What beer got you into craft beer?

I can remember the very moment like it was yesterday... that beautiful beer from Russian River- Damnation.

 

Started with Sierra Nevada, which slowly grew into my love for IPA's. Not sure if you can count that as a craft beer, but it got the ball rolling.

 

Guinness was my segue. Also, strangely, Red Stripe.

 

Pilsner Urquell and SNPA.

 

Spezial Rauchbier. First great beer I had that made me realize that beer could taste different from either adjunct lager or a fruit beer.

 

ABC - Appalachian Brewing Company - Hoppy Trails

 

I was dabbling in the 80s with Petes Wicked and the like, a few Belgials which I hated. Then I hit on a fresh Hop Devil and it was on.

 

Either Boston Lager or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Been awhile.

 

Henry's was the go to brew in high school We actually thought that the different bottling numbers made a difference and loved to argue about which one was best.

 

So, nothing's changed, really .

 

Great Lakes - Conway's Irish Ale

 

my first ever beer was Yuengling and i only had 1 at that sitting before herb was consumed.

during college i always had Natty Light and then would treat myself to in state craft beer, mainly Dortmunder Gold.

the beers that led me down the rabbit hole were:
-GLBC Dortmunder Gold
-Blue Moon
-Hoegaarden
-Columbus Pale Ale
-Becks
-Stella
-Weihenstephaner Lager and Hefe
-River Horse Summer Blonde

Weihenstephaner big bottles showed me how good pilsners and hefeweizens could be!
Dortmunder Gold was just great drinkable lager and led me to love GLBC
Blue Moon / Hoegaarden showed me how much i love a good Wit

 

New Belgium Fat Tire, -anyone? I thought it was the transition beer.

 

Alltech's Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. It was my first non AAL and I didn't realize there were things other than AAL (Guinness notwithstanding). It will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

That, Oberon, and Little Sumpin Sumpin seem to be very popular with people that are right on the edge. Whether they convert or not is another story.

 

Not so much 1, but a buddy of mine bought him and me a case from Saranac (Matt Brewing). 12 different beers in the case, yes amazing. Opened my eyes that beer wasn't all about red solo cups liquid.

 

I'm ready to be paraded through the community for shaming and atonement, but I'll admit that a bottle of Red Stripe or Third Shift in a glass of ice used to be my ''vice''. Let me tell you what a good kick in the behind SNs' pale was..

 

2004 Carhartt Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara Co.

 

Growing up in the bay area it was probably Anchor Stream or Sierra Nevada back in the early 80's. Back then we used to just call it "the expensive beer". Later on, Racer 5 was the one that convinced me that "craft beer" was for real. I've been hooked ever since....

 

North Coast 2011 Old Stock Cellar's Reserve in Brandy Barrels.