This is actually an "old" piece written in April before CBC trip--a sort of "self-interview" on some issues of being a Geek in craft desert here in KL.
Though this is essentially talking about the scenario of a Geek in KL--but the feelings quite similar to geeks living in other parts of Asia.
here we go:-
Q: Malaysia has got one of the highest sin taxes for alcohol beverages--making it expensive to drink imported beer doesn't it?(under the current adjusted structure--imported beers are facing a tax of RM175(USD 40+) per 1litre for every 100%ABV---and there's another 6% GST to pay basing on price)
A: Yes and No---it's even more "expensive" to drink MACRO beers at some clubs or hangout places or restaurant in town than a craft beer--it's always more satisfying drinking say 2 glasses/bottles of nice craft beer than a dozen or more crappy MACRO...
Q:There's at least a few million drinkers in Malaysia--but why so few craft beer drinkers?
A:There's only a few people involved in importing of craft beer/operating of dedicated bars/bottle shop( essentially there's 3 to 4 craft beer bars+ 1 or 2 bottle shop in KL)--meaning the craft community in Malaysia is very small--with little power/voices fighting the MACRO/other alcoholic beverages for bigger market share--it is understandable that the community is still very very small here in KL.
#听说大马酒税是全世界数一数二高的，那么贵也喝得下手？
这里酒精类别饮料的确比其他城市贵。不过，相比在吉隆坡餐厅或夜店酒吧喝大厂啤酒，CRAFT BEER价钱蛮划算，理由很简单，喝两杯CRAFT胜过喝一打单调无趣大厂啤。
#大马酒类饮料非官方统计饮客人数至少几百万，为什么喝CRAFT BEER的那么少？
本地投入CRAFT BEER进口业务，开专卖吧或瓶子店的人很少，市场供应量少加上没什么推广力量/声音意味着很多人不知道，也没机会接触到这些啤酒。CRAFT BEER在全世界还是小圈子玩意，在大马这个撞意啤酒沙漠就更加不出奇。
Q:In comparison to Bangkok up north( 2 hours flight) and Spore down south(1 hour flight)--why KL is still so much a craft beer desert?
A:There's no doubt a lot more craft beer importers/operators in Spore--where it is also Legally permitted to home brew/open up brew pub--recently there's even a sort of jumping on the craft beer bandwagon situation where more people are trying to invest/get involve with the scene.
Up north in Bangkok--there's lesser importers as compared to Spore--but thanks largely to 2 main importing company which brought in some awesome US/European beers--in particular the Geeky "Mikkeller Bar" BKK--the BKK scene has attracted lots of attention from Geeks in and around the region. And with the rise of home brewing--even opening of a few Thai Brew only bars around BKK( though legally it's not permitted to home or small brew)--the scene is hotting up there for sure.
Q:Are you accusing the KL craft operators NOT GEEKY enough?
A:Yes--to a certain extent that's what it felt like. It is true being in business and being a drinker/geek is VERY different--that is a fact that is obvious to anyone who understand the pressure of running a business--what with the unfriendly environment/policy facing the KL craft operators.
What i have felt all this while is that--business aside--a true geek would seek out beers not available in his/her own bar/line of imports--just for own consumption or tasting/sharing with friends.
It is a known fact that some breweries are hard to get supply from--especially those big names/rarer variants of beers.
But the fact remain that---when inevitably craft operators are being look up to by most newbies/drinkers to lead them on eventual palate development (since they are the regular point of contact)-how can an operator lead the way when he or she is just very happy/contented to sell what's available rather than go the geeky way of seeking out harder to get beers for tasting/own drinking pleasure?
#为什么跟南边的新加坡还有北部的曼谷相比，吉隆坡那么“沙漠”？
新加坡明显的投入CRAFT BEER进口业务人数较多，意味着市场货源供应比较丰富，近两年开专卖吧业者逐步增加中，更多饮客有机会接触到不同类别品牌啤酒让市场热络起来，新加坡也是可以合法玩自酿的城市，更有不少CRAFT相关活动提高能见度话题性，市场活跃是正常。
北部的曼谷，相比新加坡并没有那么多不同入口商，不过，曼谷的CRAFT BEER市场很精彩。很大程度来说，曼谷的市场活力来自两大入口商，一是主攻美国啤酒的BEERVANA，另一则是不断冲击市场好奇心，逐步引入独家啤酒的“米吧”幕后功臣HOPSESSION。如果说新加坡市场活力源自各个不同群体的共同力量，曼谷的市场能量则很大程度上来自一两个入口商对啤酒的狂热痴迷。
#这是在说吉隆坡业者不够狂热？
某种程度上可以这么说，当然，家家有本难念的经，旁观者不能真正体会业者面对的各种压力。不过，抛开生意论点，单纯当啤迷的话，这里业者的确不够狂热痴迷。因为那样，吉隆坡的不同啤酒类别选择明显比不上新加坡或曼谷精彩。道理很简单，不狂热的业者不会热衷于寻找业务范围之外的好啤酒，身为市场引领者可是自己都不找的话，一般顾客怎么知道有这些酒存在或有机会喝到？
#在吉隆坡喝CRAFT BEER有那么差？
那要看是新人还是狂热啤迷。新人来说，吉隆坡3家专卖吧，3间瓶子店都是好起点，那是无可置疑的。任何啤迷也都会感谢这些业者的出现，毕竟没有起点就没有接下来的探索。不过，狂热啤迷自然对不同啤酒类别质素有更高要求，老实说的确会对吉隆坡现状感到无奈。
Q: IS drinking craft beer in KL that unsatisfying?
A: NOPE---don't get me wrong--anyone in KL craft community should be THANKFUL/GRATEFUL that there's a few guys out there invested time/efforts & money to import/run a bar/bottle shop--remember--if no one started--then a lot of craft drinkers would not have the chance to start---that's a fact and everyone should know that.
From a Geek point of view--yes--surely there's a lot of room for KL to improve--and it's also only natural--that a geek would have higher request for better selection/varieties.
Q:Why there's not many who invested/involve with craft beer business?
A: This is not a fast returning business--with high taxes--lower margins--and more importantly this is not a business where owner can just bring in some beers--hire a few good looking guys/girls to promote and then the business would fly on it's own--craft beer is something where passion is needed--and most importantly newbies need the right kind of guidance from operators.
#为什么马来西亚业者不多？
税务高是个问题，也有些人觉得CRAFT BEER利润低，不那么容易做。这其实不是进些货就能做好的生意，也不是请几个俊男美女促销员就能解决的事。这门生意是需要业者本身还有主要员工对CRAFT BEER的热爱和认识，只有这样才能跟顾客有良好沟通互动，某些程度上，业者是需要引领新饮客的。
#这么说，在大马当狂热啤迷是自找麻烦的事？
也还好，总会有其他选择的，如果本地找不到想要的啤酒，可以南下新加坡或北上曼谷。又或者有朋友可以帮忙国外带回来或帮忙邮寄的话，也是方法。又或是，在网购风行的年代，总有方法的。
#当狂热啤迷这件事，有尽头吗?
说不准，或者这么说，每件让人狂热的事情有时候只是个过程，也有可能是无穷尽的延续，有人说迷上CRAFT BEER就是一头栽进黑洞里，没完没了。是不是那样，只能说走着瞧，各人自有不同体会。
Q: Is being a Geek in Malaysia a painful matter?
A: Not really--it's bearable--when something is not available locally--one can always seek out when travelling--or ask for help from beer friends overseas--or just go on some website to buy--when you want something badly enough--there's always a way
Q:Being a GEEK---Is there an end in sight?
A: Hard to say really--it could be just a process--or it could really be diving into a black hole--the choice is yours.Though this piece might sound like picking on KL craft scene or being harsh/unfair to the operators putting in real efforts in moving the craft culture--but it's not what this piece intended at all--nope--far from it--it's more of a common feeling Geeks living in Asia been facing--and as the saying goes--it's only when one hope for the better that one would say something not too pleasant to the ears--otherwise---why bother?
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