The Approach

When I first started drinking, I abhorred beer. As much as it pains me to admit, I drank wine coolers. I tried beer a few times and thought it tasted terrible. So I stuck to the stuff that had lots of (sweet) flavor. My freshman year I could be found with a handle of Bacardi O in my room at all times. Oddly enough, I've never tasted the stuff since. My introduction into beer was more a matter of necessity. Like so many young men before me I decided to join a fraternity, where stanky beer flows like water. At this point, I made a decision that it was in my best long term interest to learn to like the stuff (yes, this is how I make decisions). Starting by playing caps, where it was encouraged, if not necessary, to down the cheap beer as fast as possible, which helped. Very quickly I acquired a taste for the stuff and began to branch out into new beers. I try and make a point of trying things I've never had before and this resulted in going straight for stuff I've never had when visiting the liquor store. Nearly 25, I've certainly grown out of the mindset that beer is strictly for getting drunk (although it is an important function). This growth, combined with a trip to Germany, which shall surely be discussed later, led to the desire to start a blog of the varied beers I've drank.
In honor of this quest, I went to Sam's which has a ridiculous selection of obscure beers from around the world. The plan was to stock up on a ton of beer I'd never had before and get to drinking. My first genius decision was that I would rollerblade the 4.1 miles from my apartment to the liquor store and simply carry the beer back. A great idea to get some exercise in before embarking on a journey with the sole purpose of drinking beer. The one minor logistical concern is that glass filled with liquid is heavy. Very heavy. Rolling precariously over cracked sidewalks carrying 40+ pounds on your back is a dangerous proposition. Undaunted, I arrived at Sam's and soaked in the glorious surroundings: an entire warehouse filled with beautiful liquors. Not to be distracted, I quickly went to the beer aisle, and walked back and forth several times staring in awe at the huge selection. Picking out about 25 bottles of beers from around the world, most of which I've never had or seen, I trekked home. Despite numerous times where I considered bailing and just taking a cab, I made the trip back successfully.
As I drink these and other beers, I will document my opinions of them and share stories. For me, one of the big reasons I chose to start this is to learn more about the beers (their styles, ingredients, tastes, etc.) and have a way to remember them. Another important part of beer drinking, something reinforced in Ambitious Brew, is that a lot of the times the circumstances under which you're drinking the beer are just as important as the beer itself. Thus, I will also share stories of my past and present experiences with the beer.