Jim and I have talked before about our early childhood experiences with our Dad. Dad was a Pabst Blue Ribbon drinker through and through. If he had beer it was PBR. It wasn’t until the company started to struggle and PBR became a little more scarce on the grocery shelves that he began to branch out a bit to Schmidts, Stroughs, and Budweiser. Of the three Schmidts was pretty good, at least I liked their unique forest scene cans, Stroughs was actually a decent lager, and one I would drink again if they were still in business.
But I never really sat down and had a beer with Dad. I would take sips of his beer, but never really had that moment. Now that he is gone I regret never really taking the time to make that moment. I however will not make that mistake with my children. I have already had that moment with my two older boys, and look forward to it with my two younger sons as well.
One of our readers who goes by Splat8391 suggested that I should do this post, and I thought it was a great topic. Drinks with Dad (or whoever your significant male figure was in your life). Like I said I never really shared that moment with Dad, by the time I reached drinking age I was already living on my own in Iowa, and they had moved to Michigan. I guess the closest I ever really came was when he would make bloody marys and would give me a bit of the doctored Clamato juice that he made for them.
How about you? Did you ever have that moment with your Dad? What did you drink? Was it memorable, or did it just happen in passing? As usual let us know in the comments.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Dad’s root beer with my Pop. He was a recovering alcoholic by the time I was born. You don’t see Dad’s root beer anymore. More’s the pity.
I LOVED Dad’s root beer. It was the best, creamy and a huge 3 inch head on every glass you poured!
Thanks for bringing this up and reminding me both my parents are recovering alcoholics Don. I’ll send you the therapy bill…
But since he quit drinking, we did share a lot of Dads Root Beer together…I friggin love the stuff.
Still here in Chicago.
Love the photo, Don …
Well, my first taste with my dad was Ballantine Ale, which was his beer of choice when I was little. I’ve made up for that in subsequent years as my palate has matured a little, and I’ve dragged him along with me. I’ve shared a Westvleteren 12 with him – which was terrific, obviously – but maybe my favorite was a Goose Island BCS, after a year in the cellar, on a recent Christmas Eve. That was special.
Interested to see what some others are!
Matt (my brother always did – and still does – call me Splat, for some reason …)
Good to know Matt. I call Jim, Squirm. So is your Dad now into craft beer? or does he just play along to make you feel good? BCS is a great brew, and I’m sure has made many special moments that much more special. Where were you when you had the Westy 12? I thought that stuff was illegal in the US?
My dad’s always been open to trying new things, so getting him on board with craft beer has been easy – and a lot of fun. I grew up in Chicago, and my folks still live there, so I’ve made it a point to expose him to some great stuff from home – 3 Floyds, Flossmoor Station, Two Brothers, Goose Island, etc.
As for the Westvleteren … I actually bought them at the brewery in Belgium. I was in Europe for business last April and I tacked on three days to drive around the country and visit some breweries – I made it to Rochefort, Orval, Chimay, St. Bernardus (stayed in the B&B there – AWESOME), De Dolle, and of course Westvleteren. I bought 30 bottles (10 of each style), bubble wrapped them and checked them as baggage. Held my breath the entire flight, but every one of them made it back unscathed. So I’m happy to say I still have more than half of it stashed in my cellar. It was an incredible three days, for sure …
My dad and I often share a drink or two. But most memorable was a random afternoon with a nip of Rebel Yell and remembering stories of my mom.
Nice! I actually like Rebel Yell quite a bit. Most bourbon snobs turn their nose up at it as low brow, but it has a very nice and mellow flavor.
I never had a memorable first beer with my dad, but I have had the true joy of turning my dad into a craft beer lover. Maybe about two or three years ago, as my own craft beer passion was blossoming, I got to share some good beer and homebrew with my dad, which ended up being his craft beer revelation This past weekend I went home for easter and my dad proudly opened the freezer to show me that he no longer keeps frosted beer mugs in there. It’s been a great bonding experience.
Nice! Way to convert one of the older generation, especially your dad. I think that takes a lot of work. They can be pretty set in their ways. I’m betting it was your home brew that did it. As a parent you always want to encourage and participate in your kid’s passions. Your’s was brewing, so naturally he had to come along.
My dad was never much of a beer drinker, so he didn’t have a issue with fierce brand loyalty. Plus he’s the kind of person who gets a lot of joy out of sharing his kid’s hobbies. That’s great that you’ve placed a priority on having that experience with your sons. It’s a memory that they’ll always cherish for sure.
As a kid I can remember being sent to the basement ot get beers for my dad and whatever neighbor was visiting. The beers changed from Old Style to Miller to Bud. Whatever was on sale I imagine or whatever whim suited him. One day I was visiting him in my late 20’s and the neighbor came buy and Dad told me to get them some beers. I immediately started for the basement when I realized I was an Adult, not a 10 year old to fetch the beer and conveyed that to him to which he repleid. “Well get one for yourself too!”
That’s the great thing about dads, they are masters of the obvious.
My dad is a big corona fan and calls all the craft beers I like “girly beers” so the drinks we share are not usually beer. He got me to like coffee at too young of an age( I was a fourth grader who would go play kickball to work off the jitters) starting with mostly cream and sugar. Now we both drink it black. Also when I come home from college he always makes me a margarita and we drink those together…and I’m the girly one?!
Funny thing, here in Idaho most people of Hispanic descent drink Bud Light. Most of the Mexican beers are drank by everyone else. Seriously go into any popular hang out and that is the case. I don’t get it. Funny, it seems like your Dad uses you as an excuse to make the Margaritas, which I’m guessing he thoroughly enjoys. Gotta love dads.
My dad also shared his beer with me when I was young. Back in those days he drank Perfection. The flat top can had a penguin on it. After I turned 18 and then it was legal to drink it wasn’t unusual to share a beer after work. I grew up in the family business so we got finished at the same time and would share a six pack. After you couldn’t find a Perfection he switched to Old Milwaukee. I still enjoy one of those from time to time. I am passing on the tradition as my 2 boys and 1 girl are all at least 21 and they all enjoy having drinks with dad. My daughter sent me a cute post the other day that read “Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers.”
Never heard of Perfection, and I’m pretty up on my old beers, because I used to have a beer can collection. I think my dad drank more new styles of beer when I had that collection than ever before or after that time. Oh the hardships dads endure for their kids hobbies!
Hmmmm I wanna say the first beer me and my dad had together was either a Landshark (my dad grew up in Georgia and LOVES Lager beers of course haha) or a Coors. I can’t quite remember.
Although, I did get my dad to come to the bar with me and a bunch of my friends on my 21st birthday and I got drunk on craft beer and that was the night I finally got him to start trying different beer.
It’s been slow going, but I’m starting to convert him to the craft side 🙂
He’s not a big fan of anything dark like Stouts or Porters, but has been really getting into Pale Ales a lot and other lighter beers. He actually texted me the other day just to tell me he had tried Sierra Nevada’s Shift which just hit shelves by him not long ago. Needless to say I’m proud that he’s trying stuff without me now!
Great article by the way.
Light beers are fine. you should get him to try Joe’s Pilsner by Avery brewing. Huge flavor in a light Pils. I think he would love it, and it is a bit more crafty than a lot of pales out there.
Maui’s Bikini Blonde Lager is another good transitional beer for someone looking to try the lighter the craft beers. Another is Magic Hat’s Vinyl Lager.
By the time I was of an age where my Dad would have shared a beer w/ me he was a teetotaler. His family was very religious & anti-alcohol–many being founding members of the WCTU. However, I can remember that at maternal family gatherings, when I was just a little tad, that the menfolk would sit around playing poker & drinking. They had mostly highballs & shooters & the beer was usually Hamm’s or Old Style. I would hide under the table & snitch sips from whichever glass was nearest & unwatched. (My Mom would later pour me into bed, LOL.)
My real revelation about my family beer roots came many years later when I started doing
genealogy & found out my g-grampa, Matthew Hermann, ran a saloon on N. Cicero, & that g-g-grampa, Hermann Jaaks, was a saloon keep on Milwaukee Ave. & then later drove a horse-drawn beer wagon for the West Side Brewery on Paulina St. in Chicago. (I have photos of both on their respective beer wagons.) Some of the Jaaks kin (the Timmerman’s) also ran a saloon further west along the Milwaukee Plank Rd. (Milwaukee Ave.) where the Jaacks/Jaaks family farmers would stop for refreshment on their way to and from the Hay Market.
Nice Family history Wayne. It looks like for you to keep the family tradition alive, you need to get your CDL and drive truck for one of the beer distributors in your neck of the woods. Maybe they’le let you bring the St. Bernard with too! You know for protection… 😉
sterling was the first beer I had with my dad. I hated it…but when I realized how much he liked it and how nostalgic it was for him, I began to love it. Bout 6 years ago when he started seeing it less and less around town he freaked. He then found out the brewery was closed. He proceeded to call every liquor store in Louisville, none, so then he found a store in bowling green about an hour and a half away, told them to save whatever they had in stock. He bought about 18 cases. He still has about 8 cans left in which he has one during the derby every year for memories sake.
I used to have a couple of Sterling cans in my beer can collection. I had one that was the old cone top style. Looked like an old fashioned oil can. 8 cans left…what happens at derby time in 2021?
It’s going to be a sad, sad day.
thanks for posting this! i love having a beer with my dad! especially on a hot summer day! nothing beats a nice cold one and BBQ with dad!
Actually, the death of my dad reunited me with my brothers, and man, can we pack away some beers when we get going! I’m finding that trait seems to run in our family. Beer Run!!! (My bros will get that reference.)
My dad’s never been a huge drinker so when my brother and i got into home brewing he thought we were both crazy. Fortunately he gets interested in whatever we do so he’ll gladly try my latest brew and it’s fun to teach him little things here and there.
I buy my sons beer because it keeps them home and safe.
Smart. Especially if they drink good beer… 🙂