt really know what he's doing. Saying that, I do have certain reviewers/writers whose opinion I would hold over many others.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this video on your blog, Zak. I'm actually quite shocked Mr. Cock (aka RIRedRooster) himself hasn't commented on this thread. He has a blogspot website too and likes to leave anonymous comments on my entries.
ReplyDeleteMr. Cock is the absolute WORST kind of troll. 99% of the trolls are just basically the equivalent of "drive by insults." Someone you've never heard or seen before leaving an idiotic and brief message more or less to the extent of "you suck because I disagree with you!"
But in the case of Mr. Cock it's worse because
1. He knows he dislike me, but cannot stop watching everything I do. Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
2. He not only chooses NOT to ignore me, but actually stalks me and trolls me on other people's videos and blogs!
3. He probably does know more about beer than me and judging from his spelling, grammar and vocabulary he seems rather intelligent. Yet he has the same, if not worse, attitude of any other vulgar, juvenile, immature anonymous troll on the internet. Does he really think anyone is supposed to take him seriously just because he knows beer and can string together a sentence? Judging from the comments on this thread, I'm happy to know that no one does.
Thanks to everyone on this thread for reaffirming what I've always thought since this waste of space entered my life. I truly pity this man.
Took me to the end of the comments to work out that you meant the beery, bearded Michael Jackson...
ReplyDeleteBeer is for everyone but video beer blogging has standards. The standard is set by Mr Avery and no one comes close.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your comments, and sorry I didn't respond to you all individually. I think we agree that (a) beer is for everyone and (b) the internet is full of weirdos.
ReplyDeleteWas in total agreement til I chanced upon this comment from Chad on the BA page for Saison Dupont (emphasis added):
ReplyDelete"This was my first authentic Belgian saison so I had my hopes up, and while I wouldn't consider Saison Dupont a bad beer, let's just say I was let down. Up front it's quite dry and slightly bitter with a dab of crushed black pepper in the palate. THATS ABOUT IT AS FAR AS FLAVOR. Some floral notes and a hint of spice emerge as it warms, but considering this is an old school Belgian brewery making an old school Belgian style I can't help but think the flavor intensity should be higher."
Still believe that beer is for everyone but this fella's nose and tongue must be made of lead.
Flavour intensity? WTF?