What Was Your Gateway IPA?

Saranac Pale Ale was my first hop addiction, but that was back in HS when my buddies were drinking 22s of MGD.

 

Good ol 22s of MGD from La Bodega Hispanola - ah the memories.

 

Firestone Union Jack / Lagunitas Lil Sumptin

 

Goose Island's IPA was my first first IPA, I was 18 and it was the best thing I'd ever drank (again at 18), anyone remember the old label with the Union Jack? took a couple years off from IPAs because I went to school in Iowa and was 18-22 at the time, "I'll have a Budweiser!". Then I got back and a couple years later found Crooked Tree at the urging of a cute bartender I worked with. That began my modern era of IPA consumption.

 

Victory Hop Wallop

 

For the more modern ones it was probably Brewdog Punk as well, but on cask in maybe 2007. It was 6% and a different beer, and very, very good iirc. Shame they dropped cask to focus on being a marketing and international identikit bar chain company.

 

For some reason, the memory is etched in my memory. Newport Beach. Late afternoon sun streaming into the bar. Firestone Union Jack in a standard pint glass, glistening with condensation. A total revelation, such bright citrus and crisp pine in harmonious balance! Haven't looked back since.

 

I wouldn't necessarily consider it gateway, but the first IPA I recall having was the now defunct Oregon India Pale Ale back in 1998. It had a story on the label explaining the style was unbalanced with a large amount of hops in order to preserve the beer on the long journey from Great Britain to soldiers in India.

I still think of that today when I hear people describe an IPA as "balanced" or wince that a 4-week-old IPA is a "malty mess."

 

DFH 60 Minute. Had no idea beer could taste like that.

 

SNPA was my first hoppy beer, and in my mind, I still put it more into the category of IPA than its designation as a pale ale. It was certainly unlike anything I had ever had, and funny enough, the hops tasted "spicy" to me back then, which they don't do anymore.

As far as legitimate IPAs, I'd venture to guess 60 Minute was my first, but by that point, I was fully on board with chasing the hops.

 

I remember Stone Oaked Aragant Bastard ale opened the floodgates of craft beer for me, but I can't say for sure which strait IPA got me hooked on India Pale Ales. It could have been Dogfishhead 90 min or possibly an in House made IPA at Union Station Brewery in Providence RI ( I spent alot of time warming a barstool and "cutting my beer teeth" there years and years ago). I remember buying Hazed and Infused early on too, but that's an APA I think.... Good Question BTW.

 

Harpoon IPA 4 years ago,first IPA I ever had. It awakened me to discovering I was about to become a hop head. Had one last night for first time since then, it was not good at all, my taste buds have evolved.

 

Victory hop devil

 

Like many here, 60 minute.

 

GD Hercules

 

Brains IPA from Wales. A true classic.

 

Jack's Abby "Hoponius Union"...though it's actually an ABL. Which blew me away. Which led me to Hop Notch. Equally good. Then while visiting friends in Vermont we made a pilgrimage to the Alchemist and tasted "the spoiler".

 

First IPA I can truly say I fell in love with and opened my eyes to the world of craft beer was Sap by Tree House Brewing Co. Had it OT at Armsby Abbey here in Worcester, MA and have never looked back. To this day that beer is still in my top 5 of favorite brews (Although Julius is right on its heels!)

 

The first IPA I knowingly drank was Brooklyn East India Pale Ale. Not something I seek out anymore, but it was a decent gateway beer...

 

You drank Sudwerk Marzen 9 years before the brewery's inception?!