What was your first craft beer?

BJ's Harvest Hefeweizen - in the year 2000.

 

Golden Monkey I think.

 

Pete's Wicked Ale

 

I can't remember the first, but I do remember some that were among the first. Not all considered "craft" but when I was young, they were way different than what everyone else was drinking. Obviously half of these are imports. Sam Adams Boston Lager, Hansa Dortmunder, Old Speckled Hen, DFH 60 Minute, Founders Breakfast Stout, and one that really stands out, Kulmbacher Monchshof Schwarzbier.

 

Probably Sam Adams Boston Lager but I do recall trying Sierra Nevada in the mid 90's.

 

Yazoo Hefeweizen. I hated it at the time.

 

I think the first actual "craft" beer (I'm guessing Blue Moon doesn't count, being made by Coors and all?) I ever had was a bomber of Blonde Hunny from Wild Wolf Brewing Company that I randomly decided to try not long after emptying the Blue Moon variety pack that got me started drinking beer at all.

Was my "favorite beer so far" at the time (between that, Pacifico, and six Blue Moon varieties) and held onto that spot until I tried New Belgium's Abbey dubbel. I'd like to have some again, so I'll probably end up grabbing a six-pack at some point in the future.

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and I still love it.

 

Also Sierra Nevada.

 

Summit Great Northern Porter I think. Can't remember though that was probably 13 years and 13,000+ beers ago

 

Old Rasputin. Being someone who would primarily drink Guiness and then trying my first Old Rasputin I remember thinking "Holy sh*t, this must be what a stout tastes like when it actually includes flavor". I tried another Guiness afterwards and felt so...deprived.

 

When I drank my first Sam Adams the heavens opened up and the sun shone down on me.

 

New Holland Dragon's Milk. That was a pretty wild step going from Labatt Blue to Dragon's Milk. It's like learning to swim by immediately jumping into the deep end of the pool.

 

Three Philosophers woo! Visit the brewery if you get a chance, it's amazing.

 

Sierra Nevada was my first craft beer. My first craft brewery to visit was Mendocino Brewing Company home of Red Tail Ale, this opened my eyes to small craft brewing.

 

Mine was Mississippi mud back in 98 I bought a 4 pack of jugs that had dust sitting on them at the time worst beer ive ever tasted I just recently came across it but im afraid to buy it and try

 

Red Bird ale. From a small brewery in southern Ohio.

 

You have to define craft beer" because that's a very ambiguous term. Is Pilsner Urquell "craft"? Is Heineken? Is Guinness?

If you're going to define "craft" as small batches, then whatever Goose Island was serving in the original brewpub in 1988, because I was there - and I had no idea what I was enjoying.

When I knew what I was enjoying, Boulevard Pale Ale in 2005. I remember it like it happened 10 minutes ago. After that, Fat Tire (late 2005). Then the gloves came off.

 

Rogue Dead Guy