I Like Beer!

Whew! I’m glad I have that off my chest.

For the past ten years, I have been extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to spend a lot of time, and even live, in the Netherlands, right in the middle of some of the best beer brewing countries in the world. And of course, I’ve been making good use of my time here.

What initially started off as just trying some great new beers in the restaurant or pub quickly turned into weekend visits to breweries and monasteries to see where the beers were made.  Eventually, this expanded into visits to local, and even major international beer festivals.  Many of my friends and co-workers know of my growing knowledge of beer, and will often come to me for advice. Whenever possible, I even take them around on regional beer tour weekends when they come to visit.  And, for the past four years, I’ve been trying to share some of my knowledge here on Our Tasty Travels.

For December’s Session #94, Ding of Ding’s Beer Blog asks the question:

So, where do you see yourself? Are you simply a cog in the commercial machine if you work for a brewery, store or distributor? Are you nothing more than an interested consumer? Are you JUST a consumer? Are you a beer evangelist? Are you a wannabe, beer ‘professional’? Are you a beer writer? All of the above? Some of the above? None of the above? Where do you fit, and how do you see your own role in the beer landscape?

I’m really not sure!

 And why should I be?

I am first and foremost a interested consumer.  If I didn’t enjoy beer, I wouldn’t drink it, and I certainly wouldn’t write about it. But yes, I am more than just an interested consumer.  I’d like to think I’m a beer tour guide. A beer educator. A beer evangelist? Perhaps not quite that far…

I guess, in the end, I’m a beer lover.

And I’m happy with that role.

This article is written in participation with Session #94, hosted by Ding’s Beer Blog.  The Session is a monthly event for the beer blogging community which was started by Stan Hieronymus at Appellation Beer. On the first Friday of each month, all participating bloggers write about a predetermined topic. Each month a different blog is chosen to host The Session, choose the topic, and post a roundup of all the responses received. For more info on The Session, check out the Brookston Beer Bulletin’s archive page.

See The Session #94 Round-Up at Ding’s Beer Blog for all of the different ways people see their role in the beer scene.