DdBob
Dogue in teh desert
Let me preface with the disclaimer and backstory which I've stated a few times....
My introduction to the world of "craft brew" was in 1991, September 23rd 1991 to be exact...the day i turned 21. At that time it was called "micro brew" micro as in the small brewery vs the macro large ones. We had and still do a small independent retailer who at the time xeroxed lists of the beers he stocked and it was like 200 (imports, macro and micro). I was never into bars, still taint so I started out just drinking different beers all the time...store bought.
My brother introduced me to the Micheal jackson series which he had taped off PBS (The Beerh Hunter not the weirdo singer). I had the New World guide to beer book and Beers of North America book by 1994 (at which time you had to special order them because the internets weren't blooming with Amazon and whatnot.
Fast forward to around 2010 and it was Craft this and Craft that ... I got burnt out and turned off I was in protest mode and started drinking Coors, Miller High life, PBR, Budweiser, heineken and some random big name euro ales (primarily UK brands). Then around 2013 I didn't even drink that many beers, shifted to some cocktails and whisky/Bourbon.
Well I went to Total Wine and Liquor today , been there many times it's a huge warehouse of a store but very nice inside with a very much non warehouse feel. I believe they have stores in about 14 states and they might be the largest retailer...they have a huge amount of craft beers and a impressive selection. I never really browsed it much till today....AND
that leads me to the revelation "The Craft Beer industry is pretty impressive and far surpassed my memory of what it was" . a few years back it seems when cans started getting popular that it was still some big players in the field and mainly IPA which IPA still seems to be dominant but wow so mmuch variety and experimentation now. Peanut Butter Milk stouts, coconut and mango IPA, Gose , etc, etc...just all kinds of crazy stuff and the design/aesthetics are "off the charts" like Hot sauces almost...very fun
I see myself diving headfirst into the world of Craft brew (again) so if I progress into a beer snob please remember my preface and disclaimer above
Also I'm sure it's just because I'm in the west but it seems the western states (with the exception of Michigan, Northeast including NY and Pensylvania), but it seems the western states have a much bigger presence on the shelfs but again I'm sure it's just regional stocking.
Also The cider market looks to be blooming. I'm not a huge cider guy but cider in the summer, especially late summer (around the Apple harvest time) is quite refreshing and appropriate.
Thoughts , love letters, advice!
what say you ?
here is what I brought home, from L- R ... California, Michigan, Utah, Colorado and Washington state (cider)
My introduction to the world of "craft brew" was in 1991, September 23rd 1991 to be exact...the day i turned 21. At that time it was called "micro brew" micro as in the small brewery vs the macro large ones. We had and still do a small independent retailer who at the time xeroxed lists of the beers he stocked and it was like 200 (imports, macro and micro). I was never into bars, still taint so I started out just drinking different beers all the time...store bought.
My brother introduced me to the Micheal jackson series which he had taped off PBS (The Beerh Hunter not the weirdo singer). I had the New World guide to beer book and Beers of North America book by 1994 (at which time you had to special order them because the internets weren't blooming with Amazon and whatnot.
Fast forward to around 2010 and it was Craft this and Craft that ... I got burnt out and turned off I was in protest mode and started drinking Coors, Miller High life, PBR, Budweiser, heineken and some random big name euro ales (primarily UK brands). Then around 2013 I didn't even drink that many beers, shifted to some cocktails and whisky/Bourbon.
Well I went to Total Wine and Liquor today , been there many times it's a huge warehouse of a store but very nice inside with a very much non warehouse feel. I believe they have stores in about 14 states and they might be the largest retailer...they have a huge amount of craft beers and a impressive selection. I never really browsed it much till today....AND
that leads me to the revelation "The Craft Beer industry is pretty impressive and far surpassed my memory of what it was" . a few years back it seems when cans started getting popular that it was still some big players in the field and mainly IPA which IPA still seems to be dominant but wow so mmuch variety and experimentation now. Peanut Butter Milk stouts, coconut and mango IPA, Gose , etc, etc...just all kinds of crazy stuff and the design/aesthetics are "off the charts" like Hot sauces almost...very fun
I see myself diving headfirst into the world of Craft brew (again) so if I progress into a beer snob please remember my preface and disclaimer above
Also I'm sure it's just because I'm in the west but it seems the western states (with the exception of Michigan, Northeast including NY and Pensylvania), but it seems the western states have a much bigger presence on the shelfs but again I'm sure it's just regional stocking.
Also The cider market looks to be blooming. I'm not a huge cider guy but cider in the summer, especially late summer (around the Apple harvest time) is quite refreshing and appropriate.
Thoughts , love letters, advice!
what say you ?
here is what I brought home, from L- R ... California, Michigan, Utah, Colorado and Washington state (cider)