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