Best Random Beer Purchase

Good People Snake Handler. My first DIPA and a damn good one, opened the world of DIPAs for me.

 

New Holland's The Poet. Went in for Dragon's Milk, since I heard a lot about it. Walked out with a couple of New Holland's offerings. Dragon's Milk was so-so, in my opinion. The Poet--which I forgot about for several months--ended up being a solid oatmeal stout, and the best "surprise" beer to date.

 

Flying Dog Raging Bitch. It was the first craft beer I bought and opened me up to the world of what beer could be. But most beers I buy without doing research, unless its an expensive bottle-then Ill do the research.

 

Since joining the site, I almost always check out a new-to-me beer to see what people say about it before buying bottles. So I'm not sure there's anything I've bought knowing "nothing". I think the closest might have been FW 17th Anniversary, as I recognized the brewery and purchased the beer without realizing exactly what it was. If I had known, I would've probably snagged a few more than one, as they had a half-dozen cases on display.

Corollary is at a craft beer bar, I might grab a beer I haven't had without checking BA if it's by a brewery I know and like (or is new and I want to try). Looking at my reviews, the highest rated one I had that met that criteria was probably Tartare by Bear Republic.

 

In Massachusetts we had Dark Horse plead the 5th come in. What a great beer to buy on a whim.

 

A few years back, someone was unpacking some Double Crooked Tree that had come in. I had not heard of it and it was a new relatively new distro to NC.

Really didn't scan the bottle for ABV or anything and came home and had one. WOW was that a big surprise.

 

In 1979 I was with a group of photography students who visited Paris. We met up with some Parisian picture takers who took us to a bar that served Belgian beers. We were flabergasted. I still remembe the shock af tasting those Krieks, Abbeye and Scotch ales.Probably why I am in love with specialty beers today.

 

First time Mexican Cake bottles showed up in NYC. I'd tried big Shane's which I thought was ok. Then saw this cool bottle with a cake on it from the same brewery. Went back again and again to the same store over the course of a couple weeks. Must have been only one of a couple people buying it.

 

Smog City Coffee Porter. I'd seen it on draft at a couple places, but had never looked into it. Now, its one of my favorite coffee beers.

 

Finch's Threadless, i liked the packaging so tried it, and was pretty good

 

I usually will buy a single of a beer I'm not familiar with to see if it's any good. Picked up a bottle of Maumee Bay Glasshopper IPA recently. A very good under-the-radar IPA, nice citrus/floral taste. Plan to get a sixer the next time I see it.

 

La Trappe Tripel. I had absolutely no education when it came to Trappist ales and literally bought it because I thought the bottle and cork/cage was cool looking. Thanks to that random purchase, I'm now a huge fan of Belgian style Ales. La Trappe Tripel is still one of my favourites.

 

Great topic !
I made a "mistake" last month that worked out very well. There was a promo display at total wine featuring two different 22 oz beers from the Hop Valley Brewery. I meant to buy the Citrus Mistress but accidentally bought the Alphadelic IPA. Later I went back and bought what I had originally intended to purchase. Tried them both, And I liked the "mistake" a lot better !

 

Talon Double IPA by Mendocino Brewing Co. Must have just been in a great mood when I reviewed it or something.

 

Sangre De Shiva from New Braunfels Brewing Company.
An absolutely amazing red wine barrel aged weizenbock

 

First beer that comes to mind is the Uerige Doppelsticke I had about 2 and a half years ago. Hadn't had anything German in a while, had never even heard of the brewery, Saw the interesting bottle at a pretty reasonable price and the guy that worked at the shop told me he had heard pretty good things about it. Decided to grab it and it blew me away, super complex and insanely well balanced.

 

Stoudt's Fat Dog. Reminds me I need to seek that beer out again.

 

Paradox Brewing Skully Barrell #3 #4 #18 and #22. Bought it during a trip to Minneapolis to watch my Royals dominate the Twins. Really good beer.

 

BFM Bon Chien 2011