Are you an advocate for great beer? How so?

I frequent craft beer centered websites, visit brewing forums, and started attending a brewer’s club, etc., but is that the only way to advocate great beer? The others attending clubs and websites are already interested in beer, that is why they are there. Advocacy should also be about introducing new people to great beer. One way to do this is to bring great beer to social events with friends and family. I do this often, but what about beyond your friends and family?

Last year, in my hometown, the town put on a summer concert series and the town handled the beer sales at the events. You are not allowed to bring any beverages in, so your choice in beer was limited to what they serve. Last year they served Bud and Bud Light or MGD and Miller Light, that’s it. So when they announced they were doing the concerts again this year, I started thinking about how nice it would be to have another option to the mainstream beer. This is where being an advocate for great beer comes in.

I sent an email to the mayor and village staff with a request to add at least one other beer option. I gave some reasons that hopefully were compelling. I highlighted the increase in the craft beer movement, the well-known American owned breweries (our town motto is “Home of Proud Americans”) and a list of regional breweries that would be good to show support for (supporting local/regional businesses). A staff member replied and indicated my email was forwarded to the mayor. I am eagerly awaiting a reply, but even if they choose not to change the beer line-up, I feel good that I am an advocate for great beer. Stay tuned for further developments.

How about you? Tell me in the comments what you have been doing to advocate great beer.