California Beerzine

We all have them: craft beer-averse friends and family members. Sure, you could just leave them alone and let them live their lives this way. But then, really, wouldn’t you be letting them down? Converting non-beer drinkers can be a long and painful experience, but don’t you owe it to your parents, significant other, siblings, neighbors, high school buddies, dog walker, dry cleaner, butcher, baker, and/or candlestick maker to show them the light?

Of course you do. And since I’m sure your motives would be entirely selfless – your companion’s beverage enjoyment being your first and only concern – the benefits that accrue are just the icing on the cake. With each conversion, the results are immediate and gratifying: one more buddy to hit the festival circuit with, one more friend who’ll split a 750mL with you, one more cousin who will never make you swill Bud Light at his BBQ again.

So what’s a gal who’s into lukewarm cask beer to do about companions who feel entirely lukewarm about beer?

Converting them over to the dark side (and the amber side, the golden side, and all the other beer shade sides in between) is easier than you might think. It may take time, but with patience and a good attitude, there are few craft beer neophytes who can’t be won over. Here are a few tips for successful beervangelism:

Tip #1: Choose your targets wisely. Start with those friends and family who are interested in your hobby. Anyone who has expressed admiration for your label collection or your ability to name the seven Trappist breweries is fair game here.

Gourmet-types (those with a special appreciation of wine, chocolate, Carolina-style ribs, or what have you) are also great targets. They are generally deathly afraid of being labeled ‘unadventurous’ and their feelings of guilt and inadequacy over their craft beer ignorance leaves them ripe for conversion.

Leave your Mormon, Muslim, and otherwise religiously abstinent friends alone. Not only should you respect their fidelity to their beliefs, they make very reliable designated drivers.

Save the macro-brew fanatics for last. Matthew McConaughey’s brother is the poster-boy for this camp (he named his kid Miller Lyte for goodness sake!). They’re best won over via a war of attrition. Once you’ve converted all their friends and family, such that they’re faced with a choice between social isolation, perpetual BYOB, or giving your favorite brews a try, they’ll almost certainly cave.

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