SABRES32
Member
Being in the military and doing a lot of traveling over my 26 year career and still counting, I've had the opportunity to drink flavors all over the world. From my first tour at Clark AB in the 80's far east flavors such as San Miguel and Red Horse in the Philippine and OB an QB in Korea were my daily choices. Traveling to Germany and UK in 1987 was probably the defining time when my taste buds changed forever. Sampling the Hefe's and Pils from Germany and local British Ales from round Mildenhall area there was no turning back to the standard American fare of the time. During the 80's and early 90's most US beer in my opinion was watered down flavorless lite beer, with the exception of a few. Back then personally enjoyed Canadian beer and the occasional Harp, Bass, etc back then when drinking beer back home. I agree with others that Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada probably opened the door to the flavor and the variety world here in the US. Boston Lager is still one of my favorites when I venture somewhere that has only Lite beers on tap and has Sam Adams listed as an Import. Being from Pennsylvania Yuengling Lager back in the 80's and early 90's was also a favorite but ever since their boom and expansion in my opinion the quality and taste has suffered. I am thankful that south central PA has a host of Craft breweries (Troegs, ABC, Lancaster, Selingsgove) just to name a few of the over 20+ I traveled to within 2 hours of Harrisburg, PA. In my opinion Troegs is my favorite local brewery their brews enticed my appetite for more flavor in beer and also to dive into brewing my own. I love the Hoppy seasonal Nugget Neckar and their now yearly Perpetual IPA, I think the Troegenator Double Bock was the first microbrew I consistently kept on tap. Any time I travel stateside I always make it a priority to seek out the areas craft beers hoping they have a restaurant brewery combo nearby the hotel. I'm currently in Africa where the Castel, Brakina, Flag, 33 Export to name a few all mimic the light beers from Europe with the exception of one standout...Guinness Extra Foreign Stout is my beer of choice for flavor in this part of Africa, with Pelforth Lager a close second. With other recent trips to throughout Europe to include Germany, CZ Republic, Italy, etc. I love the beers and their distinct regional flavors but after a few months abroad I can't wait to return home for the local craft breweries from the US. No where I've been can you find the variety of flavors, varieties such as Stouts, IPA, Cask beer limited runs, Abby's, APA, etc than from the small breweries back home. I think of myself and a few of my buddies as Beer Missionaries converting the Beer Infidels from the bland Big Breweries Lite beers to something you drink and appreciate. Yeah I know for the folks that like to throw down a thirty pack at a Concert, Nascar race or Football tailgating event the Lite flavorless beer still has it's place. I've even converted a few who despised IPA's to now loving them, it look a while and they still revert back to the light swill from time to time but they now appreciated what good beer is. I always say Life's to short to drink **** beer and weak coffee!