I
started my journey into the world of Craft Beer more than 10 years ago.
I suppose
it was accidental and I think it began with something like Guinness or Newcastle.
That is a common story these days but I became restless, and having this
weird
mutated string of DNA inside that compels me to 'collect', losing myself
in this world came naturally.
I have never been able to act the part of the wine taster. Sure I swish
it around in my mouth a bit, pull some air in and let it roll over my tounge,
but I swallow every bit and drink everything in site. This never went over
well at parties so I started bringing my own beverage of choice. And believe
it or not, every type of person in the room showed an interest in this 'drink
of the masses', if only because I wasn't wearing a trucker hat and a cutoff
flanel.
Attending my first event, the Legendary Boonville Beerfest in 2005, took
me from a goofy amatuer drinking Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Fuller's London
Pride, to someone whose eyes would never blink, and I threw all of my preconceptions
out the window. First time drinking Russian River, Stone, Lost Abbey &
21st Amendment. I dove right in...attended beer school at a local nano-brewery,
worked with local micros to create labels and web sites, attended the GABF
one year, then volunteered and attended the next. Started a tasting group
that met once a month, took several hundred mile long pub crawls and then
wrote about them, kept a massive tasting log. Moved to Santa Rosa, CA in
2010 and experienced what life is like in a city that embraces craft beer.
Moved to Bend, OR in 2011 and realized that craft beer could DEFINE a region.
This could be a whole new level. Let the fun begin.
WhyDrinkBeer - News
08.15.11 -
Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA - link
08.12.11 - Alaskan
Brewing Perseverance Ale - link
08.10.11 - Black
Betty Russian Imperial Stout 2011 from Nebrask Brewing - link
08.08.11 - Brewers
Assc Reports 2011 Mid-Year Growth for U.S. Craft Brewers - link
