I remember when...

Every other thread on recent items page wasn't about BCBS.

 

I remember getting excited over a 6 pack of Goebel. Of course that was back in high school

 

Oh, it was definitey good (especially in the early 90s), but it was just not the "best that America had to offer".

Funny you mention the Portland Microbrewers Conference, because I definitely remember the Brew Crew serving Pete's at their courtesy table in '93. There was definitely plenty of other good stuff, too- I think my fave was BridgePort's Pin Tail, although none of my other friends seemed to like it as much as I did. Rogue's Imperial Stout wasn't too shabby, either.

 

I remember when the ISO:FT forum had some variety to it
ISO:bcbs variation FT:something stupid

 

You wouldn't be caught dead drinking a fruit beer.

 

In the real early days Molson Golden was the absolute best. Years later Petes Wicked came into the picture and that became the fancy stuff to be drinking. I also have fond memories of the Saranac holiday mixed 12 pack that contained 12 different beers. We would buy them and drink our way through the 12 days of christmas. Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter was another one I remember loving Back in the Vermont days. Ahhhhhh the memories!

 

I remember the bar a the host hotel was having some sort of Pete's special for the occasion -- maybe even with a free glass?

What was the big Sam Adams hullabaloo at the dinner? That soy sauce brew...

 

Mickeys wide-mouth w/ friends. Michelob w/ dad.
Also remember when there were no forums for epeens

 

Bottles of FouFoune sat on the shelves getting dusty because no one would think of paying $24 for a bottle of beer.

 

In business I'm a bottom line kind of guy others can argue sales vs size. Thanks for the link it's been a very long time since I thought about Pete's.

 

I remember when craft beer drinkers weren't nearly as lucky as they are now.

 

Remembered right after I posted last night; it was the Triple Bock -- maybe the first time brewed? Koch brought one bottle all the way from Boston and doled out little samples. First and last time I ever tried it.

 

So you are saying you share bottles of special brews with billionaires, Steve?

I remember when Larry Bell was a struggling young guy with a little brewery in an old plumbing warehouse in Kalamazoo.

 

I went to watch Monday Night Football at O'donoghues in Nyack, NY and there was a Sam Adam rep there with plenty of giveaways. The best being a small cask of the Triple Bock from which they poured as many free samples as you wanted. I liked the stuff that night.

 

When was that? In the early 80's Belhaven was a common "fancy" beer.

 

Hah -- not sure he was a billionaire at the time, and he was doing the sharing!
I don't think I ever actually spoke with Koch -- too many people around -- stuck my arm through the crowd and got my sample.

I've met Larry a couple times, a pretty nice guy. He was pouring for Bell's at one of the Great Lakes Beer Fests in Racine, WI a couple years ago -- just before Bell's made it's way back to Illinois after all the distro monkey-business and I had him pour me my first Oberon in a long time. We debated Cubs and Sox, beer and the industry -- fun time.

 

The closest thing to "craft" beer was Augsburger Bock and Blatz Light Cream Ale.

 

When I could buy 40 pints for what a pint costs me now.
When pubs were only allowed to open for certain times of the day.Unless the landlord knew you.
When there was no DUI limit,if you could walk in a straight line you could drive.
When the police weren't in the least interested in under age drinking.

 

Oh, man! Goebel's! I remember it being the $4.99/case beer.

 

Many of their beers continue to be the gold standard and none of them are "trying to keep up with craft brewers here. They are quite happy with their own brewing traditions and beer styles.

Jingoistic attitudes like yours are uninformed at best and a strong indicator that the person expressing them hasn't traveled outside the US.