IPA: (UK) Fuller's India Pale Ale, (US) Harpoon IPA Stout: Guinness Draught Sour: Oude Gueuze Tilquin a L'Ancienne -- I'm sure I had a one before this, but I don't remember the name Saison: Goose Island Sofie
IPA: Bell's Two Hearted (THE first beer that got me into "craft") Stout: Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro Sour: BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien Saison: Hill Farmstead Anna (unfortunately it many have ruined all future Saison's for me )
A long time ago in a life now far away: IPA: Worthington White Shield Stout: Courage Russian Imperial Stout Sour: Rodenbach Grand Cru Saison: Winter 1971. Man, was that some crazy snow.
The Dutchesse was my first sour love and my foray into the style. My wallet hates the shit out of her for what she started with sours, but she'll always hold a special place in my heart.
It was pretty much me (and lots of people, I bet) saying that over and over again as I tried and fell in love with each new awesome craft beer style I tried. It's good to be enlightened now, isn't it?
Yeah, absolutely. I'm not a fan of getting shit-faced drunk, but I always loved having a few beers after work. I rarely ever did, though, because the beer I was drinking (Bud/Busch Light) made me gag after every single drink. It just wasn't an enjoyable way to wind down. Now I get to wind down and enjoy every single god-damned sip I take. And with all the great beer that's out there; I feel like a kid in a toy-store. I love it.
IPA - Dogfish Head 60 Minute Stout - Harvest Moon Imperial Stout (local brewpub in the town where I went to college) Sour - Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale Saison - Saison Dupont and my addition to the discussion: Pilsner - Victory Prima Pils
When i first turned twenty one i thought grocery stores were as "underground" as you can get, beer wise. I was in love with Guinness. Then one night my friend had a box of craft beer bombers. A LOT of stone beer. I was blown away how strong these beers were. At first it was harsh but it grew on me fast.
My first experience was three days after my 21st birthday. My friend and I wanted to try something new. So I went to the closet store and bought a six pack of GI IPA. Hated it! Was the worst thing I ever tasted. So far from the usual Mich. Ultra or BL. Fast forward a couple years I had my First Arrogant Bastard. It was history after that. As for IPAs, what really got my into the style was the 60 and 90 minute. Now I Love IPAs.
First craft beer? Franziskaner Hefe Firsts of others that I actually liked: * IPA: Founders - All-Day IPA * DIPA: DC Brau - On the Wings of Armagedon * Stout: Stone - w00tstout * Porter: Breckenridge - Vanilla Porter I don't remember my firsts for all the others.
The beer that got me started into craft beers was Goose Island Matilda and it still holds a special place for me because it was the first time I tried a beer and actually enjoyed the whole experience--the smell, the appearance, the complex taste, and the way it felt. Never looked back
I dont recall the exact moment but Sam Adams Boston Lager, Harpoon IPA and Guinness all changed the game for me. Killians, too. I think the worst beer-related hangover I ever had was from Boston Ale. On my 21 birthday, the bartender at the restaurant where I worked forced me to drink a Long Trail Ale. Didnt hate it. I locked my keys in my car that day and my mother had to come down and unlock the car. She thought I was HAMMERED. Nope, ma...just choking down a Long Trail. That same day, I bought a few Otter Creek sixers and recall HATING them, especially the Copper Ale.
Beer that showed me all beer isn't terrible (Had only had BMC varieties): weihenstephaner vitus. Huge epiphany! First IPA that I enjoyed: SN Torpedo.
My first hoppy beer was Summit Pale Ale, and that was pretty hoppy to me. I was still in the "I'm 17 and I drink Leinenkugel's and Blue Moon because I can't buy my own beer" phase... Then I tried Big Sky IPA (I really should revisit that one...) and Two Hearted Ale, and before I knew it, I was hooked on hops.
My gateway beers into my favorite styles. First non-BMC beer. The one that began my journey: Magic Hat #9. I don't particularly care for it these days. Butit was the first beer I had that had some sort of flavor. First time I realized that beer could have flavor. First Stout: Victory Storm King Imperial Stout. Bought on a whim because of the name. Took a drink andthought, "There's beer that tastes like chocolate?!?!" First IPA: Stone IPA. First time I remember feeling like a beer attacked me. First Barleywine: Founders Nemesis 2010. First time I noticed bread and dark fruits in beer. Kind of a deep cutfor an introduction to the style. First Sour: Duchesse De Bourogne. I was speechless, slack-jawed and pie-eyed after I took a sip. First Scottish Ale: FFF Robert the Bruce. At the time, I thought it tasted like root beer. First Smoke Beer: Schlenkerla Urbock. "And a beer that tastes like bacon?!?!"
Lindemans Peche Lambic was my first sour. Fuck I loved that beer when I first had it... probably haven't had it in 5 years now. The only other one I can remember is Pale Ale/IPA... which was Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. My dad let me have sips off his when I was a teenager. I remember thinking it was the bitterest thing I'd ever tasted! LOL.
Pale: Dead Guy. This was amazing the first time I tried it. It's the beer that got me into craft beers. IPA: DFH 60 Minute. This is the beer that introduced me to what would later become an addiction to hops. Stout: Old Rasputin or OD Oak Barrel Stout. (can't remember which one). Honestly, it destroyed my palate, I didn't enjoy it at all, wouldn't get back into stouts until I tried Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout, I absolutely loved it. Found out for the first time that there's actually a difference in different styles of stouts. Barleywine: Hog Heaven by Avery. Bought it on a whim and the first thing I could think of was sticking a straw into a loaf of bread. Barleywines have been my favorite style ever since. Belgian: Chimay. Honestly bought it because I wanted the glass that came with the gift set. Couldn't believe how delicious it was, and immediately wished that it was the first craft beer I tried. Was very gentle. Still one of the first beers I recommend to those wanting to experiment with craft beers. Saison: Brooklyn Sorachi Ace. Still the only Saison I've ever had. Based on this, I'm not a fan of the style at all. Think it would be great to those who like Saisons. Porter: Something by Yuengling. Can't remember the exact name of it, but to me it tasted like a cigarette put out in a glass of motor oil. It was one of the first craft beers I tried, probably not a good idea. The first porter I fell in love with was Founders Porter. Dopplebock: Aventius. Tried a dopplebock for the first time about 6 months ago, Aventius is one of my 5 favorite beers and has introduced me to the style. Sour: Can't remember the name. Had a white label with lots of writing on it. Poured it down the drain and haven't bought one since.
I seem to recall having Paulaner Salvator a long while ago. Then I had Rochefort 10. Hasn't been the same since.
