Nostalgic Beers

McEwans's Scotch or strong/tartan ale. The first real thick beer I had in the 70's.


Edited after seeing above.....Genny Cream also. About the same time as above my friend from Scranton used to bring it down for our enjoyment.

 

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock was probably the first beer I deemed absolutely "hunt-worthy." Most people would find that notion laughable these days, but I thought it was an outstanding beer when I tried it a decade ago. There simply was nothing like it, and I had to have more.

I also have a soft spot for Caffrey's Irish Ale, which I drank gallons of while hanging out at The Brick in Milledgeville during my college years back in the late 90s.

I'll also never forget my hunt for Mackeson XXX Stout around the same time after first reading about sweet stouts. It took me forever to track down this beer, but I'll never forget how I felt like a winner.

Ah, those were the days...

 

Genny Cream Ale

 

My girlfriend (now wife) brought me some Red Hook ESB back from a trip out West about 2000 or so. I'll never forget thinking what an "extreme" beer it was at the time.

 

I also have a bit of nostalgia for SA Octoberfest, as that was one of mine and my friends's favorite seasonal beers when we all first got into craft.

 

Coors Extra Gold. I drank it for the first time at my dad's house in Colorado many moons ago, and it has become my camping beer. It's one of those rare deals where it has sentimental meaning but yet it's crap beer, but I actually love it. I live in a city of 400,000 people and there is only only liquor store that sells this, and only in 30 pack cans. I buy one each year. Usually I take it with me to the mountains.

 

Old Rasputin holds nostalgic value for me because it was one of the first, if not the first, imperial stouts that really blew me away. I used to drink it all the time; but not so much anymore, for some reason.

 

Big Rock McNally's Extra was so good in the 90s I'll stand by that. I wish I could have another taste.

 

Guinness - One of the first beers I drank regularly. Lots of good times associated with this one.
MGD - When my broke ass first moved out on my own, it could be had for $12 a 20 pack
San Miguel - Right out of college I lived in Hong Kong for a few months working and pretty much every night was spent at the bars. Really good times.
Lagunitas/Sam Adams - The two breweries that provided me with affordable quality beer until I got into the crazy expensive stuff and it was all over.

 

For me its gotta be Golden Monkey. It was the first legal drink I had and I had it with a burger and with friends. Even though its not the best tripel it always holds a high spot in my books just for that reason.

 

Sam Summer - it was the first craft beer I'd seek out regularly and will always remind me of backyards and underage summertime parties. We thought we were pretty damn cool drinking these between rounds of beer pong.

 

Weyerbacher Merry monks (then called just plan "belgium tripel") ale. It was my first experience with craft back in the late 90's, & still to this day one of the best tripels outside of Belgium IMO.

 

Guinness Extra Stout (Original) - The first time I had this beer - I hated it. I was still in high school and I had just discovered imported beers - long before the craft scene (I think Pete's Wicked Ale and Sam Smith was about it for the States around that time). I would eventually become an avid stout drinker, but the first time I had Guinness - I poured it out.
Chimay Première (Red) - Believe it or not, I saw this at the grocery store. I think I had just started college at the time. It was the first corked and caged beer I ever saw and thought that it looked 'fancy'. So I bought it. Chimay became my 'special occasion beer' for many years.
Redhook ESB - Think I started drinking this because of Hate comics. Redhook hit Atlanta soon after I graduated college and moved there. This became my 'Utility Beer' for quite a while.
Upright Four - I remember the first time I had this one. It was 2010 - right as the boom was starting blow up here... This was the beer that made me realize that Portland had incredible beer and that I had a lot more to learn.

 

Some real "gems" in the wayback machine Olympia, Red,White, & Blue, Old Milwaukee and other cheap beers in 12oz aluminum cans.-- The beer your could pound down when you're young and could wake up the next morning and feel fine.

 

Magic Hat #9 brings me back to the carefree teenage years. Had a friend who loved the beer and even collected the boxes - remember the box of 9's?! Although I haven't had it in many years, my wife will order occasionally and I can reminisce.

 

90 minute IPA moved me into the more expensive stuff. I have since graduated a few more times.

 

I don't order Magic Hat #9 very often but I always enjoy drinking it when I do order one (especially during the summertime). It is a pleasant drinking beer for my palate.

Cheers!

 

Wow, I may have been with you! I did the same in high school with "the Beast" in cans.

 

Good times! Not so good beer.

 

Old Milwaukee : reminds me of my first cop of breasts from the neighbor chick down the street. Heck, I was 35 at the time