what's the beer that got you into it?

I think the first beer that really made me go "wow, I need to try other options" would be Franziskaner. I hated beer all together before I tried that, and would only drink crappy beer at college parties if I had to. I also studied abroad in Germany, so that REALLY changed everything. So many delicious hefeweizens.


It was like Franziskaner -> Ommegang Three Philosophers -> Unibroue La Fin du Monde -> everything else

 

Black Label turned me onto Zakk Wylde!

 

Leinenkugel Honey Weiss was the first beer I had that wasn't a Bud Light, Natty Light, Miller Light, etc. back in 2003 or 2004 at Hamilton's, my college bar. I was 21 or 22 at the time; have always referred to that as my "gateway beer" to the good stuff.

 

Chimay Red.

 

A variety of euro beers that were available in NYC in the early 90's...English stuff like young's ramrod, old nick, Thomas hardy's, mcewen's scotch ale, plus stuff like weihenstephener, schneider, samichlaus, and Eku 28. Oh and Duvel was in the mix too.

 

Anchor Steam and various imports like Heineken, Becks, Dinkel Acker and discovering I liked the dark versions better than the light ones. Soon the first wave of micro's/craft started showing up and I rally liked New Albion, Sierra Nevada, Pete's Wicked Ale and London Real Ale (Palo Alto Brewing Co.). Also developed a taste for English Ales when a British Pub opened up a couple of miles from home.

A really like the fact that we have a few BA's here as old as I am

 

Sounds like a depressing existence.

 

Old Rasputin. Tried it on a whim and fell in love.

 

Blue Moon got me off standard BMC and light beers --> Drifter got me into American pale ales --> Sierra Nevada on tap convinced me to NEVER EVER go back to BMC --> Enjoy By got me further in than ever before

 

Sierra Nevada's Torpedo IPA then Racer Five IPA.

 

Fat Tire.

 

Becks Octoberfest. First time I ever tasted malt! Then it was a new/different beer ever time I went to the store!

 

Going way back to about 1991......Sam Smith Nut Brown Ale, the New Amsterdam line of beers, Sam Adams and Red Seal

 

Well I'm fine with it. Always more stuff to expand to. More barrel aged stouts to try out and also European lagers.

 

For me it was Brooklyner-Schneider on tap... My taste and what I like has changed since that time, but I always respect the beer that opened my eyes

 

Fat Tire back in '99

 

Gotta be Surly Furious

 

Got into it around 2011. I was a big Sam Adams drinker and then my friend started introducing me to it one beer at a time. I can't remember the one beer that got me hooked but Three Philosophers was one of the first. When I had it I just couldn't believe the taste difference from what I was usually drinking. I kept trying different styles by different breweries so much that it got to the point of no return.

 

Neuzeller Kloster-Brau Shwarzer ABT.... on a trip to Germany when I was only 17, oddly enough the stuff is too sweet for me now.

 

I first started with High Life (still a go-to rager beer). Then I went on a Guinness kick, then Shiner, then my friend let me try Arrogant Bastard. Now it's mostly the various Stone and Moerlein brews as my regulars and then any micros that catch my eye. If I'm looking to have a small party, I'll get a decent German Pils or Pale Ale (usually Warsteiner or Bass, respectively).