Do You Remember Your First IPA?

Oh, yeah - forgot about that one.

 

Beats me. Wolfe's AB contact info on the 'net is pretty easy to figure out - looks like he was working out of AB's 10 Barrel Brewing Co. in Bend, OR up until earlier this year since his LinkedIn page put his employment there as "Feb 2016 – Mar 2020" and, given his job description being all in the past tense, he might no longer be with the company?

Never understood this concept:

since anyone in the US with any interest in the Bass of old (even the exported version the US once got) knows of all the "tinkering" (i.e. "dumbing down") that destroyed the brand in the 1990s under Bass ownership through Interbrew's takeover right up to AB-I's brewing it in the US. There's no way I'd buy Bass, bottled or draught, except if I knew it was the new version Wolfe discussed.

 

I don't know if DI Rebus is married to a brand, but IPA is his tipple of choice when he's not drinking a malt.

Being based in Edinburgh, one can presume he's ordering Scottish IPA.

 

I'm probably the lamest of the group, but mine was probably Sam Adams Rebel IPA, which I immediately spit out! From there, I think it may have been DFH 60 Minute.

Glad to say that my palette has matured since then. . .

 

Founders Centennial IPA.

Purchased a single bottle at a beer shop in Maine in 2011. I had no idea about "freshness" or checking dates or anything like that, I just know I was absolutely blown away. The first time that strong hop flavor hits your tongue is indescribable. It's a religious experience.

Still one of my favorite IPA's.

 

Was probably something local, 1996ish. I'm thinking Magic Hat's 'Blind Faith' or Catamount IPA.

 

My first IPA was Summit Saga. I had tried SNPA and loved it, Saga was recommended to me by a cashier at my then local liquor store on my 21st birthday. I fell in love again, then I went on to try Two Hearted, Torpedo, etc. Now I've had literally thousands of different IPA's. Good thread, it's always fun to reminisce about our humble beginnings.

 

It was in the mid 1980s before IPAs became a monster thing. Might have been from Grant's Brewery (RIP) out of Yakima, WA or Redhook Brewery from Seattle/Woodinville.

 

Stone IPA. A warm bomber off the shelf none the less.

 

Summit Station Restaurant and Brewery in the Olde Town area near Gaithersburg, MD...2004.

I was very “green” at the time. Couldn’t believe how bitter it was, took a lot to finish it .

I’d go there with friends from work on Thursday nights I think, all you could eat wings and crawfish. I don’t believe that joint is still open.

 

Still good though right? You certainly wouldn't want to bury that improperly?

 

Still drinkable absolutely but still "good" is very much subjective especially. It is going to be a a very different experience than drinking a fresh bottle. Stone even has their "Enjoy By" series which stresses these styles of beers are meant to be enjoyed fresh as possible.

If I missed some sarcasm blame the booze.

 

Yep.

Flying Dog — Raging Bitch

Immediately regretted the purchase it was so bitter, but I drank the entire six pack in a night because I wanted to like it but I was unaware of abv. That was a very educational night for me.

 

Definitely Sierra Nevada in the mid 90’s....my aunt worked at the brewery.

I was young, but it was always around...

 

I do. It was Lagunitas' IPA. Up until this, I was a Sam Adam's Boston Lager regular. Then I got into Stone IPA's, and the occasional 2 bottle Pliny limit, and on from there. That first Lagunitas IPA was a game changer for sure, and I've been hooked on IPAs ever since.

When I first had Heady, I was like, damn, forget about Lagunitas, I want those juice bombs. Heady Topper had a huge impact on what I drink now. Unforgettable.

To this day, there is no beer I like more then a nice NE IPA. Luckily on the west coast, we have Alvarado Street, Fieldwork, North Park, Moonraker, etc that bring their A-games almost every week; their are occasional misses.

Still though, do wonder what it would be like to live on the East Coast and get regular access to what they are able to get their hands on.

 

Yes, would be the one word answer. I bought a mixed case of Redbook beer at Sam's Club somewhere around 2004 or 2005. There were 6 of their IPAs which I thought were delicious. That experience prompted a (dial up - pre Google) Internet search that resulted in much misinformation. It also prompted a trip to the local liquor store which resulted in a purchase of Two Hearted & Torpedo. The rest is history, so to speak...

 

Amsterdam, 2014, Beer Temple.
We had AIPAs and many many other things too. It was great time

 

Stone IPA - certainly was a unique flavor profile at the time. I should try it again after all of these years to see how it compares with all the IPAs I have tried since.

 

While I don't consider SNPA an IPA, I still respect it as a trail-blazing brewery to get this country recognizing how good beer can be.

A couple home-brew friends and I went to Portland, OR for one of the big beer fests in the mid 90s. We planned our trip to fly out of San Francisco so we could stop at SN. Having dinner at the connected pub we got to talking with our waitress and learned employees received a case of beer each month as part of their benefits -- she wasn't a big beer drinker, so had a good stash of beer in her closet! Maybe your aunt?

And no, try as we could -- we didn't get invited back to help clear out her stores.

 

Still a solid haul.