Beer Moments

My first sip of beer period at 5 years old with my dad back in 83'. So good I spit it out. But appreciated dad's generosity and amusement.

 

"sharing" Black Tuesday with My twin bro over skype 4000 miles away.

 

Saving my bottle of Brooklyn Black Ops for May 2. It is the perfect day of the year on which to enjoy it.

 

KBS on tap in Waterbury, VT in August. Paired with maple bacon ice cream and apple cider donut holes.

The last beer I was expecting to drink in Waterbury during my first visit.

 

My bro which we now just become close shared his black tuesday for my 30th birthday... very special...

 

Recent tasting of Peekskill Brewery's newest masterpiece Higher Standard. Trust me, taste this beer and you will understand it is a homerun anytime, anyplace, with anybody.

Drinking a two year old Hurricane Kitty aged in Tuthilltown Rye Barrels on Fathers Day with my best friend also comes to mind.

 

First cask BridgePort Blue Heron at the brewery, 1991ish. It was different beer than it is now, sort of style straddling, too. It was heavily hopped with domestic Tettnangs and had elements of an English dark mild as well. It went great with a few games of darts over a long lazy afternoon into evening.

They also sold the draught version at the time, and there was no comparison- the cask opened a whole new world, and really presented that beer perfectly.

 

Sitting at Rattle n Hum in NYC on 4/20/12, completely ignorant, seeing a beer called Waldo's Special Ale go up on the board, asking the server what it was and then tasting it.

 

Watching my fiancee make fun of me when I learned a local place had a secret stash of King Henry, only to literally watch the "OMG I didnt know beer could taste like that!" moment wash over her face.

In fact, most of my home run moments involve watching that look on someones face.

 

Yesterday afternoon's KBS 3 $5 8 oz pours at an empty out of the way bar. Quiet, pouring rain, exceptional beer. 24 oz bomber equivalent for $15 Ill have that all day, any day. Founders you have finally impressed me.

September 2012 Tuesday after work driving 70 miles from Allentown to Philadelphia for my first Bourbon County. Called earlier, walked in, bartender shows me a little maybe 6 oz goblet? says "This is for everyone else. but you sir, are serious, and this is for you" and proceeds to pour my big 10 maybe 12 oz chalice. I know I have just had the best beer ever made.

Thursday after Christmas 2012 my first Cherry Rye. The first taste so tart, the best just got better. My first Cherry Rye on tap, months later High Street Grill, Mt Holly NJ.

Driving 2 hours after work to Hamilton NJ (I lived for a spell years ago in Ewing NJ suburb of Trenton NJ and my favorite old client was right down the road). Like going home to have my first Bourbon County Coffee draft. And it was out of this world.

December 2009 my very first Samichlaus. Merry Christmas. Best lager in the world.

grand slam. let's play two.

 

You must have had that over the weekend at TAP NY. I was meaning to try the Hurricane kitty, but time got away from me.

 

The the first sampler taste while in line after a long drive up to Hill Farmstead, usually Abner.

 

Right on mklisz. Sampler taste standing in line at HF this past Feb. Harlan, SS#1, Citra, Abner, and Everett. Then we got back in line and did it again.

 

I grew up in Ewing! Haven't been back there in a long time, but almost no one has ever heard of it, so I usually just say I grew up in Trenton.

Anyway, back on topic:

My first sip of Otto's Ottonator on a cold fall day.

Most of what I had on St. Patty's 2012:
- Guinness on tap (it came free with breakfast. how could I say no to that!?)
- homebrew Grand Cru
- Ayinger Celebrator
- Delerium Tremens
- Aventinus (they were sadly out of the eisbock)
- NC Old Raspy

There were a few weaker beers (and several glasses of water) spattered throughout, but those were the ones that really stood out as homeruns that day. These were spread out from 7am till around 11pm, otherwise, I'da been on my ass. Or worshiping the porcelain goddess. Anyway, I think it was because the temps were in the 70s, and it was a gorgeous, bright, sunshiney day, and walking around State College, PA with my husband and one of his bosses was pretty awesome. Usually, it's windy, cold, and miserable in central PA that time of year, so the weather definitely helped.

 

Convincing a co-worker to ask his parents in VT to go to The Alchemist and bring some Heady Topper home for their Easter visit to L.I. They drove 2 hours there and back from their house in VT and did it. Only problem was they kept two four packs from the case. I couldn't complain.

 

A few years ago, having my first ever Hopslam after just closing on my first home.

Celebrating a monumental moment in my personal life with close friends and family, combined with my first taste of a great beer that I had been looking forward to trying but didn't think I would have the opportunity to do so. I still remember how incredible that beer tasted as if it had just happened yesterday.

 

Thumbs up to South Jersey (born and raised in Mt. Laurel) and Cherry Rye (just had my first one a couple weeks ago, great beer, the last sip was the best).

 

They just keep getting better and better. Higher was so impressive. Nice to see them finally get their deserved recognition with the award too. That place is going to blow up very soon.