I’ll make this brief. I’ve had 11 months, 10 months, 6 months, 3.5 months and now 1 month sober from alcohol. I know about the 12 and 12, living sober book, I have the big book, I have two sponsors, and I’m currently doing Step 4 again. I am not naive enough understand that some people in AA actually enjoyed the taste of alcohol, however no meeting I go to whether it’s local or Zoom meeting around the world I don’t find anybody that can relate to loving craft beer. I truly was a connoisseur and aficionado but unfortunately my alcoholism got cloaked in the hobby. I totally enjoyed the glassware, waiting in line, driving to multiple breweries, the smell of the wart coming from the building, the beautiful can logos,the multiple people I met in the craft beer trading community. I truly 100% enjoy the different varieties of craft beer. What’s keeping me from committing 100% to the program is that I can’t imagine my life without craft beer ever again. The one day at a time trick doesn’t fool me. Can anybody else relate to not just drinking out of a bottle to get smashed and their alcoholism is cloaked in their hobby for craft beer as well?
Hello! I’ve seen a few different NA craft beer companies popping up that might be able to replace your lost hobby.
Buuuut imo you might want to consider grieving the loss of that connection and filling your free time with other things that better support your sobriety.
I live in the NW where craft and micro brews are the shit. And being the lover of those different and tasty hoppy brews I so remember the excitement of going to brew festivals, ale/brew houses in Portland and such. The romanticizing had to end though. I went too far, drank it all up and nearly destroyed my body & mind. It started as great and interesting but the effect was ultimately what I ended up going for. It’s better this way for me. Hope this helps
For me it was making mixed drinks. I loved the creativity of it, using fresh ingredients, the glassware, the garnishing, etc. I have something like ten books on bartending. It was even better when I could have people over and impress them as well. It was definitely a hobby as well and that part I do genuinely miss.
I enjoyed craft beers. I miss a cold beer, but like you said my alcoholism doesnt allow me to partake. I have tried and the results never end up positive.
I was hanging out with a friend and she stopped at a bar for lunch. The craft beers were talking to me. She ended up ordering an IPA and it smelled wonderful. I could smell it from several feet away.
I didnt order one, and although I’m pround of myself for not, i still have no business being in a bar, or hanging out in any scenario where theres good beer being served. Its easy to have a drink. Its not easy to detox.
I tried living under the illusion that drinking expensive beer made me less of an alcoholic. Crazy all the things we try to manage our drinking.
Like chapter three of AA big book says.
Here are some of the methods we have tried [to control our drinking]: Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums—we could increase the list ad infinitum*
Yes I love and miss good beer, but its not worth it.
I dont eat good when I drink. I love good food. Thats what I treat myself to now.
I genuinely love the taste of craft beer too and in New Zealand we brew some of the best. I also really love the taste of Indian food, however Indian food doesn’t turn me into a complete asshole who hurts people and self sabotages. I feel your pain man.
I have a supply of na craft beers in the fridge that come close enough to the real thing and satisfy the taste desire, these include a milk stout, cloudy ipa and a hoppy one. “brewdog” is the company and they are made in Scotland. I find that one is enough to satisfy and get rid of the feeling of missing out, I probably only have 2 a week. For me they are not a trigger as I am able to see a difference between wanting the taste and wanting the “hit”… But everyone is different…
Wine is more of a problem as there is no good na wine substitute… It all tastes like grape juice to me. Yes I am now a massive herb tea consumer which is OK but doesn’t really replace the lifelong appreciation of malt and hop combinations.
I simply have to accept that the “hobby” side of real beer is no longer an option if I wish to stay sane and healthy… Time to put the kettle on again…
I just drank anything that gave me a buzz dont know what your getting at when you say craft beer beers beer and if you want to stop then dont drink , wish you well
Maybe start your own non alcoholic craft beer brewery? Could be fun.
I can 100% relate. While I did also get drunk to just get drunk at home, I also live within 5 miles of 4 or 5 new craft breweries and it has been extremely hard to stay away.
I’m used to going there on nice days with my wife and/or friends and killing a whole Saturday or Sunday. That has been one of the hardest parts of staying sober. I absolutely know what you mean about the whole experience of craft beer. I’m trying to find other sober activities to occupy me and I found a fun game to play with the wife where after a sober lunch, we calculate how much money we would have spent if we were at a brewery downing beers and ordering expensive food truck food.
I was the same way with weed. Loved everything about it. Turns out it was just my disease in disguise. If you can have that much passion about beer you can have it for something else. However, you need to completely change your mindset regarding beer. If you think you are missing out you will eventually go back out. Nothing in the world is worth fuckin your life up over, especially fermented weeds that are liquified and bottled.
Totally can relate. Was a big craft beer guy myself. The stronger the better. Craft beer always gave me the feeling drinking something special and I romanticized the hell out of it.
Sitting in the garden on a hot day, feeling fine. Never again.
1 year only a few weeks away
Pretty much Zero people loved the taste of beer when they first tried it. Its like a breakup or the end of any other relationship, we can obsess about what we can’t have or we can find something that we can have. I loved my beers too and i can get caught up in how good one would taste but the truth is I know it will fucking destroy me. It’s not worth the cost.
I totally agree about the taste of beer.
I remember when I was like 4 years old my dad let me try a sip of his crappy light beer one day (clearly different times) and I didn’t touch alcohol until I was about 20 years old because I never forgot how terrible that beer tasted.
I started drinking with liquor and light beer in college then later on I found the craft/IPA beers as a better tasting option that were also more alcoholic, so I could get drunk quicker (and avoid the taboo of downing shots when it was socially unacceptable).