First Things First: Brews

Ah, the maiden post. The pivotal point at which I determine whether or not I generate any kind of readership just based on what I decide to type in this box. In this case, I have one reason for writing this blog: to keep track of my experiences delving into the world of beer and hopefully provide some (witty) anecdotes along the way.

It should be noted that I am not, nor have I ever been, a big drinker. While most of my peers got a head start in the formative years 12-13, I was still, y'know, playing pick-up football with kids in my neighborhood or scribbling furiously into a purple Mead composition book like I was Harriet the Spy (MY formative years as a writer). As such, I missed all the really bad house parties people in their mid-twenties now reminisce about fondly but with a definite so-glad-we're-past-that-point attitude. No Natty Light for me (see, I don't even know if that's how you spell it!).

 

Not entirely sorry I missed THIS phase...

Furthermore, I waited until I was 21 to drink-- actually, I turned 21 in September and didn't go out to my first bar until January. Part of this was because I was the first to turn 21 and part of this was because I really just didn't care about joining the crowd of girls in micro mini skirts and 6 inch stilettos throwing up on street corners along East Carson Street.


The moral of the story is that four years later, I still remain fairly inexperienced in the world of beer (or alcohol in general, if we're being completely honest here). I'm a creature of habit, so I tend to stick to my standard trifecta of beer: Blue Moon, Yuengling, and Miller High Life. Blue Moon was my first beer specifically because I liked the name. I tried Yuengling because it seemed like everyone I was ever out with ordered it and I actually liked it. Miller High Life is inexpensive and the beer we get every week at the pizza shop I work  in-- as such, it makes me nostalgic for summer, cracking open a cold one after working in a 110 degree shop on a Friday from hell. I didn't actually know High Life was a weird option until I was out a few weeks ago and ordered one and got raised eyebrows and exclamations of surprise from both sides.

It IS the champagne of beers, after all...

In case any more justification is required, I am mildly inebriated after a beer and a half and my esteemed co-blogger from We're Awesome Because We Write insisted that I acquire, if not some form of immunity to this handicap (or bonus, if you're me!), at least some taste so I can determine what I like in time for us to head into the woodlands for Firefly Music Festival. This gives me approximately a month.

I was sitting at lunch today in Burgh's Pizza and Wings, a pub in Bridgeville, while I was on break from a food management safety class I had to take for my job, and as I sat looking over the immense, multiple page neon green beer list, I was somewhat daunted by my lack of knowledge. I don't like not knowing things. I hadn't even HEARD of most of them. I settled on a 21st Amendment Watermelon, which apparently was out of stock there, so I flusteredly picked the first one I saw when I looked down again-- Dogfish Head IPA 60. I've heard good things so I figured it was a solid choice. I wasn't sure what "IPA 60" meant (Indian Pale Ale, you learn something new every day) but the website informed me that there are more than 60 hop additions per 60 minute boil. Ah, there we go.

 I did enjoy the slightly hops-y citrus taste. It wasn't too strong to the taste but I definitely had a nice buzz going by the time I finished it. As an added bonus, it was only $4.25. I would order it again if I went out, but next time, I'd be sure not to order it with a giant tossed salad-- pizza and wings would have been a better food pairing.