10 years a Beer Advocate

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by RJLarse, Dec 31, 2015.

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  1. RJLarse

    RJLarse Pooh-Bah (2,375) Dec 30, 2005 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    Ten years ago yesterday (12/30/05) I happened across the Beer Advocate website, while trying to figure out what a Cranberry Lambic was. And the rest as they say is history. I had already made the jump from cheap, mostly regional macros like Rainier and Olympia. Sam Adams and Henry Weinhard’s had displaced those cheaper brews. But I had a lot to learn. The Sam Adams Winter Sampler of that year had me searching the web that winter night. It’s not much of an accomplishment, and there are plenty in the community who have been here longer than I, but I thought I would take a minute to reflect on 10 years.

    One of the first things I did after joining the community was buy the BA bottle opener (pictured). It has the old “fist and pint” logo, which at the time I thought looked like a civil rights image. It shows a bit of wear, and has opened a lot of bottles since then. Someday I’ll have to estimate how many.

    In 2005 there were really only a couple of craft breweries in the eastern Washington north Idaho region. Since then I have seem more than a dozen come, and sadly a handful come and go.

    My stats show 851 beer reviews and 77 places. I was accumulating those at a faster pace in the first five years as opposed to the second five. I spent some time as a BeerFly Guide for Washington and Idaho on an early version of the site. I enjoy the New Beer Sunday thread. It keeps me on the lookout for at least one new beer every week. One thing about craft beer, there is always something new.

    I have learned a lot about beer since that first Cranberry Lambic research project. I have a small collection of glassware, and I do some cooking and food pairing with beer as well. I have attended a few beer fests in the last 3 or 4 years.

    I started home brewing, with some success, and I am about to enter my 4th year as a home brewer. So far my home brewing has been with dry malt extract, but I am contemplating an attempt at all grain brewing in the not too distant future.

    So that’s the short version of my 10 years in the BA community.

    Here’s to another 10!

    Happy Trails!

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 RJLarse, Dec 31, 2015
    jlordi12, CJNAPS, Victory_Sabre1973 and 134 others like this.
  2. Shrdder253

    Shrdder253 Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2015 Washington

    A decade is a pretty long time. Especially in the beer world. So much has changed just in Washington in that time.

    Well done on 10 years.

    Cheers!
     
    #2 Shrdder253, Jan 1, 2016
    2beerdogs, hophugger, NanookinTexas and 2 others like this.
  3. readyski

    readyski Pooh-Bah (1,557) Jun 4, 2005 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I feel ya bud - I remember when the Bert Grant's IPA was the sh*t. Oh wait that was 30 yrs ago. Damn. :grimacing:
     
    #3 readyski, Jan 1, 2016
    DucRacer900, raynmoon, beerluvr and 2 others like this.
  4. trc180

    trc180 Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2003 Kentucky

    Your testimony is well done, and written, too.

    CHEERS on this New Year's Eve.
     
    #4 trc180, Jan 1, 2016
    2beerdogs, Shroud0fdoom, laketang and 1 other person like this.
  5. factory

    factory Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2010 Georgia

    Congrats bud! Would be interesting to see the number of *active* 10 year BA members. I suspect you are among the few.
     
    #5 factory, Jan 1, 2016
    CJNAPS, foundersfan1, 2beerdogs and 1 other person like this.
  6. Wasatch

    Wasatch Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,050) Jun 8, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Congrats! Keep It Going! Happy New Year! I bought a shirt, and still have it!

    Cheers!
     
    #6 Wasatch, Jan 1, 2016
    SwillBilly, 2beerdogs, russpowell and 2 others like this.
  7. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cheers and Happy New Years, @RJLarse!
     
    #7 sharpski, Jan 1, 2016
    2beerdogs likes this.
  8. PuckIt

    PuckIt Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Can anyone confirm the #1 beer a decade ago?
     
    #8 PuckIt, Jan 1, 2016
  9. laketang

    laketang Grand Pooh-Bah (3,017) Mar 22, 2015 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah

    i'm just coming up on one, ten, wow! congrats.cheers to ten more
     
    #9 laketang, Jan 1, 2016
    2beerdogs likes this.
  10. Wasatch

    Wasatch Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,050) Jun 8, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Westy 12

    Cheers!
     
    #10 Wasatch, Jan 1, 2016
    foundersfan1, 2beerdogs, vurt and 3 others like this.
  11. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    ....and I thought it was Ruination...:rolling_eyes:
     
    #11 Shroud0fdoom, Jan 1, 2016
    2beerdogs and Wasatch like this.
  12. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Congrats. And if you wanna try all grain, pick up a brew in a bag. Its a great way to get your feet wet before comitting to a full all grain set up.
     
    #12 SFACRKnight, Jan 1, 2016
    Hesscabob, foundersfan1 and 2beerdogs like this.
  13. Pete9094

    Pete9094 Pundit (898) Nov 26, 2001 Pennsylvania

    Congrats on 10 years! Lots has changed for the better. I'm still amazed at the scope of craft beer and it keeps improving with time.

    Happy New Year to all!
     
    #13 Pete9094, Jan 1, 2016
    CanadianBacon, foundersfan1, Jacobier10 and 2 others like this.
  14. rab53

    rab53 Initiate (0) May 1, 2005 Washington
    Trader

    Welcome to the Decade Club!

    PS. Nothing changes.
     
    #14 rab53, Jan 1, 2016
    Sound_Explorer, NorthCoastPranqster, 2beerdogs and 3 others like this.
  15. bozodogbreath

    bozodogbreath Savant (1,128) Oct 19, 2006 Indiana
    Trader

    Congrats on 10 years, old timer!
     
    #15 bozodogbreath, Jan 1, 2016
    2beerdogs likes this.
  16. BigMike

    BigMike Pooh-Bah (2,334) May 8, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Happy New Year!:sunglasses:
     
    #16 BigMike, Jan 1, 2016
  17. algebeeric_topology

    algebeeric_topology Pooh-Bah (2,052) Dec 30, 2014 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    10 years later, so many great breweries later, I'm still anxious for Sam adams winter sampler
     
    #17 algebeeric_topology, Jan 1, 2016
    2beerdogs and LuskusDelph like this.
  18. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Congratulations. This is an easy site to get hooked on. Here's to ten more!
     
    #18 utopiajane, Jan 1, 2016
    CanadianBacon, dgmirelli, NorthCoastPranqster and 2 others like this.
  19. tillmac62

    tillmac62 Pooh-Bah (2,859) Oct 2, 2013 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Congrats, may you have many more years here.
     
    #19 tillmac62, Jan 1, 2016
    NorthCoastPranqster likes this.
  20. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Congrats! Nice reflecting on the past 10 yrs. Don't be afraid to make that jump to all-grain brewing, it's a little more work but a lot of fun!
     
    #20 Jacobier10, Jan 1, 2016
    foundersfan1 and 2beerdogs like this.
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