"Gateway" craft beer

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Jaxbeerdude, May 21, 2014.

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  1. Jaxbeerdude

    Jaxbeerdude Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2014 Florida

    What was the first "gateway" craft beer that intrigued you and got you wanting to taste more? My freshman year in college I had an Abita Purple Haze which led me to Sweetwater Blue, then 420, then IPAs, etc. Just wondering how everyone got away from the big beer giants.
     
    #1 Jaxbeerdude, May 21, 2014
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  2. brew44

    brew44 Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2010 Ohio

    Bell's Oberon and Goose Island 312 got me started and from there it has been a wild ride from one extreme to the other.
     
    #2 brew44, May 21, 2014
  3. Ieatlambfries

    Ieatlambfries Maven (1,344) Dec 5, 2003 New Jersey

    Sam Adams Honey Porter. The original version, back in the 90's.
     
    #3 Ieatlambfries, May 21, 2014
  4. Dogleg

    Dogleg Initiate (0) Apr 4, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Fireman's 4 and 60 Minute
     
    #4 Dogleg, May 21, 2014
  5. dsmil

    dsmil Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2009 Maryland

    DFH 60 Minute was the first craft beer that I started drinking and Sierra Nevada Celebration got me hooked.
     
    #5 dsmil, May 21, 2014
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  6. DrinkSlurm

    DrinkSlurm Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2007 New York

    Freshman year of college (um...15 yrs ago) otter creek (stovepipe porter in particular), Saranac, and sierra Nevada bigfoot (biggest drunk for your buck :slight_smile: ) really got me into craft beer. Then Ommegang, Unibroue, and Dogfish Head were probably some of the first bombers I bought. Funny how they all stand up to the test of time!
     
    #6 DrinkSlurm, May 21, 2014
  7. DrinkSlurm

    DrinkSlurm Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2007 New York

    Almost forgot Magic Hat (pre-modello) - First brewery tour I ever did; nearly 11 years ago! Spent hours drinking the free samplers over and over again, went home with a growler of Ravelle (fantastic vanilla porter), and quite a buzz on he Ferry leaving Burlington back to Plattsburgh....plus the opener I bought that day is still on my keychain to this day!
     
    #7 DrinkSlurm, May 21, 2014
  8. azorie

    azorie Pooh-Bah (2,471) Mar 18, 2006 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    There was no craft when I started. :grinning:
    Anchor was there in 1965, but I did not live in San Francisco.
    In theory there was Ballantines.
    Imports mainly. Canada I think was first beer/ale (at that time I had no idea), but it was so long ago, I am frankly, no longer sure what was first.:grimacing:
    I want to say St Pauli girl dark...:flushed:

    I do know the first ever AAL was Jax. but it was NO gateway. in fact I did not "like" beer until I was older.
     
    #8 azorie, May 21, 2014
    Last edited: May 21, 2014
  9. AricGresko

    AricGresko Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Started with your crappy Bud Light, Miller Lite, etc. Then was introduced to Yuengling Lager. From there, I began to read more about beers and slowly worked my way up to better beers once I realized I enjoyed the taste and enjoyment of drinking beer, rather than drinking a large amount as a dumb high school or college kid trying to get drunk.
     
    #9 AricGresko, May 21, 2014
  10. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Fat Tire

    Hales Cream Ale

    Ninkasi Tricerahops
     
    #10 derftron, May 21, 2014
  11. Crash_Hop

    Crash_Hop Initiate (0) May 2, 2014 Illinois

    Pete's Wicked Ale
     
    #11 Crash_Hop, May 21, 2014
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  12. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Mirror Pond back in 2000.
     
    #12 tylerstravis, May 21, 2014
  13. MNStefano

    MNStefano Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2014 Minnesota

    Summit EPA
     
    #13 MNStefano, May 21, 2014
  14. audioserf

    audioserf Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2010 Connecticut

    #9, Sam's Summer, Shock Top, then I found Stone/DFH etc.
     
    #14 audioserf, May 21, 2014
  15. sm0key

    sm0key Initiate (0) Apr 24, 2009 Michigan

    Bells Amber.

    Still like that beer.
     
    #15 sm0key, May 21, 2014
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  16. Mongrel

    Mongrel Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2013 Maryland

    SA Boston Lager
    SN Pale Ale
    DFH 90 Minute
    Seasonal samplers from Sam Adams and Saranac

    I was the kid pregaming with a bomber of SNPA in college, while evreyone else was slugging jungle juice. That beer was my first true love.
     
    #16 Mongrel, May 21, 2014
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  17. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    While this has never...ever...been addressed before on this website, here is some reading that you might find interesting
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/gateway-craft-beer.153651/
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/your-gateway-beer-to-craft.124403/
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/revisiting-your-gateway-beer.87103/
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/best-gateway-beer-for-someone-new-to-ipas.108137/
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...eway-beer-brewery-into-the-craft-world.48667/

    That 'search' function can be tricky I know.
     
    #17 jmw, May 21, 2014
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  18. ubiq3000

    ubiq3000 Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2013 California

    Racer 5
     
    #18 ubiq3000, May 21, 2014
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  19. bcp5296d

    bcp5296d Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2012 North Carolina

    burton baton and bigfoot for me.
     
    #19 bcp5296d, May 21, 2014
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  20. bcp5296d

    bcp5296d Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2012 North Carolina

    also SN sumerfest
     
    #20 bcp5296d, May 21, 2014
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