You’ve heard of wine snobs, whisky snobs, and chocolate milk snobs. Have you ever heard of beer snobs?

The beer lover and the beer snob look identical. Both hold a glass of amber liquid. But look closer.

The beer lover drinks to enjoy the moment, the conversation, and the crisp refreshment. The beer snob drinks to evaluate, critique, and ultimately suffer.

Meet Sebastian. Sebastian does not “drink” beer. He experiences it.

The differences between Sebastian and a normal beer lover became clear last Saturday night at a local pub. Our friend Dave, a certified beer lover, ordered a standard domestic lager. Dave smiled, took a hearty gulp, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Ah, cold and wet. Perfect,” he sighed.

Sebastian winced as if Dave had just keyed his car.

“Cold?” Sebastian gasped, his voice dripping with condescension. “David, you’ve absolutely murdered the volatile aromatic compounds.........

© Peterborough Examiner