2001:
Like most Americans, I had my first beer while I was in college. I wasn’t into it and stayed away from beer for the most part. I lived off campus and didn’t go to a major party school, so my exposure to college drinking was limited at best.
I was 21 and I think the first full beer I dank was an Oldstyle. Prior to that, I was really into that lemony malt beverage “Hooch”.
During a trip to visit a friend in Syracuse, NY I ended up drinking copious amounts of new-to-the-market Smirnoff Ice as well as Labatt Blue, which seemed to be all the rage out there. That was my second major beer experience. The only thing memorable about the beer was the hangover I got.
A few weeks later, I had what I would call my first positive beer experience. I was living in Uptown in 2001 and my roommate wanted me to go with her and her friend to some bar called the Hopleaf. I agreed and the friend told us non-beer drinking girls that we just hadn’t had GOOD beer. So, he ordered us each a Leffe Brune.
Oh, hey, now. I could get used to this. It didn’t taste like anything I would have normally referred to as beer. It was smooth going down, had a strong yet pleasant flavor, and it was a beautiful shade of reddish brown. Two goblets of Leffe later and I was hooked (as well as quite warm and fuzzy).
Weeks later I remember smuggling 750ml bottles of Leffe into Wrigley Field with us. If you haven’t had fine Belgian ale at a Cubs game, then you really haven’t lived. :)
Although this does sound like the beginning of a beautiful story, the lack of funds in the first few years after college graduation made for a lack of Good Beer experiences. For the most part, I found some mediocre beers to order at bars, only venturing out to try new brands when I had the money or when I was traveling. Plus, I no longer lived in the vicinity of the Hopleaf or any other quality beer bars.
The rest of the winding journey by year:
2002:
I continued to try any Belgian ale when I had the chance but otherwise would settle for a Coors Light, PBR, or similar.
2003:
Wyder’s Pear Cider. This is still one of my favorite ciders. It was on tap at a bar I went to when I lived in L.A. and it fast became my preferred drink.
2004:
A couple trips to Montreal made me a fan of microbrew Le Cheval Blanc and the Unibroue brand.
Le Cheval Blanc, Montreal, 2004
2005:
During this year I was more or less a red wine drinker. I lived near wine bars, wine shops, learned a lot, and was very interested in all the different types. I did discover the beer at Rock Bottom this year, but did not go that frequently.
Wine
2006:
The Beer Bistro opened up in my neighborhood and suddenly beer was back in my life, front and center. I tried to go there once or twice a month and checked off each beer I tried on the little card. I also started making frequent visits to Rock Bottom in Chicago because the Mug Club allowed me to drink plenty of delicious Erik the Red Ale for a reasonable price. :) Additionally, my neighborhood wine bar, Bevi Amo, began to sell a few craft beers.
Mug Clubbers, Rock Bottom Brewery
A Beer at Bevi Amo Wine Bar
2007:
A trip with my mom to the Niles Liquor Barn opened my eyes to the vast amount of (mainly Eastern) European beers available in Chicago. I also was able to buy by the bottle, so I ended up with a nice variety (Czechvar, Baltika, Czech Rebel, etc.). I was definitely on a Czech pilsner kick during that time. I also discovered some good German beers and began to order BBK whenever it was on tap.
An Array of Beer from Niles Liquor Barn
On a Pilsner Kick
2008:
Moving to the ‘hood and not being near any good grocery stores or bars meant I was back to drinking whatever Peapod delivered. And when I was out at a restaurant, I was drinking wine more often than not. At bars, I would order either Goose Island Matilda or Bells’s Oberon when it was available.
2009:
Good beer made a strong resurgence into my life. More on this in the following entries…
