Possibly the Andechser Doppelbock I stumbled across in a grocery store in Lubeck, Germany, back in the late 90s Possibly the Westvleteren 12 I drank a year ago (courtesy of @Rub_This_BBQ) with two dear friends in a head-to-head with St Bernardus Abt 12. Or possibly the Keystone Lights my brother and I put away at my folks' late former neighbor's house after days of packing up and moving out said folks' incredibly large amount of stuff in 100° heat back in 2011.
That's the beer that led me to BA. In 2003, at a freaking Tony Roma's in Richland, WA, I asked for a Guinness and was told "We don't have it, but we have something just like it!" by the friendly but beer-naive waitress. The rest is history, much of it debauched.
first sip of BARREL AGED DARK LORD back in 05 or whatever was the first year they put it on draft at the pub for DLD. it was the apex of my geekiness, back when nothing lived up to hype. this did!! the others in my group decided not to wait in line to enter the pub, but i called them from inside and told them they HAD TO try this. i managed somehow to open the fire door by the merch area and let them all in to cut the line and try this magical beer. can't believe nobody saw this and i didn't get caught. people were pissed about line cutting that day. probably also one of the first 10-20 barrel aged stouts i ever had as well. the experience of drinking this beer epitomized the camraderie, the adventure, and the creativity of the early 00's beer scene.. things that just don't leave as bold a mark as they used to. it's going to take a miracle for the industry to get back there in terms of harnessing excitement
A quote from my review on Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - the first beer I've ever had: I remember the build-up from research, to smelling simply the bottlecap from it, to the pour, and finally taking a sip. It was beautiful, even if it's as something as simple as a seasonal German brew.
Really great thread! I wish I could say it was Westfleteren in the warandepark, or the roof-top Westmalle dubbel overlooking Brussels, or maybe the Rochefort 10 at the old Spijtegen Duivel, but it wasn’t. Rare experiences for sure, and they helped revive my interest in BA… The two that actually stick out sound much less interesting. The second, maybe third time at the Roundhouse in Toronto, ordering two big mugs of unfiltered pilsner for me and my new lady friend. Steam Whistle was always a favourite, but the stuff on tap after a long day of driving and sightseeing, it was exceptional! The other was even more mundane. I don’t remember what I had ordered. I was at Beau’s with a group of people and, halfway through our pints, one of the bartenders calls out “hey, so who wants to do a tour of the brewery?” (as if he just got bored or something). Everyone kind of shrugged and went over with their beers. It was so casual. I thought that was really cool.
May 30, 2018. My wife and I hiked from Hřensko, a village in the mountainous Bohemian Switzerland area of northwest Czech Republic, ending at ‘Pravčická brána’, the largest natural stone arch in mainland Europe. The hike up was arduous, but gorgeous. Next to the rock formation is the ‘Falkennest’ (Falcon Nest), a mountaintop restaurant, built in 1881. Tired (and excited) from our accomplishment, all I hoped for was a cold beer. What I was served was a draught, ice cold, Budweiser (not that one.,.) Budvar Dark. Blew my mind. The hike, the scenery, the stone arch, the reward of this beautiful beer. We are returning to relive the experience in July.,.
Not a great day, but a very tragic one (with the exception of the great beer) : 11. September 2001. I had just flown in to Aberdeen, Scotland, in the morning, and was waiting for the train to Glasgow. I had time enough to venture just outside the railway station, and went into Aitchie's Ale House across the street, to have a beer. They had 1 cask ale on, Orkney Dark Island. It was (possibly) the best beer I've ever had at that time (it is still one of my favourites). The TV was on, and I saw, shocked as everyone else, plane No. 2 crash into the second twin tower. I'll never forget it - nor the beer. The purpose of my trip to Scotland was to see two football (soccer) games - they were both cancelled / postponed due to this tragic event.
I was working for a landscaping crew in Pittsburgh for a few summers while home from school in the early 70s. Wednesday was mowing day, non-stop from 730 am until 430 pm and the crew would split up into three teams. No riding mowers back then. We would all converge for the last yard in the McKees Rocks neighborhood. The property owner had a large place with a picnic pavilion in the back and a refrigerator full of Duquesne Pilsner. When we finished, he gave us all, probably 10-12 guys a bottle of Duke. It was always ice cold. A beer never tasted so good.
I have plenty of these stories and memories and it’s hard to just name one, hence I’ll mention a relatively recent one. Just two years ago we drove to Britanny in western France for a ten days vacation, near six hours on the road before checking in our apartment with a nice view on the beach. After we eventually left our luggages and stuff in that place, we walked to the nearest bar and terrace offering this lovely view to quench my thirst:
The Miller High Life I had the night my son was born. It was Thanksgiving night some 44 years ago. My wife had been in labor for over 20 hours, poor thing. I can remember it like it just happened
In the summer of 2011 after 4 days of ripping through the back roads of Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania on motorcycles with 3 good friends. We showered and went up to a rooftop cafe/bar with a view of "the world" and had a good meal and an excellent local draft beer.
Having a beer with my Dad when I got back from Vietnam. Something on tap at the bar and I don't remember the brand but 50+ years later I vividly recall the experience.
There are so many popping in my head right now and nearly all of them are tied to a location. There are 2 from a trip to Switzerland last year. Lindemans Gueuze from a rental balcony in Chamonix. A Rose de Gambrinus in a Trappist Cafe in Bern. Beers with a view in Alaska or the Bahamas. Beers with my friends in KC for my 40th birthday. Looking forward to some epic views in Oregon in about a month to have some more memorable travel beer experiences.
Late January, 2016, I drank a bottle of 2014 Goose Island's Bourbon County Brand Stout. It was a generous (especially at the time) 'extra' in my first BA trade. The kind Creepinjeeper sent it my way. Distinctly recall setting aside some time on that sunny winter day to slowly sip those 12oz while sitting in a recliner next to frosty window panes. It was the first time in my life where I realized how magnificent and exceptional a well made beer could really be, far exceeding anything else I had drank up until that point. There really have been only 2-3 other times a beer has compared to that moment, but that experience and memory with BCBS '14 will always remain a soft spot for me.
Way back, Mrs. Lizard and I'd ride our dinosaurs into Victory's brewpub where I first had Baltic Thunder! A life-changing experience leading to many cases of bombers over the first few years. Then came Baltic Thunder aged in wine barrels - undrinkable until it (accidentally) aged a few years. I'm sure time has improved memories.
I first visited Andechs back in 2004 after seeing that their doppelbock was so highly regarded here. Granted, it wasn't the only reason we visited Bavaria but it did play a role in choosing it vs. another region of Germany. I remember having to jump through quite a few hoops to make that trip happen and I didn't know a word of German at the time. Yet when we rolled up that morning (they weren't even open yet), I knew we were in for something special considering there was a line to even get in. The staff wasn't particularly great at English, but they were super nice and we figured the drill out quickly enough. That first sip was straight up magical and honestly made the whole thing worthwhile right then. Even to this day I still get that every time I drink that beer. It might not still be my undisputed #1 beer in the world without a doubt...but it's no worse than top 5.
Bet the wife hasn't let you forget those 20 hrs either. Lot of great and some sad but interesting stories in this thread
For whatever reason and circumstances, the single best beer I ever drank was a Founder's Double Trouble on tap, at Three Floyd's no less. On a fresh pallet, single most enjoyable beer I ever had.
Took my then new girlfriend to my favorite neighborhood bar many years ago to show her off to my buddies. She was never in that or any bar for that matter, she was raised in a non drinking family. Don't remember the beer we had but it was a draft. Been married 48 years now with 4 grown kids and still go back to that bar in the old neighborhood on occasion for beers and a good time.
