by MaRc TiaR
Geek love
Bret Schaeffer, owner of SixFour Growlers, launched a Facebook page called Reno Beer Enthusiast. Photo/ERic MaRks
group, and everyone gets to taste a bunch of different beers they might not otherwise have access to. Now I don’t know about your obsessions and their groups, but this Take any topic—sports, cars, gardening, could easily turn into a contest—who can literally anything—and you can find bring the best, rarest, most hallowed beer a subculture that is obsessed with it to and impress everyone the most. But it’s near-pathological levels. Mine, you may not about bragging rights, it’s about finally have guessed, is beer. People like me, having an opportunity to pop the cork—yes, self-described beer geeks, will wax poetic some beers come corked—with kindred about hop varieties, talk your ear off about spirits who will appreciate it. It’s like a Hot yeast strains, and debate fiercely about August Nights show-n-shine for beer. whether this year’s imperial stout had more I missed the first two get-togethers, coffee than last year. I struggle to see the but I’m told this turnout was the best yet. world outside my bubble, where normal I suspect the tour of a new brewery-to-be, people see beer as just a basic part of life Revision Brewing, spiked interest this like sandwiches or shoes. We geeks easily time. Probably 50 people from all walks of forget that something like 80 percent of the life gathered to freely share special bottles beer sold in this country is not the delicious with strangers and friends. They brought craft beer we’re preoccupied with. home brew, vintage bottles they had socked If there’s one thing away for years—yes, the internet and social cellaring beer is a media have given us, thing—rare Belgian it’s a way for people sours, hoppy, stout with common interests For more information, search for “Reno Beer and everything in to find each other, Enthusiast” on Facebook. between. Beer was communicate and discussed, tastings share their passions. were logged, and a Beer geeks are no great time was had by all. exception—there are countless forums Other than the RBE, you’ll also find dedicated to brewing, rating, trading and local home brew club, the High Desert simply discussing beer. Locally, we have Brewgade, sharing ideas on fermentation, several Facebook groups dedicated to it in ingredients and equipment, and organizing some way. SixFour Growlers proprietor competitions. The Sons of Fermentation, Bret Schaeffer launched one, the Reno Beer by description a “brewers group,” in realEnthusiast, about 16 months ago, and it has ity brings together the seedy underbelly since grown to nearly 400 members. of the Reno beer scene—salty humor and Of course, beyond the online world trash talk, tempered with a streak of camawhere we can tell each other about new raderie, charity and unbridled enthusiasm beers, share beer jokes, and ask for for drinking. opinions, this forum also provides a way The world of the Reno beer geek, to organize real world events where we online and otherwise, is certainly can drink real beer! And so I set out on a comparable to other cities and people recent Friday night to join the RBE for their geeky about other things, from quilters third bottle share. As the name implies, to barbecuers to old car freaks. We’re all you bring a bottle or two—or more—of passionate about something and just need something you want to share with the others to talk to about it. Ω
Reno Beer Enthusiast
22
|
RN&R
|
12.22.16
