What’s your first memory of beer?

Well yes, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 20 years old, living in Dublin Ireland and trying my best to become a “beer drinker”.  Every night I would go to the local pub and hesitantly order a gin & tonic.  Finally, the trusty barkeep leaned over and whispered “give me a week, and I’ll turn you into a beer lover”.  After a quick blush, I eagerly jumped on his challenge.

The following evening I walked into that same pub and there waiting for me was a perfect pint of Guinness (dark as the devil with a thick, creamy head).  Sitting down, I reached for the warm glass surprised to get an overwhelming whiff of black currant liquor permeating from my pint. The bartender’s plan was to slowly ween me away from a “girly” and artificially sweetened Guinness, to a classically poured dry stout.

His plan worked - I went back to Wisconsin eager to explore what my state was brewing!

What’s the point of my story? Well, truth is that everyone has a special place in their memory reserved for a beer experience. Perhaps it was accidentally reaching for your dad’s lawn-mower lager when you were five.  Or, maybe you were a closet home-brewer in university. Maybe you’ve even admittedly been a wine drinker your entire life.  What ever your story, chances are your friends want to hear it.  And, I’m here to help you laugh while learning about Canada’s favorite beverage – craft beer.

Last night I led a guided beer tasting for my wonderful boss Lori Stahlbrand, her husband author Wayne Roberts and their entourage of soon-to-be-beer-lovin‘ friends.  In my mind, what made this guided tasting really special was hearing everyone’s “first beer memory”.  While some stories were more scandalous than others, all eyes in the room came alive when recalling their first sip(s) of delicious beer.

Throughout the evening, we experienced six different styles of Ontario craft beer.  Starting with Beau’s Lug Tread and ending with Hockley’s dry stout, everyone was quite amazed by the wide-variety of beer styles brewed in our province.  In fact, I’d venture to say the group made new beer memories that they’ll soon share with friends over their next pint.