Your biggest epiphany in craft beer

When I first had a Moa Pale Ale and realized that not only have I only just scratched the surface of hop varietals but that we're due for a Kiwi invasion.

 

When bombers of beers from average to above-average breweries cost more than buying a six pack of Zombie Dust (at equivalent per ounce cost). I'm more price conscious when buying beer.

 

That good, fresh beer is literally everywhere, especially at the local breweries, and doesn't need an exalted, fancy pedigree to be really good!

 

I've had many over the last 25 years or so. But my latest is this: Many of the beers that I love are WAY TOO F*%$ing EXPENSIVE!!! But I buy them anyway.

 

Amen.

 

That beer trading, for the most part, is a huge waste of time, money, and effort.

 

That there are more beer variety a than the IPA

 

the first time I drank a stout. Especially imperial stouts. Stoudts fat dog was my first. It was so good. They are my favorite beer style now (quads are a close second).

Stouts = the milkshakes of beer.

 

What's my end game for craft beer? Being "the best" at buying (expensive+rare) beers? Hosting the best tasting parties? Sending twice as many extras on every trade, as I received? Getting a lot of likes on BA?

Opening the "coolest" beer bar/shop/restaurant in town? Home brewing? Commercial brewing? Starting my own brewery? Trying to make a lot of money, or trying to follow a passion? Or being a 'regular guy' who just likes beer?

>> I think I'll enjoy a cold beverage and consider this all tomorrow.

 

That as bitter as I may get about living in the middle of nowhere and not being able to find all the super-exclusive limited releases aged in jesus' personal bourbon barrels, I can always get super-fresh awesomely good beer of all sorts of styles from a handful of unknown, local microbreweries.

 

That I really, really enjoy stouts, after years of never giving them a chance.

 

That I am spending WAY too much on beer and I need to cut back...

 

Yeah, mine was finding IPAs I could enjoy too, if for at the least it being such a predominant style and my lack of enjoyment of them initially shutting me out of a ton of beers.

 

The single greatest epiphany, that everone who gets into craft beer has had! Simply put.....Beer can actually taste GOOD!

 

Pliny the Elder.
I use to hate IPA's now I can't live without them!!

 

The first time I had Abt. 12, I'm certain I was every bit as happy as the Monk on that bottle!........Still am!

 

I first realized I liked IPAs with Dogfish Head 90 Minute. My experience with Stone before then, although I kinda liked Cali-Belgique, had not been very successful. Their German Anniversary IPA is quite nice though.

As far as the biggest epiphany, I definitely spend too much on beer. I got a 200 dollar speeding ticket on my way down to get my allotted 3 bottles of Atrial Rubicite and as I'm just a college student, that bankrupted me. Realized then, when examining my finances, that I spend too much on beer, especially since I seem to buy it faster than I drink it. No, that didn't stop me from spending about 50 bucks in a day driving around town finding the last few bottles of Double DBA. I drank one, have two more sitting around to age until whenever. So maybe I haven't learned my lesson yet.

 

I hated IPAs and almost completely wrote them off...then came the Ballast Point Sculpin. Won't say I've done a complete 180 on the style, but I legitimately enjoy IPAs now.

 

My biggest epiphany was that I can make better beer than I can buy at home in my garage with a Coleman cooler and a turkey fryer. Not to mention at roughly half the cost.