When I first tried beer, I hated it. I thought it was bitter and watery and it filled me up. I tossed back metallic-tasting cans of Bud Light in college, convinced that I would never actually enjoy beer.

It wasn't until about two years ago that I began trying new types of beers. I learned the differences between a Porter, a lager and an IPA and I found that not only do I not dislike beer, but I love it. 

 Magic Hat no. 9 was the first beer that made me actually smile when I cracked the cap off. It was light and had a sweet apricot after taste. From there I learned about a wonderful (but strong) blueberry beer called Wild Blue. That pushed me further into experimenting with new types of beer. 

I wouldn't say that I actually fell in love with the libation until I tried a chocolate stout. Shortly thereafter, I had the benefit of tasting a creme brulee stout. Imagine pureed creme brulee - with a hint of chocolate - washing over your taste buds. I over-use this phrase a lot, but this time I mean it: It is life changing.

Luckily for me, as I developed an interest in tasting new beers, beer began growing more popular and I easily found beer bars that focused on uncommon and interesting brews that suited my taste. 

Prime 16 in downtown New Haven was my first exposure. I try to order a new brew whenever I go there and they don't make it difficult - the menu changes often. Recently a friend told me about a Hamden restaurant called Mikro - a beer bar that only sells food that compliments the drinks. I haven't tried it yet but it's next on my restaurant list. 

I can't take much credit for trying new brews. My boyfriend is interested in beer and he expanded my horizons. I figured I would return the favor, so this Christmas I bought him a beer brewing kit, complete with the equipment, sanitizers and ingredients for a smooth amber ale.

This brings me to another blossoming trend: homebrewing. 

Many of my friends have tried it and are experienced brewers. After purchasing an initial kit (About $150 from a brew website) the activity isn't that expensive. If you are a beer drinker, it is actually cheaper to purchase ingredients and brew your own. The beer kit I recently purchased comes with enough to make 48 beers. Buying four 12-packs will run you at least $60 if you are buying quality beer. So basically, it's worth it and it's fun.

Brewing beer is pretty much a science experiment. You not only have to monitor the temperature but you also need a hydrometer and other equipment that could be found in Bill Nye's lab. The activity reminded me of when I was young and my father and brother would set up elaborate science experiments. Decades after I watched them assemble tubing and boil water, I watched my boyfriend do the same. It was actually a bit nostalgic. 

Anyway, after about two hours of actual brewing and watching the beer transform into a substance that smells like tomato soup and then into something that resembles a brew, there is a long wait. It takes about one week until you can bottle the beer and there is a month's wait until you can actually drink the stuff. 

If you like something enough (beer, in this case) it is really interesting to watch what actually goes into it and how it is really made.

Another plus is that it's like I have my own brewery tour whenever my boyfriend whips up a batch of beer. 

I hope that your beer horizons are expanded as much as mine were. I had always thought that it was a wretched drink that frat boys knocked back in college but I was very much mislead. The next time you meet someone who says "I don't like beer," ask them what their favorite flavor (or dessert) is. I guarantee you there is a beer to suit everyone's pallets.

Have any beer suggestions? Let me know!

Looking for a beer to fit your flavor pallet? Tell me and I'll try to offer suggestions!

*P.S. This blog post is only targeted at those 21 years and older.

There are plenty of news stories about kids in their early teens (or younger) drinking, which will happen occasionally, but it seems that a growing number of children are learning drinking habits at a very young age. As a kid, I remember knowing that alcohol was for adults. I saw my parents drink socially, but they were always drinking beer, wine or things kids hate like gin and tonics. Now, kids are living in a world where juice pong, a spinoff of the popular drinking game beer pong, is played and wine exists that tastes like yoohoo.

 

The video above depicts the kind of appeal that drinking games can have to kids and they are what... eight years old (ish)?

Keep in mind that this game isn't usually played with juice so when they hit 13, obviously it will be "cooler" to chug actual booze and play the game how it is intended to be played.

I don't think that kids suddenly found the taste of alcohol appealing so they started drinking at a younger age, but they do want to be cool and more grown up and liked. If that's what they think drinking will do for them - they'll drink.

If 13 year-olds are playing beer pong now, as drinking (games, mostly) are becoming more tolerated and less of a taboo, what will 10 year-olds be doing in five years? They should be playing hopscotch, not funneling beer ... or even apple juice for that matter.