When I was many many years under the legal drinking age, my father would let me fetch his beers. Often pre-opened and shy a few sips. I loved beer from the very first sip, no acquired taste curve for me. It provided something in my internal reward system that I didn’t get from juice or soda pop.

This is not a story about alcohol addiction. Sugar is my addiction, and I am glad it is not illegal to eat a donut and drive! Beer has been my excuse to meet friends, have a conversation, and catch up. A way to enhance a relaxing summer day.

Before the craft beer movement started in America, I was mostly drinking the big corporate beers (Budweiser, never Miller). That changed when I took my first flight to Copenhagen. As the plane was coming in for a landing the pilot came over the speaker “…and if this is the first time in our city, let me caution you against drinking the water. It is perfectly safe to drink, but our beer is just soooo much better!” The pilot was right and that kicked off my first real taste for European beers and beer culture. I saw 0.0 beer served in offices and the cultural faux pas of suggesting to someone that they have a drink when they have to drive later. I was even asked once, “Is it legal to drive in the US if you had a drink the night before?” Germany, Belgium, Poland & Czechia all had beers to offer seemingly better than what was generally available in the US. Even the larger brands like Heineken, Carlsberg, Stella, Guinness seemed all seemed better than what we were drinking in the US.

The rise of craft beers in the US helped soothe my European beer envy. Even as a Michigan native I had a lot of great choices like Founders Brewing, Griffen Claw, Detroit Beer Co, and Elephant & Co. Every state seemed to be exploding in the number of microbrews and they all seemed pretty good! I wanted to taste all of them. A sampling flight was my go to for each new place I traveled! Often it was the thing I looked forward to the most when I had to travel outside Michigan.

At some point I got burned out of the newness of everything. I am starting to settle in to a select few select places and beers that I can really just enjoy. I no longer have a desire for a flight, just a pint of the usual please. I still love beer, I just don’t need the variety that once drove me. Today I am much more likely to order a Tyskie or Pilsner Urquell and just enjoy an English pint with good conversation. I am taking a much deeper interest in local beers, like TEA Time Brewery (pictured above, great cask ales) or Griffen Claw when I am in the Detroit area.

If you read this far, let me buy you a pint next time you are in Krakow or Detroit! Cheers! 🍻