How did you get into craft scene?

I approached a Russian Gentleman in a White three piece suit outside of an abandoned warehouse and whispered "The night eagle snatches its prey just before dawn" into his ear and handed him a 1918 Buffalo Nickel. Before I knew it I was absconded to the back of a horse drawn carriage that made at least 18 left turns before it put me in front of ye old bottle shop...


Oh, wait, no. That's what I had to do to get some KBS, sorry...


My story is simple really: Got bored with the usual beers - including going from BMC stuff to Sam Adams already at most bars - and started buying the "exotic" stuff that was starting to propagate the Giant Eagle's around here roughly about 3 1/2 years ago. It's just snowballed from there.

 

I always dabbled a little here and there, but until about 6 months ago I was mostly a miller lite guy (which I do still like, I have not become that big of a snob yet). I would drink the occasional 12 pack of boulevard wheat, throw in a pale ale now and then. But a guy I work with really peaked my interest over months of beer talk. So I am really "finding myself" in craft world. What styles I like and don't like. Turns out I'm more of a hop head. My fridge is full of craft, I am a home brewer now, but if I'm on the golf course, miller lite it is.

 

Not your fault; it's difficult to know what to believe. The Oxford Beer Companion's section on this topic is pure fiction for example. What is wrong?
"Scotch Ales are strong ales, also known as "Wee Heavy." In the 19th century Scotland, they'd also be known as 160/-, a nomenclature based on the now obsolete shilling currency."
Wee Heavy doesn't appear in any record books. It was a brand name used by Fowler's for their Twelve Guinea Ale, called "wee" simply because it was a Heavy sold in wee (tiny) sized bottles.A third of a pint ("nip")
A UK pint is 20 fluid ounces hence 6 2/3 FL OZ on the label.

160/- wasn't a style just the wholesale price for a hogshead (a 54 UK gallon cask) This price suggests a highish ABV but could be any sort of beer. Fowler's Wee Heavy was 252/- on this basis.

"Scotch Ales traditionally go through a long boil in the kettle for a caramelization of the wort."
Brewery records simply do not support this statement.

"Compared to Scottish Ales...........................,"
They are Scottish Ales. They are ales brewed in Scotland, what else could they be?

Ron Pattinson has published a recipe for a traditional Scotch Ale , it's worth a read.Interestingly it's over 100 IBU and pale.
http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/lets-brew-wednesday-1868-younger-no-3.html

 

You're not in the scene. You drink beer. You're not in the scene until your job title says you are.

 

Gradually

 

Drinking Ballentine India Pale ale circa 1977. Had some lapses over the years, like drinking nothing but Silver Bullets the summer of 87 at the New Jersey Shore.

 

Ah, including food & tip, makes more sense. DC ain't that expensive for beer alone.

 

Started with fat tire thanks to new Belgium thought it was great good session beer then 2below then I couldn't go back to the big 3 cause a light went off and taste overcome those crap beers.

 

21st birthday, older budy got me a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada Torpedo (sort of as a joke, because he knew how strong it is). Turned out I loved it!

 

I've just never liked BBC beer, but SamAd and a few others (Devil Mountain Railroad's 5-Malt Ale ♥) came out that I really liked and it went from there. The only reason for me to buy cheap beer now is to use in the water pan of my BBQ smoker.

 

Spending way too much time on the internet and one American buddy of mine mentioning the term "craft beer". A week later I tried my first batch consisting of BrewDog, Rochefort, Schneider Weisse, Fullers and Orval.

 

Working at a liquor store/produce market back in the 80's. I was 19 and I had been grandfathered in on the 18 year old drinking age in WI. Eau Claire All Malt and Dunkel Weizen, Spaten Octoberfest, and 5 liter cans of Swiss
Hürlimann and others got me interested in good beer. After that I went to work for a beer distributor and the rest is history.

 

Drank a Fat Tire and never looked back.

 

I always went by the motto "variety is the spice of life" and I never got why people drank the same beer every time they went out or partied. So I started by picking up variety packs and figuring out what styles I liked and the rest is history!

 

There was a grocery store in Iowa City (John's) that had a ton of craft beer. I started with Sam Adams, went to Fat Tire, and then decided I wanted to try everything.

 

When AB sold-out. I boycotted and found Sam Adams. This was the start of my craft brew adventure

 

My road to craft was a long, methodical process. My first year of college, I pretty much drank Natty Light exclusively (along with an assortment of hard liquor). Now, this isn't because I thought it tasted good--I was more focused on "results-based" drinking. I branched out to Yuengling my Sophomore year, but when I turned 21, I went to a local liquor store and picked up Paulaner and Guinness, which made me realize there was good beer out there. I didn't really get serious about craft until about two years later when I had DFH 90 min (in 2011) for the first time. My interest in craft beer grew exponentially after I got into homebrewing. After that, my wallet and waistline have never been the same.

 

I drank almost exclusively AB products (Busch Light for house parties and Mich Golden Light for tailgating). My brother introduced me to Blue Moon and Boulevard. Then my junior year of college, my girlfriend (now wife) introduced me to Toppling Goliath. Senior year of college she moved two houses away from TG and haven't ever really looked back.

 

I've been working in restaurants since I was 17. Now I manage a craft beer and classic cocktail bar.

Its great, I get to try everything, everyday, and have more samples from breweries than I can count.