First beer where you recognized what hops taste like

A Little Sumpin' Sumpin'.

 

Bells Two Hearted

 

Pako's IPA from Snake River brewing in beautiful Jackson Hole Wyoming!!!!! Love the simcoe hops!

 

It was March of '09. I was a neophyte who had never really tried an IPA or DIPA. I was on my very first beer trip; swinging by Philly with my friends for a weekend. Before our trek to Monk's Cafe, our first stop was The Foodery. I had picked out a few bottles already for my six-pack but was trying to decide on what to round it out with, so I asked the cashier for recommendations. He pulled a bottle out from under the counter and said it was the last one they had; for some reason he offered it to me.

It was a bottle of Hopslam. The moment I tried it the next day, I understood and was instantly hooked on hops. Thank you, cashier guy at The Foodery.

 

It's retired now, but Otter Creek Pale ... nice cascade-y punch, I remember smiling broadly at my own enjoyment/recognition of it.

 

Oakshire The Perfect Storm DIPA. Before that, hops just tasted "bitter". When I drank that beer was when my taste buds were opened up to the wonderful floral, dank, and citrus flavors in hoppy beers. Delicious.

 

Deschutes' Mirror Pond.

 

either blue point hoptical illusion or SNPA

 

Either Founders Centennial or Ruination. Had both about the same time.

 

Either Sierra Nevada or Saranac Pale/IP Ale.
2003 or so.
Don't care for either now but still love Harpoon as others have stated.

 

Exponential hoppiness. Palate still wrecked.

 

60 minute, tasted like weed. Have been in love ever since

 

Victory HOP DEVIL

 

Pliny the Elder. Realized then that really hoppy beers could still be smooooooth, and weren't all bitter by default. The lightbulb went off, and I was, like, "Oh, yeah, I get it."

 

I think for me it was a combination of Two Hearted and 90 Min IPA. Not in the same glass. Just had them at a similar time several years back and the light bulb of hop beer possibilities opened up for me.

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Sometime in the late 80s

 

Ha, also Sierra Nevada. I could murder those things back in college, and my tongue always got stuck to the roof of my mouth the next morning.

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & Dogfish Head 90 Min.

 

Ballentine IPA, early '70's

 

Lagunitas Sucks