One of the things I find interesting about people is how we tend to specialize in things. We do this for a living; of course, because it’s hard not to focus our attention on something we do day in and day out for most of our adult lives. We also do it in our hobbies too, though. Some people like to read in their free time, for example, while others enjoy watching TV. Some like to ski, some to garden, some to write about every possible topic imaginable on obscure websites that pay them a penny each time some other member of said obscure website reads their musings. There are almost as many pastimes as there are people in the world it sometimes seems.

What we don’t often consider is how we first got interested in our hobbies. One of my main interests, of course, is beer. Certainly, many people drink beer, though most don’t make a point of stopping at breweries, bars, and liquor stores everywhere they go to try ones they’ve never tasted before. That being the case, you can imagine the looks I get from many people when they ask me what my hobbies are and I reply “First and foremost, beer”.

Beer is my hobby though, appreciating it and enjoying its many forms and flavors. What got me started down this path, however, were the bottles beer came in. Though it may be hard to imagine, there was a time (about 1982 or so) when I drank mostly one beer brand. First it was Busch (hey, I was young and impetuous), then later St. Pauli Girl. Of course I’d try an occasional Anchor Steam or Holland Brand, but for the most part I was a creature of habit just like most everyone else I knew.

The event that really changed all that for me was a visit to a friend’s home one day. His brother lived downstairs, and had built some shelves upon which he proudly displayed a collection of about 30 beer bottles. Thinking this was a really neat idea, I decided to start a collection of my own, and rapidly set about purchasing every different beer imaginable in a quest to expand my beer bottle museum. Collecting those bottles was a lot of fun, and more importantly, I developed a true passion for beer in all its styles along the way.

My collection peaked out at about 1600 bottles. Eventually it became just too cumbersome, and I decided to divest myself of it earlier this year. The place was just getting too crowded with 1600 bottles and 15,000 comic books hanging around. I’ve decided to collect digital images of beer graphics instead, which are much easier to store I might add. Still, I retained my most prized bottles, and still appreciate beer bottles today, and the way they allow us to drink beer from far away places, like Hale’s Moss Bay Extra from Seattle, Washington.

Hale’s has the following to say about their Moss Bay Extra:

Hale's Moss Bay Extra is a true "Northwest Bitter" in that it offers the best our region has to offer, in a copious mouthful of malt and hops, brimming with rich ale character. Try a glass of Moss Bay Extra and you will discover what the phrase "the finest Yakima hops" really means! Ingredients:Pale malted barley, Caramel and Carastan malts, Cluster and Centennial hops, Hale's special yeast and filtered water. Original Gravity: 1.046

My bottle of Hale’s Moss Bay Extra pours to a deep russet color with a light head formation and a buttery malt nose. The palate is firm bodied and grainy with a slightly astringent character. There’s a husky, slightly roasty maltiness somewhat reminiscent of a brown ale. The finish is slightly bitter from grain and hops and just a touch sour. This is an OK beer, but not the best brew I’ve had from Hale’s.

 

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 

 

 



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