We’re in Limerick, PA and sit down with owner Gary Fry of Craft Ale House. In this episode, we discuss the Founders Curmudgeon we’re having on draft and Gary talks about the history behind Craft. We also announce our two winners for our “First Craft Beer Contest.”

Episode 3: Founders Curmudgeon & Gary from Craft from Passion Beer on Vimeo.

Winning Entries

Daniel (@PenandPint):

The day I moved to Asheville, N.C., I was unaware of the city’s amazing craft beer selection. For that matter, I was unaware of craft beer altogether, having never given much thought to the beer I was drinking. My staple was Yuengling lager, which I thought was an infinitely better beer than all of the other light lagers my peers were drinking. Yes, I thought I knew good beer.

After moving into my new place, my friends and I hit up Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company for dinner and some beers. But it wasn’t the promise of beer that brought us in — it was the spaceship that sat atop the building’s roof, and the many bright colors that streamed across the wall beneath it.

Our waitress came over and asked what we’d have. Of course, I asked for a Yuengling, only to be told that they only served their own micro-brewed beer. Instead of having her recommend a beer for me, my friends and I made the mistake of asking the waitress to bring us the microbrewery’s most popular beer. And that is how we came to try our first craft beer: a well-hopped Shiva IPA.

When I first sipped the copper ale, it was easy to see why the brewery had named this beer after the Hindu god of destruction — it seemed as if the bitter, vile stuff had already destroyed my taste buds. My friends and I genuinely struggled just to drink it; one of my friends even shook some parmesan cheese into his beer in hopes of improving the taste. It didn’t. We left wondering how anyone could appreciate a beer like that.

Not long after, while working on my university’s school paper, I was tasked with writing a piece on the many microbreweries Asheville had to offer. I didn’t dare try the Shiva again, but I did find several beers that I actually enjoyed — first among them a Highland Oatmeal Porter. I learned that not all craft beers had to be excessively bitter, and that the city of Asheville offered a beer for just about every taste.

I left Asheville not long after graduating. It was unfortunate that I started my craft beer journey just before leaving Beer City, USA, especially since my tastes have changed considerably since that time. I still lean towards stouts and porters, but I now also really dig the extremely hoppy double IPAs.

At the end of May, my wife and I are heading back to the city that first introduced me to craft beer, and you can bet I’m going to pay a visit to my old friend Shiva. I have a feeling I won’t need the parmesan this time.

Amie (@AmieMize):

I had my first craft beer at the pub that would eventually become my favorite bar at the age of 21. At that time, Stubbie’s was a tiny little bar–maybe 12 feet across and 30 feet deep. There were 12 barstools at the bar, and 2 tables with 4 chairs each. On busy nights, those would quickly fill up, and it would be standing room only– the staff could barely get around to serve the patrons. Being Gainesville’s only craft beer bar, people still came, regardless of slow service and a crowded space.

I arrived early one Friday night, and managed to score a seat at the bar. My boyfriend and friends had to stand behind me, but I got to sit down. The reason we’d braved Stubbie’s that night was because our friend, Dan, was a server there. He wanted us to come check out his new digs. So, we did. When he asked me what I wanted, I was completely lost. Stubbie’s, at the time, carried 200+ bottles and 12 different drafts. When asked what I normally drank, I told Dan that I liked Michelob’s Amber Bock. “I know exactly what you need!” He came back with an Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock. It was unlike any beer I’d ever tasted… it had flavor. It had depth. It seemed to me to be more wine than beer. Considering, at that point, my experiences with beer were limited to Alco-Pop, Light (or Lite) beer, Amber Bock and one Negra Modelo, I was shocked to not only like this strong-tasting, malty, chocolately beverage, but it cracked open a door that has since been flung wide open.

I still love Celebrator, and I still have the little Goat that came off of my first bottle. He lived on my keychain for a number of years, and is now a little worse for the wear, but he’s still around, and I still love beer.

Thanks again to everyone who entered the contest! We look forward to running more contests in the very near future and hearing from all of you again. Once again, thanks for the support.