path to enlightenment

[tigerlily]

My sister took me to one of her highschool parties and decided that since I was 13 it was time for me to start drinking. She handed me a Miller, said cheers, and smiled in amusement as my face grimaced in disgust at the taste. She patted me on the shoulder and said, " I know it's gross but you get used to the taste. Just keep drinking and it will get better. " So for 3 more years I'm force-drinking myself, in order to be cool and hang out with my older brothers and sister.
My beer universe rapidly expanded when I was 16. It was about 1 am. when our group arrived at a frat. party, so needless to say the beer supply was running low. His girlfriend, goes and gets the group beers. When she comes back she hands me mine and apologizes that they were out of Miller, and all they had was dark beer.
So far, all beer that I had drank tasted less than appetizing. This one I was sure was going to be the same, so it wouldn't matter what colour it was. I like to blame my ignorance on just being a young, stupid, teenager that didn't know any better.
I took my first sip, and prepared myself to again choke down another beer. It didn't happen! This one tasted good! Not only good, but great! I felt like Gallileo. "What is this? " I exclaimed. " Oh, it's Shiner Bock. It's a local beer that they brew around here. You like it?"
Like it, I loved it, and I am forever greatful to the Shiner breweries, and a random frat. party in Austin for opening up my beer world.(Who knew fraternities did some good for people. :-) ) Since then I have never looked back, and have never put another Bud., Miller, Coors, etc to my lips again.

[skahtboi]

Epiphanies can be so fun, especially where beer is concerned.

[hopjack13]

shinerbock??? well.... it's a step in the right direction......try stone!

[skahtboi]

Hey Hop:

You gotta start somewhere! At least tigerlily is on the right path now!

[Beerconnoisseur]

tigerlily: You haven't tried Tucher's Doppelbock yet, have you? Ah, you are in for a major treat... especially since winter will be here soon. It does to Shiner Bock what SB does to Miller, Bud, and Coors. :D

[chazwicke]

There is a whole wide world of beer out there waiting for you Tiger. Try anything different that comes your way. Be adventurous. You'll find some you hate but lots that you'll like.

[tigerlily]

Guys, c'mon now! A lot of you are responding as if I am declaring Shiner Boch to the beer to end all beers. I guess I should clarify that this event happend when I was 16, and I am now 30. Needless to say there has been a whole lot of beer drinking within those 14 years.
I do love any suggestions though. Please keep in mind that I do live in Texas, and some of your favorites may not be available. Thanks.

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by tigerlily
I do love any suggestions though. Please keep in mind that I do live in Texas, and some of your favorites may not be available. Thanks.

there's always beer trading!!! works good for me, i get to enjoy beers from all over the country and world!!!

[tigerlily]

Huh? Beer trading? Please explain further.....

[b3s]

find someone who can't get your local beers who has local beers you can't get...then mail them back and forth.

for instance, i'd kill for a fresh lakefront brewery holiday beer (not quite in season, yet)...and i'm sure someone out there would probably like an odell's 90 schilling (just had one tonight...i regret the comments i made about CO beers now!).

that's all it takes to start :)

[Beerconnoisseur]

Originally posted by tigerlily
Guys, c'mon now! A lot of you are responding as if I am declaring Shiner Boch to the beer to end all beers. I guess I should clarify that this event happend when I was 16, and I am now 30. Needless to say there has been a whole lot of beer drinking within those 14 years.
I do love any suggestions though. Please keep in mind that I do live in Texas, and some of your favorites may not be available. Thanks.

I live in Texas, too (San Antonio here). Tucher's Doppelbock is available from HEB's Central Market last I checked... if you have one of those close to where you live. They have a nice wine selection, too, I might add.

If not, you can try The Gingerman (http://www.gingermanpub.com/) (Houston, Dallas and Austin), or Flying Saucer (http://www.beerknurd.com/) (Houston, San Antonio, and Addison) for fantastic beer selection.

Good luck and good beer hunting! :)

[hops99]

Don't forget about Saint Arnold, out of Houston. They make some excellent beers - I especially enjoy the Brown and Kristall Weizen. Austin has an awesome beer scene, too.

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by tigerlily
Huh? Beer trading? Please explain further.....
i think B3s summed it up pretty much, but here's a trade i did last month.i've got a few people on the east coast i trade with.
they send me a wish list eg.. speedway stout (alesmith) , hoprod rye (bear republic), white knuckle (marin brewing)
the i send them mine ;
dreadnaught I.P.A. (three floyds) , 90 minute (d.f.h.), V 12 (victory)
we set up a date then mail them to each other.
works out great and it's a lot of fun...

check out the swapmeet section

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur

If not, you can try The Gingerman (http://www.gingermanpub.com/) (Houston, Dallas and Austin), or Flying Saucer (http://www.beerknurd.com/) (Houston, San Antonio, and Addison) for fantastic beer selection.

Good luck and good beer hunting! :)


Flying Saucer....great place. Never been to a Gingerman's though. I will have to check it out!

[jlttb]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur

If not, you can try The Gingerman (http://www.gingermanpub.com/) (Houston, Dallas and Austin)

I also highly recommend the GingerMan, New York. (okay, a little out of the way)

[hopjack13]

hey do you guys call texas the tejas (tay-hahs)
when we refer to texas out here we call it 'the tejas'
i was wondering where that came from??? ie...why people started calling it that?

[Beerconnoisseur]

When the first settlers arrived in what is now Texas, they asked the Native Americans what name the place had. By way of response, the natives said "Tejas," which means greetings, or welcome. So the name stuck.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur
When the first settlers arrived in what is now Texas, they asked the Native Americans what name the place had. By way of response, the natives said "Tejas," which means greetings, or welcome. So the name stuck.

But by settlers you mean the Spanish settlers - 'cuz Tejas is the Spanish word for Texas.

[Beerconnoisseur]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
But by settlers you mean the Spanish settlers - 'cuz Tejas is the Spanish word for Texas.

Yes... because in the early 1500's, the U.S. did not exist. Here (http://www.lsjunction.com/events/events.htm) is a brief history of Texas, for those who are interested. Alas, it does not inidicate when the first beer was brewed here, so it is of limited use for us. :p

[chazwicke]

I read the who;e damn history. But I will say that the first president of the republic of Texas was actually a Virginian. Just like eight other Presidents of the United States. Thanks for the history lesson for geeks like me.

[hopjack13]

wow ...thnx for the 411
now i know :)

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur
Yes... because in the early 1500's, the U.S. did not exist. Here (http://www.lsjunction.com/events/events.htm) is a brief history of Texas, for those who are interested. Alas, it does not inidicate when the first beer was brewed here, so it is of limited use for us. :p

Right that was the point - it's just vague to say settlers amongst Americans 'cuz there's always the tendency to think of English speakers. The point that Tejas is in fact a Spanish word now is actually the explanation for 'Tejas' being used over the last 300 or so years.

Just pointing it for clarities' sake really.

One of my favorite stories from pre-US Texas history is when the Mexicans thought they were going to make the march from the Southern Tip of Texas to Santa Fe(maybe Flagstaff - somewhere far, far, far away) in about 2 weeks - at least, that's the amount of provisions they packed. They had no concept of the distance - just knew the direction. Anyway, I think about 10% made it there. 2 weeks , geez......

[hops99]

Hey Chaz - don't forget you Virginians have some competition from us Ohioans. We match your 8 presidents, and we have better beer...:p

[chazwicke]

Yes but do not forget that Ohio was once part of Virginia. (I hope Richard does not see this because he will undoubtedly remind us that they were both once part of the English colonies.)

[chazwicke]

I only count 7 Presidents from Ohio!

[hops99]

Yeah, you're right. Only 7 were born in Ohio, but most Ohioans count William Henry Harrison (the 9th president, and first to die in office, if my history is correct) as one of their own. He represented Ohio in the House and Senate for 12+ years, and is buried in Ohio, but he was, in fact, born in Virginia. Damn, I thought I could slip that one in...

Well, at least I can brag about Great Lakes Brewing! ;)

[chazwicke]

Great Lakes is indeed superb and I will concede that fact. However, Old Old Dominion in Ashburn Virginia is no slouch either. Home of Tupper's Hop Pocket and the brewery where the owners of Victory learned their craft.