Beer Epiphany Moments

Kansas is (or was) a battleground state between Coors and Bud. So I drank Bud...until FreeState, it, well freed my palate. Their Copperhead Ale did it for me. It's what beer was suppose to taste like and it changed me.

From there, Rochefort 10 was a stunner.

I rarely drink the same thing over and over (even a 6pk is pushing it), but these I will

 

A few of many.....
Schneider Weisse Tap 6 Aventinus
Weihenstephaner Hefe weiss
CCB Marshal Zhukov

 

Cascades at Stone Sourfest several years back: discovering a different take on sour

 

My top Three:
Baladin Copper 2004- holy tamale 8 year old barleywine.
Scaldis Prestige (not the du nuits, the regular)
Chimay Spéciale Cent Cinquante - their 150th anniversary beer.

The first two are $40+ beers, amazinly the $25 Chimay in also in the conversation.

 

So back in the mid nineties we used to shoulder tap people going into the liquor store to score some beers before the punk shows on the weekends. Usually our thirt bucks would get us a twelver of oly. One dude brought out sunshine wheat from new belgium. I haven't looked back.

 

Probably espresso oak aged yeti, not so much the taste but the aroma just blew my mind.

 

I loved BA beers before I tried this one, but my god did FW XIV blow me away.

 

<-- Opened the world of Belgian styles to me.

 

Dark Lord
Hopslam
Dreadnaught
Rochefort 8

 

In chronological order:

Stone Double Bastard -- depth and complexity of flavor was such a new concept at that time, and it was also delicious!
2008 Stone Imperial Stout (12 oz), consumed in early 2012.
Wake n' Bake
Cigar City Apple Brandy Marshal Zhukov
Goose Island King Henry
Goose Island Bramble.

 

In chronological order:
- La Fin Du Monde
- Devil Dancer
- New Holland Blue Sunday #16
- Southern Tier Pumking

 

Orval made me realize that i dont like all Belgians.

Cuvee van de Kaizer Blauw might be the best BSDA, even more than trappists and Delirium.

Cantillon Iris got me started on a tear of Belgians that I have yet to finish.

My first Celebrator began my love of Germans.

Nugget Nectar showed me that hops are glorious.

 

Sting and RoboCop shared an epiphany over a glass of Heady Topper.

 

I had a similar experience with Tuppers' Hop Pocket Ale on the hand pump at the (now defunct) Old Dominion brewpub in Ashburn, Virginia. It tipped me over into my love for hoppy brews and it was my first real ale, which ultimately led me to a pub (and distillery) tour of Great Britain. Dominion's Oak Barrel Stout was another one, from which I developed a fondness for what I think of as my dessert stouts—sweet with notes of vanilla, chocolate, bourbon, and/or coffee (and which I actually do use for baking). It was a staple by the growler when I lived 10 minutes away. I've since developed broader tastes but these two really kicked off my serious beer tasting.

 

In some rough order:

Sam Adams Black Lager: Beer can be good?! Someone left some in my dorm at school and said they sucked, I instantly stopped getting Coors/BMC and switched over to Sam Adams.

Dieu Du Ciel Peche Mortel: Had it at the brewery before my 21st (Canada). Really got this whole thing started.

Stone Ruination: Hops are.... amazing.

St. Bernardus Abt 12: Monks are... great beer brewers.

Cantillon Kriek: Why does this beer that smells like a musty old horse taste so god damn good. No more extra money for me.

Founders Breakfast Stout/Ballast Point Sculpin: First time having either of them, still probably my two favorites of their styles. Mango/peach/tropical fruit hops are a gift from god. How the hell does Founders make this beer taste like everything good in life?

Founders KBS: I think I might like Bourbon. I think I am addicted to Imperial Stouts.

Russian River Sours: Americans can make these amazing beers too? 4 hour drive to Philly was so worth it.

Great Divide Barrel Aged Yeti: Only one in the last few months. Might be the best beer I have ever had. After a few years of reviewing I have come to appreciate balance probably more than anything (IPAs not included).

 

I recently realized the same thing when I discovered that I have spent $800 on beer in the past 4 months. I am now on a beer budget for the first time.

 

2 Hearted Ale
Alpha King
Bourbon county stout

AND THEN

Barrel Aged 4th D Old Ale - - maybe the best liquid ever to hit a glass.

Wow - all Midewest - hmm

 

I had a similar experience with Three Floyds Moloko; that beer was pure satin in the feel.

 

Mine kind of range from opening my eyes to different styles to showing me how amazing some breweries are. So my revelation beers are:

Troegs Troegenator (the beer that really got me in to craft beer)
Lagunitas Maximus IPA (started my love of IPAs)
Bourbon County (first barrel aged beer)
KBS (second barrel aged beer)
Pretty Things Once Upon a Time: Mild (first PT beer)
Dale's Pale Ale (forever changed my mind about cans)
Rodenbach (first sour)

-the rest are beers that blew my mind and made me love these companies even more-

Heady Topper
HF Society & Solitude #3
HF Double Citra
HF Everett
Lagunitas Daytime IPA

 

That's the beer that got me hooked. Back when Buckeye was on the East Side it was on tap all the time.

I've requested they make it again so many times they're sick of me asking. Last time I asked, Garin told me he forgot the recipe and won't ever be able to make it again. Last time he tried to remember the recipe, Bling Bling was created.