Re- trying the beers you first liked

oh shiner, I remember having my dad bring me back a case from Alabama once. Some Texas friends got me into pat Greene back before he sort of got popular. Kept hearing him sing about shiner bock so my 21 year old self had to try it haha. Now it’s in NJ but haven’t seen it in a while. Another one I should revisit.

 

Perfect time to re-visit Sierra Nevada Pale Ale if you had it back in the early '80s, since the current bottle labels look like this:

 

I grabbed a single just to have the bottle, wasn’t born till 86 though haha. It was dated 4/27/2020 I drank it July 4th. Dates be damned, it was perfect. Prompted me to buy a 12 pack that’s gone now. Which I plan to replenish next week. I forgot how perfect it was. Shame on me.

 

I'd love to revisit the craft beers I first loved, but they're not around anymore. In the early 90's I drank a shit ton on New Amsterdam Amber. It was usually on tap at most NYC bars, great beer it was. They also had an "IDA", India Dark Ale, that I remember really enjoying.

But as @jesskidden posted, SNPA has always been a staple in my life and will continue to be.

As far as first non-craft beers I used to "love" (translation: drank too much of in high school/college), I don't really have the desire to revisit Bush and Meisterbrau. But do on occasion drink PBR and Narragansett if I'm feeling the AAL itch.

 

The first IPA I actually enjoyed was New Belgium's Ranger. THE ORIGINAL. Unfortunately, it has been tainted with Voodoo...I never buy it

You always remember your first

 

In terms of the first beers I tried (Keith’s, Moosehead and Schooner), I haven’t had any of these in decades and don’t feel the need to do so. About twenty five years ago I had a Polish friend who introduced me to Zywiec and Ococim, which I enjoyed at the time. Again, it’s been quite a while for these beers. Had a few Sierra Nevada PA last year after a long gap and still enjoyed it considerably. Would like to find an Anchor Liberty Ale, which was another fav from the way back days. The beers I’ve been drinking fairly consistently for the longest period of time would likely be stuff from Fuller’s. They never get old to me it seems.

 

I know if I re-rated a lot of the brews that I had first tried years ago, that I wouldn't give them quite as good of a rating nowadays. With that being said, I'm pretty sure if people are looking at beer reviews they're not going to pay a lot of attention to a rating from 10 or more years ago.

 

I used to love Corona Light with lime; I tried it with pizza last year and couldn't finish it. Maybe a bad bottle.

One of my breakout craft beers was Sam Summer; I tried it again last summer with dinner and was disappointed. Guess you Can't Go Home Again.

 

Only one way to find out...if you were gonna revisit an old beer which one would it be?

 

I'll have to look back at some of my really old reviews and then pick some. I really didn't have any particular beer in mind!

 

La Fin Du Monde and Maudite were my gateway beers, I’ve been retrying them for about 10 years now. Even smelling Maudite triggers a nostalgic reaction/flashback like that food snob in Ratatouille.

2011 Weyerbacher Insanity with a year on it was the first beer to truly blow my mind, and that beer, while always good, was never that good again (I drink various vintages every year). I attribute this mostly to being inexperienced with barleywine, but I also stand by that batch really being something else.

 

SNPA was a beer that was just an amazing beer back in 1988, today it’s an easy pass. Just can’t get that great hoppy taste.

Hop Devil was a great super earthy spicy ipa in 1996. Today it’s a watery sweet mess.

Old Nick was such a disgusting mess in 1986, today I love Barleywine.


Many others I should go back and try.


Great thread.

Enjoy

 

As great as this beer is, it’s been forever since I’ve had it. Love the label.

 

The first beer I drank legally was either a 60 Minute or 90 Minute, I'm not sure which. As a very-freshly-minted 21 year old (it was about 1am on my 21st birthday), it was overpowering and I thought it was dreadful. These days, I think both are excellent.

 

Good timing because I am going through this myself but my experience may be coming from the other side, as many of the craft beers I once liked I can barely finish now (mostly of the IPA variety) and some of the old run of the mill beers I am finding that I really enjoy again. Case in point Yuengling Traditional Lager. Growing up in PA this was THE craft beer in a sea of Bud and Miller products and it showed me that beer can be more than fizzy and yellow. But years later it became just cheap, boring water to me and couldn't hold a candle to the IPA flavor bombs. But recently I grabbed one because I wanted something simple and cheap and I was impressed by the amount of head and how smooth it was and for the price it at least has some flavor and really hit the spot.

Palates and what not really are strange beasts and ask me a year ago if I would be "impressed" now by a Yuengling beer I have had hundreds of times in my youth and I would have said no way in hell.

 

Early craft beers that have held up: Two Hearted, Racer 5, Celebration, Hop Devil, Great Lakes Oktoberfest, SA Oktoberfest, Founders Porter & Imperial Stout

Have not: Goose Island, Fat Tire, Sculpin, Green Flash/Alpine

 

Shiner Bock was the first beer I liked. I've bought it recently and I still like it as much as ever. I don't find it watery but a bit metallic.

Then the other beers I really liked were Redhook ESB, Sam Adams Black Lager, and Full Sail amber. Those beers aren't available in North Texas anymore. But Sam Adams Boston Lager actually tastes more flavorful and bitter than I remember it... I think it's fresher when I buy it in 12 packs.

 

Fresh SA Boston Lager is pretty hoppy for the style. I can remember the first few times I had it and long before my IPA days it was borderline tough to finish and it was like none of the other beers I have had within this style.

I miss their Black Lager a lot, especially when you could by it as a standalone six pack.

 

I revist quite often sometimes.

Cheers!

 

The first beer I experienced was Moosehead Red. A true New Brunswick (Canada) experience. It was a means to get drunk. Today, some 35 years later, I'll still grab a case when I head to the camp with the lads. It still works to get drunk. Is it good? Meh, as far as plonk goes, it's fair.

In the world of craft, there is a brewery in New Brunswick called Picaroons. They were the original craft brewery there. Traditional English styles using a Ringwood system.

When they opened, I couldn't get enough of their stuff. I especially liked their best bitter. When I was back home a few years back, we popped into the taproom for a pint. Naturally I had the bitter. It was a severe letdown. It just tasted like a pint of butter and it just made me sad. I switched up to their IPA, same result.

Since then I have determined it's the Ringwood that I do not care for. It just doesn't work for me anymore.

Lesson learned, you can't go home again.