First Beer Memories

[Bilbo Beergins]

I was five or so, and my Dad, after a hard week's work, would go to Bernie's Bar, a real neighborhood pub, say hello to all the regulars, sit me on a chair, order a beer, and ask the bartender to draw up a root beer for me, his young son so proud to be hangin' with his old man. I would tell the bartender I liked a lot of head on my root beer, just like Dad and his beer. The regulars would ask me questions only a five year old knew the answer to, then settle into chit-chat with Dad.

Lighting was dim, smell of cigarettes and beer, Dad so relaxed after putting in all those hours, chit-chat between a wide-eyed five year old and a man of the world who loved his family so.

On tap, in the bottle (cans were truly made of tin back then and were forbidden in Bernie's). I used to walk the mile to Bernie's (at the age of five) when I knew my Dad was at work and, if the cops didn't catch me and take me back home, go inside and ask if my Dad was there. The bartender would ask who my father was and, upon finding out, would state, "No, he's not here, but pull up a chair and I'll give you a root beer." At the time, I thought I had him fooled...

These are my first beer memories, not even tasting the brew until years later.

[corkybstewart]

My first beer was Pabst, when I was 8 or 9, fishing for king mackeral in the Gulf of Mexico with my dad and the friend he owned the boat with. Pabst Blue Ribbon, balogna sandwiches with mustard, and canned tomatoes, it doesn't get any better. And sometimes we even caught fish.

[xtalman]

First memories where hanging with the family and getting to sip off either Dad or my grandparents foam off there beer. I was restricted to Dad or my grandparents since at a wedding when I was about 3 I guess I got pretty smashed by sipping the foam off everybodies beer.:D

The nice thing about those memories was just being around the family. Now everbody is spread all over the country and we don't see each other very often.

[Insidious Rex]

Yeah I remember sipping off my dads beer too when I was about that age. He was a Black Label drinker... and strangely enough I found I enjoyed the taste. Guess you gotta start on something eh?

First memories of drinking on my own were working in a furniture store on the loading dock and buying cases of Natty Bo (for like $4.99) and religiously trying to finish every one between the three of us. Oy... those were the days... When the grass was greener and the skies wide open and blue as could be. And I didnt spend $400 a month on beer. :D

[corkybstewart]

My parents, brother and sisiters all live within 5 minutes of each other, and my wife's 10 siblings all live within 5 minutes of each other, but we live 1200 miles from my family, and she lives about 6000 miles from her family. But we still manages to visit each family at least evry other ytear, if not more often.

[chazwicke]

My dad was not a beer drinker really. He liked his cocktails or wine. I guess in the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s beer was thought of as more of a blue collar thing. I did get him to the Brickskeller in the late 70s. He drank beer very occasionally. But he was intrigued by some of the specialty beers I was finding. I do remember small 2 gallon kegs in our refrigerator in the early 60s. Probably for a special occasion for company or something. He had a huge custom bar built and had his own bar room in our house. That was really a big one that he designed and had built. One of my cousins had it moved when my folks retired to San Diego. It took 7 guys to move the darn thing. My dad passed away in 1981. I'm sure if he was alive he would be drinking more beer now. He would enjoy some of the flavorful styles that are now availble. I still miss him.

[corkybstewart]

My dad has always been a whiskey or gin drinker-very moderate-except when fishing or mowing the lawn, and then he would drink a beer or two. The last couple of years he's come out and spent a week with us and he really enjoys my Irish red ale. Many years ago when my wife was pregnant the first time we met my folks in Cambridge England for a week, and I remember going to pubs at night for a pint of bitters with him. I had no idea what bitters was before then, but that visit may have been a real influence in my beer choices over the past 20 years.

[HarkJohnny]

of course the standard "sipping foam from dad's beer" applies to me as well.

but my first beer... well, I don't remember if this was the first or not. I was in grade school and we went camping. it was with the cub scouts and some of the leaders took along beer (i guess for at the campfire after we were all asleep) but after getting back I saw one Burger beer in the cooler and when noone was looking i nabbed it and stuffed it in my bag. when I got home I had to take a shower so I took it in with me and popped it. BLECH! it was warm and nasty tasting. I chugged a few times and poured the rest out down the drain.

interesting scenario eh?

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
of course the standard "sipping foam from dad's beer" applies to me as well.

but my first beer... well, I don't remember if this was the first or not. I was in grade school and we went camping. it was with the cub scouts and some of the leaders took along beer (i guess for at the campfire after we were all asleep) but after getting back I saw one Burger beer in the cooler and when noone was looking i nabbed it and stuffed it in my bag. when I got home I had to take a shower so I took it in with me and popped it. BLECH! it was warm and nasty tasting. I chugged a few times and poured the rest out down the drain.

interesting scenario eh? And here you are today. ;)

[beerboogie]

Alright, I know this is not the weed forum now, but......this was my first.

My brother had graduated from college and he threw a huge party.I was 12 and I was running around checking out the mini's when I saw it, a pile of brownies and cookies, untouched! Kid heaven.

So I took a couple, then I took some more, then I walked off with the whole plate. I thought everyone was mad that I ate some brownies, heck there were snacks everywhere, but everyone was pissed that the chocolate was gone. I ate about $150 worth of hash! I came down about two days later and was sick for a week. Thats how it all started.

[steveh]

First remembrance is eyeing my dad's glass of Falstaff when I was 6 or so - asking, "Can I have a drink?" Dad saying, "Sure." with a very knowing, wry look on his face (that I can remember to this day - I've learned to recognize such warning signs over 39 years). Slurp - bleah!!! Bitter, thin, flavors I couldn't understand... Funny how things change. ;)

S.

[I'mRocketMan]

Sip foam from Dad's beer (Miller High Life)- Check!
Getting a couple ounces in a juice glass (from Dad)- Check!

Touring the Utica Club Brewery in Utica NY, WOW! The smells were great! Breery fresh root beer- Fantastic!

Having a chance to order the wine at a family dinner... A very good Chianti Classico Instead of Dad's stand-by... The Chianti in the basket...

Cheers! Rocket

[Chubber]

The first time I recall really "knowing" about beer was when I was 6 or 7. We took a family trip to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. We took the factory tour through the brewhouse and I was amazed at the machinery and tanks and all. Up to that time all the beer I had consumed was just another food, like any other. That is how beer was in our house, to be enjoyed with food and family. I never did understand all of the fuss that other kids made over sneaking a drink of it.

[unkle bik]

I was about 6 ot 7.
Not sure of what brand. But I can guarantee it was some swill like P.O.C., Duke, or Stroh's. I expected something sweet like Coke or Koo-Aid, instead it was dry and cereal like. One time he ordered Genny Bock and I liked that.

Dad always had saying," If you want to try some beer, try it with me. don't sneak it out with your buddies."

I followed that advice until he was killed when i was 17.

[skahtboi]

First beer memories and first beer taste are one in the same for me. Summers on Pawleys Island, SC, sitting with my dad and his buddy(our families split the cost of a beach house every summer for 10 or so years). My dad would be drinking Falstaff, and his friend would drink Pabst BR. The old tin cans that you had to open with a church key. Sitting out on the porch in the evenings, watching the ocean, sons and dads. Listening to the quiet of the night, the sounds of the waves breaking on the shore, and the most amazing night sky I think that I have ever witnessed. Eventually, we would con the dads into giving us sips of their beer before heading off to bed. The first time I ever tasted beer, I must have been about five.

[corkybstewart]

There is somehting special about the ocean and beer. That's the only thing I miss about living in the desert.(But we don't have to worry about hurricanes very often)

[Beer Monkey]

I have a bunch of random speckeled first beer memories, but the one that sticks clearest in my head is when I went to see my Uncle Bryan got married in New Mexico, I was 12 and he was 21ish, there was one afternoon when the girls (mom, aunt, and cousins etc.) wanted to go shopping, so I was a shit for lack of a better way of putting it and made (encouraged) the appropriate hints that it would be so much easier if I was dropped off with my uncle, so I got dropped off at his frat house. About 6 hours before his bachelor party started I quickly got nominated as beer runner, I ended up pouring plastic cups of coors light out of the house kegerator (probably where my earlist wishes for one came for one, that of the dream of black and tans for breakfast) and bringing em into the social room of the house most of the time with one for me too. I ended up shitfaced fortunatly my uncle was too, for some bad reason he decided the best course of action was to take me along too. gotta say when the alternative is explaining to his older sister what happened to her son I agree. who knows how many of my bad habits come from that night.

definatly left a mark or a scar depending on the light you look at it in.

[fretlessman71]

When we visited England when I was 12, I made a deal with one of the tour guides that I would help with a task if she bought me a beer later. She got me a stout, which of course I couldn't finish, but it was cool to be drinking one in broad daylight - even if I didn't like the taste just yet. Too much of a sweet tooth for beer back then. :(

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
There is somehting special about the ocean and beer. That's the only thing I miss about living in the desert.(But we don't have to worry about hurricanes very often)

I keep two beers on my kegerator at the beach place as well as misc. bottles.
And I don't even have a kegerator at my home!

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I keep two beers on my kegerator at the beach place as well as misc. bottles.
And I don't even have a kegerator at my home!

Again, please allow me to express my jealousy masked as utter contempt. :D

[Beermaker]

I seem to have forgotten more things from drinking then I can remember.