Franconian Beer Message Board

Liebesbier in Bayreuth
Posted by Barry on 2016-02-25 09:00:51
Not neccessarily angry but certainly argumentative!  Not that I mind that, after all, that's what, in part, the Forum is about.

Anyway, let's progress.  You can say glorious but pristine is gilding the lily a bit, as it's not always been so great.  I wouldn't use the words 'lesser' or 'uncouth' but certainly, for me, undesirable, as it is not adding anything worthwhile to what was already there (which was probably 'purer' but whether superior is largely subjective).  Do you think that people in the UK would have come up with a chocolate stout without outside influence?  Maybe but it seems pretty clear to me that so many of the 'new' beers in the UK are heavily influenced by US trends.  But it's not only US trends, many of the new breweries are not interested in British beer culture (e.g. London Beer Factory, Camden Brewery) but are experimenting with a rangle of 'world' styles.  Again, their choice but I don't have to like it.

For good or bad?  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and there is room for all sorts of beer.  But, as has been said before, there is simply no comparison between a Rauch Beer brewed in Camden Town with the real thing sampled in Spezial or Schlenkerla, which is why we spend a fortune going there.  Sure, go home and try to make it yourself (as you do, Mark) but to foist it on others is, to my mind, just a con.

Is it fair to blame a new brew pub in Bayreuth on 'Americanisation'?  Well, it's hard to imagine that it would exist without some inspiration from across the pond.  Reading the website, it's hard not to be reminded of that new brewery in ? (Texas, New Mexico? can't remember now, the 'Zoigl' one), which invites people in to make their own beers.  Maybe just a coincidence?

Are you being over-sensitive about the concept of 'Americanisation'?  Well, it's probably something that you have to get used to.  The USA is the home of modern industrial capitalism and all that goes with it, including modern marketing techniques.  In the same way, Britain was one of the birthplaces of colonialism and us Britains (don't like 'Brits') have had to get used to being blamed for many of its ills (I know this well being British in Ireland for 15 years), even though we personally were not to blame.

Talking of marketing!  Marketing is a way of communicating the essence of a product or service to potential customers.  I'm sure that it was neccessary to use some term to distinguish the new micro's from the old mega brewers (a good thing, doubtless) but I fail to see why the term 'craft' should not be considered a marketing ploy - otherwise, why bother with inventing a new term for an old idea?  I'm not criticising Americans for Britains jumping on the 'craft brewery bandwagon', just acknowledging the source of the idea.  Nor am I doubting that plenty of the new wave brewers, both in Britain and the USA, are passionate about their products and also want to make a bob or two in the process.  Brewing has long been a highly commercialised business (I've said before that 19th century British brewers were among the richest people in the land) but let's call it for what it is and not try to pretend otherwise.

I also hope that our traditions survive but I do worry about the beer situation in Britain (especially as a potential immigrant!).  Sure, we could have got through all this in a few minutes in Spezial or Faessla or Mahrs but, until then, we have to rely on Fred's wonderful invention to keep us going.  
 
Followups:
             Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Mark Andersen on  2016-02-25 10:00:58
               Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Barry on  2016-02-26 02:17:34
                 Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Mark Andersen on  2016-02-26 04:46:32
                   Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Barry on  2016-02-26 04:58:09
                     Gosh! by Nick B. on  2016-02-28 06:22:01
                       Gosh! by Barry on  2016-02-28 08:23:21
                         Gosh! by Barry on  2016-02-28 11:33:01
                   Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Jason  on  2016-02-29 08:13:03
                     Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Barry on  2016-02-29 12:53:49
                       Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Andy H on  2016-02-29 13:31:32
                         Liebesbier in Bayreuth by Barry on  2016-02-29 14:08:00
                     Weekend round-up by Nick B. on  2016-03-01 01:34:29
                       Weekend round-up by Andy H on  2016-03-01 14:12:47
                         Weekend round-up by Barry on  2016-03-02 03:20:40
                         Weekend round-up by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-02 08:29:02
                           Weekend round-up by Nick B. on  2016-03-03 01:20:53
                             Weekend round-up by Barry on  2016-03-03 04:47:01
                               Weekend round-up by Nick B. on  2016-03-03 05:29:34
                               Weekend round-up by Mosquit on  2016-03-03 05:32:56
                                 Weekend round-up by Nick B. on  2016-03-03 06:57:28
                                   Weekend round-up by Mosquit on  2016-03-03 07:46:51
                                     Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with "craft" beer by Nick B. on  2016-03-03 07:53:01
                                       Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Barry on  2016-03-03 07:57:48
                                 Weekend round-up by Barry on  2016-03-03 08:04:20
                                         Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-03 10:53:25
                                           Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-03 12:11:32
                                             Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-03 23:47:07
                                   Weekend round-up by Nick B. on  2016-03-04 01:13:52
                                     Redemption Trinity by Nick B. on  2016-03-04 01:20:04
                                               Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Barry on  2016-03-04 02:53:16
                                                 Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-04 04:45:52
                                                   Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-04 04:46:53
                                                     Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-04 05:00:58
                                                       Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-04 05:59:52
                                                         Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-04 06:48:35
                                                           Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Barry on  2016-03-04 09:57:09
                                                             Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-04 11:06:51
                                                               Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Andy H on  2016-03-04 13:19:08
                             Weekend round-up -- hops by Uncle Jimbo on  2016-03-04 20:59:49
                               Weekend round-up -- hops by Nick B. on  2016-03-04 23:08:02
                                 Summit by Nick B. on  2016-03-05 02:18:24
                                                             Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-05 02:25:41
                                                               Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-05 02:28:45
                                                               Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-05 05:45:03
                                                                 Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Barry on  2016-03-05 09:28:03
                                                               Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Barry on  2016-03-05 09:42:49
                                                                 Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-06 04:03:57
                                                                   Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Andy H on  2016-03-06 09:31:18
                                   Summit by Uncle Jimbo on  2016-03-06 18:17:06
                                                                     Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Nick B. on  2016-03-07 01:33:01
                                     Summit by Nick B. on  2016-03-07 01:33:52
                                                                   Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-07 10:38:30
                                                                     Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-07 10:41:16
                                                                       Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Andy H on  2016-03-07 11:29:37
                                                                         Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-07 11:39:24
                                                                           Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by FredW on  2016-03-07 11:43:47
                                                                         Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-07 11:48:13
                                                                             Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Mark Andersen on  2016-03-07 11:53:26
                                                                           Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Andy H on  2016-03-07 13:42:06
                                                                             Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by FredW on  2016-03-07 13:55:37
                                                                               Weekend round-up...and what's wrong with  by Barry on  2016-03-08 03:05:10
                                       Summit by Uncle Jimbo on  2016-03-08 20:48:48