Is beer more sophisticated than wine?
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has an article up alleging that beer is the more sophisticated beverage when pitted against wine.Â
Author Chris Ballard makes a convincing argument, pointing out that beer has more ingredients, a greater variation in color and in alcohol by volume (ABV). He also points out that beer brewers have more freedom to take risks than winemakers do, adding fruit, peppers, chocolate or other flavors during the brewing process.
The article is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but makes the point that with the craft beer movement in full swing, people should be giving beer aficionados more credit for having a refined taste. AnnArbor.com's Patti Smith made a similar point earlier this year.
What do you think? Is beer more sophisticated than wine?
Comments
TreeTownGal
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 : 4:51 p.m.
I'll drink to that (either, since I like both). I do think beer is more complex with all it's variations. I think it's the person delivering the education that can be pretentious or make the interaction between the forever learner and new learner fun.
Ignatz
Thu, May 27, 2010 : 7:26 a.m.
I think that beer, as an industry, is more sophisticated. I believe that there are more folks brewing that making wine. Becuse of that, more styles and variations within those styles are possible.
Patti Smith
Wed, May 26, 2010 : 5:19 p.m.
Hey thanks for the shoutout. If &$%^#-ing Blogger hadn't eaten my blog, you could link to my post. $%^&#-ing Blogger. I think that both can be sophisticated. If you are drinking Boone's like, ahem, some of us did in our youth, that ain't sophisticated. If you are drinking a Lagunitas Olde Gnarly Wine, that can be. Having said that, I don't consider myself a sophisticated person so maybe it depends on the drinker?