"poster there (and why you haven't discussed this with him in e-mail,
instead of retreating here in hopes that he doesn't read this, is more than a bit baffling) is well-travelled, and appreciates good beer,"
Who says I hope he doesn't read this? Don't pretend to know what I think.
"And was in no way suggested by the poster on that other newsgroup. "
No it wasn't. I was just telling you what immeadiately came to mind for me (rightly or wrongly). The heading of my OP carried a question mark - I am questioning - is this an example of American Arrogance or not?
"You're making a mountain out of a molehill, and tarring all Yank beer drinkers with the same brush. Get over it. "
And your're the one mis-interpreting my OP as a slag-off rather than a request for opinions from this side of the Atlantic, as it is.
BTW I have a lot of respect for US drinkers. I work in the field of quality US imports to the UK (Sierra Nevada) and I judge at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver (which allows me to drink lots of different US beers). You don't need to convince me the US craft brewery movement is a good thing. You may need to convince me though that the international microbrewery movement is entirely inspired by the American example the the alt.beer post implies.