It’s a tradition unlike any other.

The Maestro starts off the shore season by stocking his beer fridge and sharing a photo online:

The official Crossing Broad Twitter account asked followers to rate the Maestro’s beer fridge, and some of the responses were concerning.

A sampling:

  • “That’s a 1 out of 10. It’s just like the Flyers. A couple of good pieces, but nothing to really make the whole thing gel together, which makes it really shitty”
  • “Looks like Kyle’s wife rules the top shelf and Kyle owns bottom shelf.”
  • “Tan Limes is good for summer. Truly is trash. Too many Yuengling products. Where is the Miller Lite?”
  • “Everyone’s taste is different. And some don’t have any.”

I disagree with all of this. I think this is a good fridge. The comments are mostly lame. Gatekeeping “real beer” went out of style 10 years ago, and if you ever hear somebody make a comment about “girly” beer it means they are insecure. They’re the guy who still goes to the beer distributor to buy a case of something boring when there’s so much variety and so many interesting offerings in 2022.

The truth is that Kyle’s beer fridge is balanced. In his own words, he notes that there is a “good beer” in Allagash White. He’s got a light beer in Yuengling and then regular Yuengling as well. He has a “creative porter” and a “great summer beer” in Tan Limes, plus a “wide range of tasty and inventive seltzers.” He’s also got IPA in there, and a good sampling of Cape May locals, so in my mind he’s checked all the boxes. If you go to the Maestro’s place and open the beer fridge, you’re going to find something you like. There is something for everybody.

One of the things that crusty beer snobs get wrong is confusing flavor and/or lightness for “girliness.” There are super heavy 10% imperials with a lot of flavor, but nobody would call them girly, right? People have to consider the situation and read the room. It’s spring going into summer. Maybe one day you want hard seltzer and then the next day is a Tan Limes day. You don’t have to drink the same thing all the time. Plus, you’re not looking for double IPAs and Belgians that are going to knock you on your ass. You’re sitting on the deck or at the beach when it’s 88 degrees out, so obviously it’s not the time for some heavy winter shit. If Kyle was stocking a place in Colorado in December, of course the fridge would look different.

And finally, the guy asking “where is the Miller Lite” is off his rocker. Bat shit crazy. There’s so much good craft beer to drink out there. Miller Lite should be the last thing anybody is looking for. If you wanna drink the beer your dad drank 20 years ago, knock yourself out.

Down with beer snobbery! The Maestro’s beer fridge gets high marks from me. 8.7 out of 10.