What beer got you into beer?

It was a slow progression, but I gotta say, Boston Lager was probably the first beer I had after years of thinking High Life was the champagne of beers, that made me start trying other things...... And here we are.

 

Having spent a lot of time as a young man in and around a boat club with neon signs that flashed "Anchor Steam Beer" and "IPA," curiosity got the best of me when I turned 21 and looked for my first six pack of beer. I remembered the letters IPA but didn't know what they meant, so I went to Safeway with my fiance and let her pick out an IPA six pack. She picked SN Ruthless Rye (she told me it was because she liked the art on the bottles!), the rest is history.

 

Beer

 

The company was Boston Beer, with Sam Adams, that really got me trying all of their new styles. I always like to try something new that was in the cooler whenever I went to the store. I couldn't pin it down to a specific beer though.

Now, other than getting a single New Albion beer in a pick six, I don't know the last time I've bought a Sam Adams beer, been a real long time. Too many other real good choices these days.

 

I was a huge Heineken drinker until I had a Delerium Tremens at The Moan and Dove in Amherst MA. This was right when the place opened, I then proceeded to join their mug club and rip through a hundred and something beers in 41 days. This record stood for like 5-6 years. My wife still busts my balls about all the money I spent that month. Looking back it was worth it. Still a great bar, even though I rarely have time to go there.

 

My first IPA was Hop Devil and it was on from there.

 

My progression into American craft beer occurred over such a long period that I'm not sure one beer is responsible, but I remember liking Fat Tire. To be honest, a lot of European beers like Grolsch and Guinness started steering me into the craft section.

 

120 Minute IPA. Then I was/am hooked on DFH and couldn't/can't get enough. My good friend from back home came into town a few years ago and at the time I was working at a small wine/beer/lunch shop in Old Town Alexandria called Grape & Bean (awesome place if anyone is in the area), they just pulled in some 120 Minute and my friend having JUST turned 21 ordered one and gave me a few sips on the sly (I was still only 20). Changed my entire perspective on beer.

Thank you Sam C, you saved me from my AB-InBev nap

 

Surprisingly, SN Bigfoot. Bought a six pack because it "looked" good. Went back and bought another the next day. Still buy it.

 

After I graduated college, I moved to Harrisburg, PA and discovered Troegs. Troegs Pale Ale turned me on to craft brew. Now, I'm drinking everything under the sun from sour beers to bourbon barrel stouts.

 

Lagunitas Sucks.

 

I remember drainpouring a bigfoot when i was still stuck on PBR and highlife, looking back, i am so angry at myself. I think one of the first beers that converted me was heady topper. Got lucky enough to find a 4 pack on the shelf in my grocery store, and decided to pick it up because it had a limit and looked good. The rest is history.

 

Fat tire was my gateway. Now I'm not a fan but still love what it did.

 

Paulaner Hefeweizen. Saw it as the sponsor of bayern munich, made my dad go grab me a 6pck (wasn't 21 yet ) and ive never looked back

 

Sam Smiths Imperial Stout

 

Left hand sawtooth ale on a ski club trip from MSU

 

When I was 16 I took a class trip to Friedrichshafen, Germany. I was there for three weeks during the summer when the town was having a big festival on Lake Constance. I drank a lot of liters during those weeks, primarily Dunkel Weizens. I don't know the names of the breweries, but I loved it all. After that was never a yellow fizzy beer drinker. I've always gravitated towards craft brews for that reason, but Sam Adams Boston Lager and Pete's Wicked Ale were the first American beers that I was really into when I was in college.

 

My first forays into decent beer where the direct result of Saranac Lager (no longer made) and a local offering called Sunset Red from the now defunct General Lafayette Inn & Brewery in subruban Philladelphia...

 

For me, it was Highland Brewing's Oatmeal Porter. I still love that beer.