For craft beer lovers, it may be one thing you wish never happens. You’re out to eat at a restaurant, or out at a pub with your friends and there is no craft beer available. Here’s what to do, so that you can enjoy yourself and your company without looking like a snob.

Even though the American craft beer industry is growing and on the rise, there are still places out there that have yet to cash in on their success and add some craft beer selections to their line-up. If you happen to run across those restaurants or pubs, use these suggestions to your advantage.

Don’t drink beer

I apologize if these all sound obvious, but they’re all viable solutions. If there’s nothing you’ll enjoy from the beer selection, forgo the beer for once and drink something else. It’s the absolute simplest solution and perhaps the most effective. Trust me, you can go without beer. Instead, grab yourself a glass of water (for the time being) and gaze over the drink menu until you find something else you’ll enjoy, if you need alcohol.

Drink wine or mixed drinks

So, if you’re really craving alcohol check out the wine and mixed drink menu. Most restaurants will offer some great wines, if nothing else at least a house white, blush and red, and some interesting cocktails. If you normally don’t drink liquor, pick something light without a ton of alcohol. And if that’s you, you definitely don’t want a Long Island Iced Tea. Try something new, even if it’s not beer. It’s not going to kill you.

Drink imports

A lot of craft beer lovers look for those local or American craft breweries, but even if they’ve got nothing but Miller Lite, Coors Lite and Budweiser on the draft list, they’re sure to have some imports in bottles. Even if you have to resort to something like Heineken, you can rest assured you’re not helping out Anheuser-Busch InBev or MillerCoors. Even if the imports aren’t microbreweries, it provides an alternate option if you really need that beer-fix.

Suggest a different place

This may be the snobbiest solution of them all but if you word it right, you may get your way. If you happen to know ahead of time your beverage selection is bleak, suggest another pub or restaurant that will cater to the group and also satisfy your craft beer needs. Avoid choosing a blatantly obvious craft beer destination. You should always scope out your local area to see what places have even the smallest selection of craft beer, so you can use them as alternate options.

The bottom line

Again, while these may sound a bit obvious, they’re all about making the best of the time with the company you’re with. For me, at least, I don’t want to come across as the whiny, stuck-up “beer guy.” If it comes down to it, I’ll have a Sam Adams or a local Yuengling Lager. And if they don’t have anything I’d enjoy, I just don’t drink beer. Face it, it’s not rocket science and there’s no reason to make it harder than it is. If you don’t like their offerings, don’t drink it.

Remember, it’s about being a beer geek, not necessarily a beer snob.