I'm learning...

[pietro]

You gentlemen may choose to give my hair a tussle and shoot me a condescending half-smile. I stopped off at a traditional german restaurant yesterday (1 of 3 that are actually authentic in my area) for lunch, and grabbed a half liter of Spaten helles on draft. The server claimed the keg was packaged 6 weeks ago.

Whether he was exaggerating or not, my tastebuds and olfactory sensors (brain) really began to appreciate the 'it'. The difference between this and "US Craft Brewed Traditional German INSPIRED Lagers" (!) slapped me clear across the face. Not that I couldn't before, I knew Spaten, Hofbrau, Warsteiner, Weihenstephaner, etc. had something desirable (beyond desirable) and were a cut above say, Victory or FW's interpretations, but I couldn't qualify it, and certainly couldn't QUANTIFY it. Yesterday, I had one of maybe 6 beer epiphanies in my life, and perceived HOW MUCH BETTER this beer was.

Not that I ever doubted everyone on here, but when one learns to TASTE the difference, the difference becomes clear as day.

Thanks for starting this forum. I may have 180'd and a DO meter is on the list

[Owenbräu]

is actually a wink, but it does look like a smug grin...

[Brandon]

You said "it" a lot on your post. But I agree, Victory and FW don't have 'it'.

[Beersk]

[Bryan R]

It's a magical thing, that amazing lingering fresh grain, begging you to take another sip. It may drive you mad, I hear it does that on other forums

[Owenbräu]

Nah, they don't get it, and it frustrates them.

[Brandon]

[pietro]