Do You Remember Your First IPA?

Thanks again.

 

Around 1972 Ballantine IPA, I wish I knew than what I do now.

 

I had a keg of Hop Devil at my wedding in 1996 just after Victory opened. It was not my first IPA but I really cant remember what it was. I lived in Boulder early 1990s and worked across from Boulder brewing so I must of had an IPA there.

Enjoy

 

Amazingly, yes. It was Boulevard's....wait for it.....IPA.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/19431/

That was circa 2005ish??? at Springfield Brewing Company. Up to that point Old Milwaukee's Best, aka "The Beast", had been the beer of choice. If I remember correctly it was called the beast because it was a whopping 5.6% abv compared to Bud Light which was 4.2% abv or something like that. In other words for the money you were getting more alcohol for your dollar.

I distinctly remember trying it and actually liking it. Not just pounding beer water to get drunk, I was suddenly contemplating flavor. But it was short lived as I soon relocated to Nicaragua which was a desert of macro lagers. Returning to the U.S.A. in 2010, I settled in Connecticut and discovered an IPA called Sea Hag which is really my first love.

 

Not really

 

I loved the marzen, for what it was.

 

Back before I found this site, I bought two Sixers every Friday, I rotated between Hop Devil, 60 Minute, and Two Hearted Ale, 2 of the 3 every week. I occasionally rotated thru Modus, or Hop Rod Rye, Sculpin, whatever. There’s a few I haven’t tried, some I’ve loved like Yellow Rose, that’s so hard to get. Highlight was between VT hoppy stuff de jour and Pliny and Blind Pig on tap at Monks Cafe in Philly.

 

Bridgeport in Portland. Probably late 90s or early 00s. Followed by Stone shortly thereafter.

 

In 2016, when I first joined the Craft Beer scene, Stone had just begun brewing Beer in Richmond Virginia. The first time I bought an IPA was in a small liquor store. They had Stone IPA positioned in front with a big sign, I could not help but buy try it. To this day, West Coast influenced AIPA is my favorite version. Cheers.

 

Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA back in 2003. Remember buying a 4 pack of bottles at Penn State for like $14. That was very expensive for a college student. Especially because i passed on the half a case of decent lager!

 

Two Hearted. I can't remember if I had it before Boston Lager or visa versa, but it may have been my first craft beer. It was about 10-11 years ago. I still remember how surprised I was at these flavors I was tasting, and I knew I'd never drink cheap beer again. I've drank a few more Two Hearted since then.

 

I’m like 99.9% sure it was East India Pale Ale by Brooklyn. I liked it too. I had already been drinking for a few years (mostly shit) so it was an eye opener for me. Hoptical Illusion by Blue Point was my first favorite one. First IPA I remember not being local to me that really leveled me was Hop Wallop by Victory. Especially at 8.3%, lol, I used to think that was so strong.

You kids got it so good. I remember in the late 90s, maaaaybe 2000, me and a few of my buddies drove a half-hour to a bar because they had DFH 90-Minute IPA on draft at a bar known for good beer. Funny to think about it now.

 

Yup. Great Lakes Burning River IPA. Circa 2001. Thought it was appropriately named. Subsequently drank import lagers for the next decade. 90 Minute and Sumpin Sumpin were a couple of the gateway beers that brought me back.

 

Tyranena Bitter Woman IPA. 2003 ish.

 

Love this man! I could not agree more! I LOVED 90 minute IPA and I use to compare everything new to it. If someone ever offered me something I never heard of, I would respond "Have you ever tried 90 Minute IPA?"

 

Probably the IPA called Viking from the Santa Monica Brew Pub in the mid 1990's. Which is long since gone. But the biggest impact would be Arrogant Bastard in the late 1990s, while not considered an IPA, I consider it a red ipa.

Stone IPA and Alesmith IPA were also in the mix in that timeframe.

 

Hop Devil was first followed by 60 minute. These were my go tos for a while along with SNPA. The first IPAs that completely blew my mind when I first had them were Stone IPA and Flower Power.