This series of posts is dedicated to the many, many six packs, pony kegs and pints that have sauntered into my life at one point or another.

As I’ve noted previously, I’ve got a whole new world of beers to become acquainted with now that I’ve moved back to my native land of Madison, Wisconsin. The state may have been one of the renowned homes to breweries for ages, but we’re talking about historical offerings on the Blatz and Schlitz tier. In the time I’ve been away, America’s Dairyland has experience the same boom of craft brewing as just about everyplace else, leading to a slew of beverage artisans I’ve largely known only by reputation. Thus, I need to take advantage of learning opportunities when they come along, making it especially lucky that I currently reside just around the corner from a dandy little liquor store that routinely offers free tastings. A few weeks ago, local heroes Ale Asylum took up their corner of the counter, generously pouring sippers of several offerings. Among the bottles they’d brought along was an IPA right on the cusp of its annual winter release: Velveteen Habit. With a distinct but balanced hoppiness, the beer is brisk and beautifully flavorful, delivering just the sort of lingering tingle that characterizes the strongest IPAs without resorting to the soapy taste bud pummeling that can sully even the most revered examples of the style. I haunted the liquor stores for the next few days, longing for the bottles to actually hit shelves for purchase, and it’s been my automatic order whenever I’ve found it on tap around town. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but these are going to be splendid lessons.

Previously…
—Point Special
—21st Amendment Bitter American
—Abita Restoration Pale Ale
—Rolling Rock
—Skull Splitter
—Foster’s
—Highland Thunderstruck Coffee Porter
—Red Stripe
—Rhinelander Bock
—Samuel Adams Boston Lager
—New Glarus Brewing Company Wisconsin Belgian Red
—ABA Hoppy Saison
—Hamm’s
—Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager
—Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow
—French Broad Brewing Gateway Kolsch
—Big Boss Brewing “High Monkey”
—Stevens Point Brewery Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale
—The Native Brewing Company The Eleven Brown Ale
—Labatt Blue
—Smuttynose Winter Ale
—Point Beyond the Pale IPA
—Guinness
—Capital Brewery Supper Club
—Highland Brewing 20th Anniversary Scotch Ale
—Mickey’s
—Central Waters Brewing Company Sixteen
—Blatz
—Pisgah Pale Ale
—New Glarus Brewing Company Pumpkin Pie Lust
—Asheville Brewing Company Rocket Girl
—Sierra Nevada Blindfold Black IPA
—21st Amendment Brewery Down to Earth
—Point Bock
—3 Sheeps Hello, My Name is Joe
—Corona
—One Barrel Brewing Company Bilbo Baggins Black IPA
—Green Man ESB
—3 Floyds Gumballhead