Hops Hopper

While this isn’t my first attempt at blogging, this is the first time I’ve actually thought about committing myself to it. And it’s not a personal diary about how my day went. So if you were looking for stories about me breaking up with my girlfriend, or why i decided to eat salad for lunch, you might want to look elsewhere.

How many times have you gone to a bar and somebody’s asked you “what’s a good beer?” Or what about going into an establishment not knowing which beer to choose? Hopefully this blog can help you make that choice. I’m not a professional beer taster or ranker, I don’t work for a brewery of any kind, nor am i endorsed by one. I am just a regular, working guy who happens to enjoy a nice beer every now and then. And I want to spread any knowledge I have about beer to you, the reader(s).

Just a few things to keep in mind when reading this blog… I live in New York, a city of 8 million people, and hundreds of beers on tap across the many bars. I can’t try every single type of beer out there, so if your local brewery isn’t mentioned, sorry about that. I also do not advocate drinking excessively and/or breaking any of laws in regards to alcohol (ie. underage drinking). When you’re arrested for DUI, don’t blame this blog. I’m also not an alcoholic. I drink during social occasions, such as birthdays, company parties, or during sporting events. I only drink alone if I have beer in my fridge that’s about to expire… and most times i let it expire (shoot, I have 4 bottles of Sam Adam’s Cherry Wheat left…).

You might be thinking, “This is just a blog about beer… and?” It’s more than just helping you figure out what beers to drink. Many of us gravitate towards things we are familiar with. Like, if you go to a restaurant and you always order the same thing when you go, you’re missing out on every other item on the menu. There’s more on the menu than Chicken Parm. Same thing with beer. This blog should help you expand your horizons, try new things and have fun.

So, with all that said, i raise a glass and say “Cheers!”  Let’s get started:

I figure I start this off by talking about my favorite beer- Brooklyn Lager.  It is one of the many types of beer produced by the Brooklyn Brewery. Why do I like it?  Well, mostly for sentimental reasons.  I’m proud to say that I lost my beer virginity to this, as opposed to the Buds or Coronas that deflowered so many of my friends.  It will always hold a special place in my liver.  But besides that, what else do I like about it?  It’s got a pleasant dark-amber color, it’s quite bitter in flavor, but you can taste a hint of caramel.  It’s refreshing, particular during these dog days of summer, and it pairs well with most of your usual bar food, like burgers, fries, nachos, popcorn, and pizza.  Some people at first might not like the strong bitterness of the beer, but after a while, it grows on you.  Overall, it’s a great beer and if you can find it in your bar or in the store, pick it up and enjoy!