I, perhaps like many of you, enthusiastically consider myself a “beer geek”. Some may claim I am nothing more than a “snob”. To them, I turn up my nose and scoff with haughty derision as the silver can they reach for, turns blue, proving the light beer inside is fit to drink. For shame!
There was a time when we had to hide in the shadows, desperately avoiding ridicule for our geekish ways, but no more. These days we are free to step boldly into the light, denounce “big beer brands” and search out true beer passion, quality and creativity.
Long gone are the late 90’s and my college days, slugging back two-four after two-four of Molson Canadian. I was introduced to Creemore Springs lager in ’98 and realized that beer could actually have flavour. A year later I was at the Split Crow pub in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I was an art student at NSCAD. There I discovered that there was more than just watery lager to be had. I immediately developed a taste for Guinness, not exactly the embodiment of craft beer, but a gentle foray into more robust flavours. Luckily I had a fantastic instructor named Bob Rogers. Imagine actor John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin from the tv show Cheers) only with a pronounced southern accent. It wasn’t uncommon for art students and faculty to sit down and discuss high-minded topics over a pint or two in those days. Over lunch one day Bob introduced me to a local micro brewery, John Shippey’s brewing company. I sampled their lager, nut brown ale, porter and stout. I was hooked on craft beer from that moment on. I should mention that Bob was also a home brewer and on our last day of classes he treated us by bringing in a case of home brew brown ale, in ’70’s stubby bottles no less.
Here I am, 15 years later, always on the look out for new and interesting brews from across North American and beyond. Happy hunting!
beer'd blog 