About
Brewlog: Sept 2009
My name is Alex Barger, and this is my first writing for this site. Since you probably don’t know me (why would you), let’s start with a little history. It is strange to think that over 15 years ago I was slobbering drunk drinking college beer pong macro swill. As I look back at the beer journey I have had, it is difficult to pinpoint where exactly I began to appreciate craft beer. Looking back further [-- (don't read this part mom) my desire to make my own alcoholic beverages began with attempts at fermenting grape and pineapple juice in the closet. I had some success with the fermentation, but the taste was nasty. I gave up the closet wine for awhile and drank the cheap swill. --] Somewhere around ‘97 or ‘98, Samuel Adams Oktoberfest and Yeungling Blank and Tan became my regular beers of choice. Intermittently I would try other imports and micros.
So when did my appreciation bloom. Was it the Troegs Nut Brown Ale (now Rugged Trail Ale) that was the gateway to my love for micro brew. Maybe it was from drinking room temperature Oktoberfest that was hidden from my room mates at the time. Or was it my choice of friends, that provided me with a pathway to beer-lightenment. Definitely hard to say for sure.
My budget got tight from time to time and I researched the topic of home brewing as an alternative. While working a slow retail job, I read through a book called “Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide” (ISBN: 0882669052). PS Thanks random cell phone retailer 
Around 99-2000 I made my first attempts at homebrewing. Coincidentally a coworker at the time was also into the craft, Todd Bookman who introduced me to a local home brewing and beer appreciation club… And I have been a member and home brewer ever since.