Most Nostalgic Beer

Half Acre Daisy Cutter in 2013. Strange, perhaps, but this was the beer that brought me back to beer after 7-8 years as a wine person. Spent time in Chicago (6 mos) and had this on day...2, I think. So beer re-embraced, which is how I ended up in this joint.

 

When I first got into beer there weren't really any craft beers available, but there were imports, and I took a shine to English ales: John Courage, Watneys Red Barrel, and Whitbread. It was the Whitbread that stood out though. It was brewed with a dual-strained yeast (although I didn't know it at the time). There's was just something interesting about it that both pushed me away and pulled me ever closer at the same time. Eventually it won out and became my favorite beer. Oh to have another Whitbread!!! I think I'll have to find out where I can get it and make another trip to England.

 

right on! my first official "sixer"

 

Yuengling

 

St. Pauli Girl Dark----you never forget your first girl!

 

For me, one of several, is Icehouse. Many good times with that one. Used to drink it every day in large quantities with nature's beauty surrounding me. Also spent lots of time over the years drinking it with my lifelong best friend outside at night in urban environments.

 

Genny Cream Ale - my dad's go to

Guinness & #9 - gateways to craft

Arrogant Bastard - first big beer love

Horseheads Brewing Pumpkin Ale - had it at our wedding and people got bombed because most didn't know that a 7.2% beer could taste like pumpkin pie. Made for a great reception, can't comment on how some people felt the next day.

 

Boddingtons reminds me of good times with good friends in good pubs when life was, if not better, at least simpler.

 

Ommegang's Abbey Ale- The beer I drank at my wedding reception.
Weyerbacher's Tiny- the four year old bottle I shared with my wife, and her first eye-roll-to-the-back-of-her-head beer moment. It was a joy to see her enjoy such a great beer.

 

Sam Adams Honey Porter: The first craft beer I ever tasted / the exact moment I fell in love with craft beer. Like a long lost love that will never come back (and almost had the chance to last year )

Fou Foune: The first "whale" I ever tasted. Literally dreamed about drinking it.

Heady: First time I tried an east coast IPA. Took a road trip up to vermont and got 4 cases. Was literally heaven. Such an innocent time before coming obsessed with trading / whale hunting / being craft beer jaded!

 

Funny enough, you're avatar @jaketodd ! It was the first doppelbock I have ever had, was blown away, and has been a favorite ever since!

 

Stroh's 3.2. It was the first beer I bought legally.

 

Hamm's. That damn beer bear got me into this. Even though it isn't that good, I still have to have one now and then to remember my childhood.

 

Stag - Beer that I bonded with a great friend over. Also took it on my only float trip.

Busch - It has been the source of drinking jokes since I first went to college. Anytime I have a cold Busch in hand (that's the joke...), I'm always with some of my best friends ever. Lots of good, and not so good, memories with that beer.

Guiness/Boulevard Irish Ale - My dad's favorite beers.

Cooper Smith's Watermelon Ale - Second beer ever (first was a sip of Bud Light).

La Folie - First sour beer ever. Favorite beer on my tour of New Belgium (same day as the Watermelon Ale).

Founder's Imperial Stout - Favorite beer I've had to date.

 

Icehouse sent my friend to the hospital. We were about 4 hours from home, going to a concert. He crushed a 6 pack and then the 4 of us went to see Blues Traveler (this was in '94) and a few hours later someone was talking about a guy being carried out and brought to the hospital. After the concert we couldn't find him and then all of a sudden an ambulance pulls up and he pops out. Crazy day.

 

Icehouse is not a high alcohol beer. A six pack sent your friend to a hospital?? How old was the poor guy?

 

The first craft beer (maybe the first beer period) I ever tried...Oxford Raspberry. Not made anymore and I'm sure it really wasn't as good as I remember it, but it popped my craft beer cherry and it sure was gentle on me. You never forget your first one!

 

I don't drink it much anymore but Sierra Nevada pale ale. I remember when they first came out. I drank one in northern California and I just remember being shocked by how much flavor it had compared to the bull crap beers I used to drink. It started my love for real beers with taste...craft beers.

Special shout out to Pliny because it was my first hard to find beer which sent me down the road of hard to find beers.

 

Every great local beer. When I drink one I think how amazing it is that a beer so good is made in such a rural area where no craft breweries existed three years ago.

 

As a youth - Genny Cream Ale, Molson Golden and Labatts' Blue
First tour in Europe - Guinness
Second tour in Europe - Bitburger
Since becoming a beer nerd - Chimay Blue