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A religious epiphany is sometimes known as "seeing the light." In the beer world, however, it's all about seeing past the light -- Bud Light, that is. Though Budweiser's low-calorie brew is America's most frequently slung beer, now that craft breweries make up our country's fastest growing suds sector, pint-sized prophets are creating converts.
This Slashfoodie's brew-piphany occurred in the late '90s on a tour of Berkeley, Calif.'s Pyramid Brewery, where a Hefeweizen opened our eyes to the world Beyond Bud. Back in Los Angeles, we began frequenting beer-centric bars like Barney's Beanery, attempting to sample all the beers on their extensive list.
We're not alone in our new faith: Middle school teacher turned beer connoisseur Damico Ponzio was first moved by a Belgian (Triple Karmeliet), but Ommegang's Three Philosophers was the first American craft creation that knocked him out: "It had a boatload of flavor and [was served in] a wine bottle with a cork! I was completely blown away." Since then, Ponzio's become one of millions of people who regularly visit online beer communities like RateBeer.com where beer nerds congregate happily.
Some converts even go on to become apostles. Asked about his "Ah-ha!" moment with beer, Marty Jones' response is immediate: Ballantine India Pale Ale. "My cousin married a member of the Ballantine family and we would have bottles of their IPA," he recalls fondly. Now, as marketing man for the Oskar Blues Brewery (source of beloved canned microbrew Dale's Pale Ale), Jones travels the country "seeking out the unredeemed."
Got a beer that put you on the path to superior suds?
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4-28-2009 @3:17PM lisaiscooking said... I've been a craft beer convert for years. Lately, we're on a wheat beer kick, and they all get compared to New Belgium's Mothership Wit. Ommegang Witte is another favorite.
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4-28-2009 @3:17PM Thom said... It was Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout. Simply blew me away. The wonderful palette that arose as it went from frigid to cold to room temperature as I nursed it for an hour is a beautiful memory.
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4-28-2009 @3:18PM Pyrofish said... When I started traveling, and Bud Light wasn't available, I would try different beers. But it wasn't until some of my buddies started switching from "NASCAR beer" that I started to see the light. Blue Moon and Yuengling were my transition beers. From there, I've gone nuts, and fridge has an entire shelf dedicated to craft beers in neat rows of 6 for each different variety.
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4-28-2009 @3:49PM Misty said... I didn't even really like beer until Pyramid Hefeweizen. Their Curve Ball in the spring in good too. I'm still not one to drink Bud, but I'll occasionally have a Corona Light or my beloved Hefe.
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4-28-2009 @4:15PM Lucus said... Captial Brewery visit with some friends on a cold, cold winter day. I'd have to say it was either the Winter Skal or the Munich Dark.
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4-28-2009 @4:25PM Chris Wilkerson said... Stone Ruination, it absolutely ruined my palate for beers for a very long time. Everything tasted bland, the bottle warns you that it will do this to you.
It does...
I believe after having this I became a true hops addict and it has been hard kicking the habit ever since.
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4-28-2009 @5:04PM Alicia said... Berkshire Brewery Steel Rail Pale Ale....Mmmm
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4-28-2009 @5:54PM jptech said... mine was trois pistoles.
after that, nothing domestic but sam adams, leinenkugel, and Yeungling. Though craft beers are hardly domestic.
check out Sam Adams Chocolate Bock. It will change your life!
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4-28-2009 @10:05PM Alex Van Buren said... Pretty sure Corsendonk Brown was what cooked my goose for good, Mike!
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4-29-2009 @11:24AM Greg Koch said... To get a glimpse into the heart and soul of the craft beer movement, take a look at the inspiring (if I do say so myself) "I Am A Craft Brewer" 4minute video:
http://vimeo.com/4298464
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4-29-2009 @2:23PM bigkingken said... My first enlightenment came with a sampler tray of beer from the Rock Bottom in Cincinnati. The particular beer that got me was their White Tiger Wheat, which had strong hints of banana and clove. I bought a growler and downed it that very night.
Since that time, Rock Bottoms around the country have become tame and uninspiring to my palette. However, I think we owe a debt of gratitude to "tweener" breweries like this that provide a bridge for people to cross the gap between Bud and Stone.
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4-29-2009 @3:35PM foxdude0486 said... First beer I tried that I actually liked was Guinness. Ever since them I've been on the road of stouts. I'm also fond of wheats and Belgian tripples.
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4-30-2009 @11:13PM Chris said... Mine was Chimay. The first American that completely blew my mind was a Russian Imperial - Old Rasputin by North Coast. Now I'm completely obsessed, and I even started a weekly beer review blog: http://52brews.com - Anything to spread the gospel. Great topic.
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