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As soon as we decided on our latest "Milwaukee Challenge" -- pitting Budweiser against Miller -- I knew there would be somebody, and probably more than a few, that would chime in and rip us for not drinking some sort of microbrew.

Sure enough, it happened.

I like beer. A lot. I think it's a great-tasting beverage for any number of occasions. But I really -- and I mean really -- dislike beer snobs.

When I'm ordering beer, it's pretty cut-and-dry: I "grew up" drinking High Life and now, I'm a faithful devotee of Schlitz, which I happen to think is an terrific tasting beer.

Of course, when ordering a round of Schlitz for the fellas and myself at a tavern, at least one person in the bar has to make some kind of snide remark about our taste -- or perceived lack thereof -- in beer.

"Drink a real beer," I'm told, more often than not.

My personal favorite comes when somebody, subconsciously trying to show off their refined palate, attempts to order a rare brand (obviously) not available at a particular bar. And when they're shotdown, these folks usually mumble something about how the bar is second-rate and how bars where they're from (usually, Chicago or some nearby suburb) are so much better.

News flash, chief ... nobody -- and really, nobody -- is impressed with your beer knowledge.

Here's my question: what business is it of anybody's what beer I want to enjoy?

Is it that bad to enjoy a mainstream brand of beer? I happen to like Miller, not just because of its Milwaukee connection but because I enjoy its taste. Same goes for Schlitz -- it was, back in the day, a pillar of the community -- but I think it tastes pretty darn good, too.

I won't keep Bud products in my house -- I don't like the taste -- but I won't fault you for drinking it. Same goes for Sprecher and Lakefront; both make some incredibly good beers which, from time to time, I've been known to enjoy, and I applaud their local roots. But again, it's simply a matter of preference.

Now don't get me wrong. There are plenty of people I know -- coworkers and friends included -- that have particular tastes and preferences inbeer. Some like the more exotic flavors, some like a simple MillerLite. To each their own, I say; you drink yours, I'll drink mine and we'll throw a few back together. 

I know, there are some incredibly good-tasting beers out there. I get it, I could probably stand to broaden my horizons a little bit. But ... why should I? Isn't having a beer supposed to be a matter of choice? Personal preference?

So here's the deal: stop ripping on the good old-fashioned macro-brews and I'll stop calling you a snob at the bar.