Your Gateway Beer to Craft

Torpedo

 

I got excited about a beer for the first time when I drank Shocktop. I still love wheat beers, but I have, for the most part, moved on from Shocktop . From there, I fell in love with hoegardden and then jai alai opened me up to a whole different world of beer. Right now, I am grooving barleywines, scotch ales, and old ales.

 

It seems like many of us began with Sam Adams. I began with Sam Adams, too. I also began with Becks and Anchor Steam.

 

Magic Hat #9, SNPA and Long Trail.

Interestingly enough, Long Trail is the only one I still buy. No hate on SNPA, but I always grab their Torpedo.

 

Great Lakes Brewing Company Dortmunder Gold, still one of my go to beers.

 

It was Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, in 2011. I don't think I've had one since, and I think it's about time I did.

 

Well American craft is anchor steam of course, which I did not care for, lol, I did like the porter. Still have fond memories of the original Pete's wicked ale, that 1 was so good. I also liked Boston beer co's stock ale, which is no longer made I guess. I guess I enjoy the dark mild ales best....

 

Guinness Extra Stout, in 1985.

 

SNPA and Sam Adams brews were the gateway for me, led to trying more beers at the local bottle shops that opened up a new love for stouts and IPAs

 

Efes Pilson when I was stationed in Turkey back in the '70s. I made it up to a Octoberfest once and it strengthened my desire for good brews. When i got home hanging in the German stubes was about the only place for premiums. Pschoor biers was an important part of my developing tastes. Guinness stout as well.

And American? No question it was Sam Adams and Goose Island. Both were pivotal in the emerging American scene.

 

I suppose it would have to be Sam Adams Boston lager. Newcastle Brown got me my first taste of beer that wasn't light lager, and that's the beer that made me realize there was more to beer than cold easy alcohol. Then I branched out, may have tried Pete's Wicked Ale (May have been the strawberry blonde) or Boston Lager next, but it was the Boston lager that taught me that beer could be good and actually enjoyable.

 

I was a freshman or a sophomore at Johns Hopkins and we went out to eat at this kitschy diner across the street from campus--it was called Rocky Run Tap & Grille (which I think has closed since then) I managed to convince one of the college-age waiters to serve me the Rocky Run Dunkel. With first sip I was gone. Up until then I was mainly Guinness drinking, but after that I was on a mission to get my hands on craft beer. It was fairly difficult considering I had to wait two or three more years before I could legally purchase alcohol. I remember counting the days.

 

I'd had Fat Tire, but that was about the extent of things until we were on a family trip to Colorado. We were going to Fort Collins when someone said, "Hey, isn't that where that Fat Tire beer comes from?" We had a few hours to kill so we decided to do the brewery tour. During the tasting, I sampled their Abbey Grand Cru and I remember my mind was just blown. I had no idea beer could have that much flavor. I ended up going back again the next day and the rest is history.

 

Sam Adams Octoberfest.

I was drinking that alot while working out of town. I had a lot of time by myself and decided i was an alcoholic if i drank more than a 6 pack by myself while watching football on saturdays.

So, i didn't the logical thing and picked up an imperial 6 pack. All of a sudden i wanted to drink only hoppy beers. And i was hooked.

Now i drink all kinds of styles. But non of this would have happened if a friend said "stopping drinking keystone...here, try this beer. Its called octoberfest."

 

Petes Wicked Ale, then Guiness Draught and Newcastle brown. Also Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome.

 

Well, I didn't actually like beer until I tried craft. My first two beers were a Corona and then a Stella Artois. After having those, I decided that I just didn't like beer, and decided to stick to wine. The beer that changed my opinion was Fullers' London Pride. That was the first beer that I found delicious, and so it has a special place in my heart to this day.

 

SNPA and Alpha King. Alpha King led me to other 3 Floyd's beers and it was all over after that.

 

My first was Founders Dirty Bastard, but Blue Moon, was my first non BMC beer (b4 MC got there hands on em)

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Staple craft

 

Leine's Sunset Wheat, while not craft perse, it was the first beer I could actually drink. I would then have to say SN Pale Ale