What beer got you into craft beer?

Allagash White about 10 years ago

 

Racer 5, Anchor Liberty Ale, and SweetWater 420

 

Shiner Bock and Fat Tire.

 

19th Birthday Present - Stone Arrogant Bastard - Think my buddy was trying to tell me something!

 

Dogfish 60 minute IPA around 2000. That first taste of the citrusy, hoppy flavor and I was hooked. Bought a growler that night and a case the next day.

 

The Brewhouse in Santa Monica.

A long gone, small ( micro ) brewery on the Santa Monica Promenade back in the 1990s.

They brewed a Hefenweiser, an IPA, a Red Ale, and an Imperial Stout, which some other one offs.

 

Unibroue La Fin Du Monde and Maudite - so different and tasty compared to what was on the market at the time

 

I went to college in Kalamazoo Michigan, placing Bells Brewery practically in my backyard.

There was a Bells beer on special at a local pub that had a great reputation and so I decided to share a pitcher of it. At the time, I thought it tasted like alcoholic grapefruit juice. I loved it. The beer was called Solsun.

Years later, it would be renamed Oberon. I still wonder to this day whether the recipe changed over time, or if my palette was just way underdeveloped. Either way, I didn't look back. This also happens to be the story behind my profile picture.

 

Pete's Wicked Ale

 

Guinness -> Boston Lager/Sam Adams Octoberfest -> Rogue Hazelnut Brown/Stone Arrogant Bastard -> Beer Fests

 

That's a blast from the past. That's got to be in my top 5 first craft beers as well. Wonder whatever happened to those guys?

 

beautiful beautiful Sam Adams. An absolute flawless lager.

 

the first 2 month period was - SNPA - Stone IPA - Torpedo - Ruination. Although 8 years ago, I remember those few weeks like it was yesterday. Over time many of the IPAs I try begin to blend into one great experience. However, a single sniff of Stone IPA or Torpedo brings me back to those first few months. And Oh how I long for the return of Ruination.

 

Years of intermittent SA, Leine's, and Newcastle purchases. Then I finally tried SNPA and Torpedo, and it was like some new information.

 

Great Lakes Moondog on-tap..

 

Boston Lager and Guiness, made me realize beer wasn't meant to be watery and tasteless. Then local COOP Ale Works - Native Amber made me understand how there were so many great tasting beers I must try out there!

 

anchor steam in the early 90s...im old.

 

I'm guessing many of us from Canada would be saying Unibroue beers. Certainly got me on the road.

 

The Pete's brand was purchased in 1998 by Gambrinus - (ex-Corona importer which now owns Spoetzl [Shiner], Trumer & BridgePort) which discontinued the brand in 2011. Previously, by the mid-1990s Pete's had been closely linked to Stroh (the #4 US brewer at the time) - they contract-brewed the brand, had executives on the board who owned a good share of the company, etc. - more than Pete himself. Before the sale to Gambrinus, the executives running "Pete's" had previously worked at companies like Dean Foods, Quaker Oats, Gallo Wine, Bailey's Irish Cream and other major corporations.

In fact, after the demise of the company Slosberg claimed in an interview with the Denver Post the following year, "The reality is, I was never the owner of Pete's; there were more than 100 shareholders. My part was 5 1/2 percent. I was the spokesmodel...."

 

I was at a bachelor party a few years back where all we had was a keg of Summit EPA. After two glasses I haven't been back to a macro brew since!