Figured I would post one of these Intro Threads

Been here a LONG time..closing in on 20 year anniversary!! Live in Connecticut, grew up in Central Pennsylvania. used to write for the Ale Street News as the brewery updates for Connecticut. Never really got into homebrewing. Big time lover of imperial stouts and barleywines, not so much into sours and am really passing on IPAs these days too.

Was at a Belgian style beerfest with the beer guy (Jim Sibley) from my local beerstore at a brewpub that no longer exists We had quite a few beers at the event and he got to talking about this beer site where people write about the beer they drink. I signed up pretty soon after that conversation and here we are today. Actually met a brewer at that same fest and discovered he was on the site too, we became good friends and I was the best man at his wedding.

I got really into writing beer reviews and trying new beers from the shop where my friend Jim worked, he always intro'd me to fun beers. Then I discovered trading....oooh boy that opened a lot of doors.
I got involved in a lot of the early BIFs Each one was numbered. I for sure was in BIF 6. We also did Blue and Gray BIF with north vs south boxes going back and forth across the Mason Dixon line.
Then there were BIF races fastest completion with the most miles was the winner. GO TEAM SINISTER!!

Coolest trade was with @feloniousmonk for a growler of Rosies Old Ale from Barley Johns Brewpub in Minnesota. Trade was in 2004. At the time rumored to be a 28% strong ale, that at the time was thought of as strongest beer around. Cost me quite a few bottles from Southampton Publick House, but totally worth it. I filled and capped a few 12 oz bottles from that growler. Maaaay even have one 12 oz bottle left in the cellar.

many reviews later, lots of local meetups at state and regional events, beers with @slander and @spesh at Cask Fest. Even met up with a BA in Australia during my wife and I honeymoon. Brought him some US beer in a swap.

After marriage came children and my trading and reviewing slowed down a fair amount. fest attendance dropped off too. Pretty much only posted beer reviews and not much else for a few years 2010-2015 ish timeframe.

Kids got older and I started to ramp up my participation again with trying to get into trading again, but found the "codes" for sought after beers overwhelming so did some local for local swaps. Got more active in the forums and then found the tasting threads coordinated by @FBarber just in time for the Barleywine tasting hosted by @SierraNevallagash . LOVED that event and probably had too many barleywines in one weekend! But was a lot of fun and really rekindled and expanded my love of this site! Have been doing the tastings since, which is fun way to get out of beer style ruts and try other things.

Very proud of the hosting the kolsch event last year and had a lot of fun watching the reviews come in and the participation there.

Now do some fantasy sport related BIFs English Soccer and NFL 33 are highlights. NFL 33 is the most time consuming and strategy invoking BIF of all time!!

Still reviewing beers as I can but only drink on the weekends now and rarely more than 2 or 3 beers in a sitting.

Enjoying this thread and reminiscing a bit. Now back to reading others and their intro posts

Thanks to @Todd for all the efforts keeping this site an engaging and fun place to share about craft beers!
Cheers!

 

Be glad to have a pint if/when you head out this way.
Would help with brewery recommendations too, if you planned a beer centric trip.

 

Thanks man!! right back atcha! Its probably almost time for us to do another swap again isnt it?

 

Good to hear that you liked those Ale Street updates! I really enjoyed connecting with the brewers to hear what they had planned for the tanks and taps.

Get me a print copy of ASN and Ill autograph it for ya!