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RateBeer Weekly Magazine > Craft Beer Introduction

Welcome to Ratebeer

HIGHLIGHTS OF A FIRST YEAR @ RATEBEER

August 27, 2003
Stampede City, CANADA -

My one-year anniversary at RateBeer
was two weeks ago and I wanted to thank those responsible for this web site for
doing such a fantastic job and I wanted to do more than a forum post. In thinking about what I would say I thought
that it might make an interesting insight to new raters or those surfing the
net that stop here. 

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My first month at RateBeer I
rated 5 beers. This month I have rated
over 45 with two shipments yet to come in from Ontario. I did not make notes before joining this
site so I did not have a supply of ratings to start with. I decided not to rate any beers that I had
had before I joined even if they stood out in my memory. 

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Ever since I started drinking the
beverage of the gods I enjoyed the immense variety of beer. I could not buy the same beer if a new
brewery or an East German (remember them) beer was available. Who knew it would eventually lead to this.

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After a little over a year and
320 ratings I still prefer a pint as the perfect sample. There are a few beers drain pours that would
be exceptions but the pint was made for beer.
I started out rating beers as I could find them. This led me to find better beer stores. This led me to great discussions for some
store staff and great disdain for others.
In Calgary I found Kensington Wine Market, Eau Claire Wine Market and
Royal Liquor on 17th Avenue SW to be above average.

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When I would go out for a beer it
could not be to the bar or pub with Molson, Labatts and possibly Big Rock. It had to be a new place, or a place with a
distinguished tap like Limericks with 60 beers on tap.

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The next increase came courtesy
of Mr. Kimchee. Kimchee approached me
about a trade, Alberta to Ontario.
Canada Post did not seem to mind helping us exchange our Christmas packages. A second trade of another 12 beers each
followed in the spring and when my brother went to Toronto this week I had to
send some beer with him for Kimchee.
Now I am trading with Jercraigs.
I did not even know these people a year ago and now we are mailing each
other beer.

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To celebrate a year at RateBeer
Tipsy_McStager, TimE and another beer lover who hoards his ratings offline got
together with a selection of 4 beers each for a tasting. An enjoyable four hours included discussions
about what is a Porter and what is a Spingo.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute won the night.
There were disappointments such as a Bridgeport Porter. In between there were selections from
Redhook, Elgood, Mad River, Yakima, Mendocino, Casta, Speakeasy and Blue Anchor. Before RateBeer I had never met TimE or the
hoarder and now we were drinking through the night.

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Like many at this site I rate new
beers when I drink them at a pub. I had
business this week in Canmore, an hour out of Calgary. A beautiful drive towards the Rockies also
meant I could visit the Grizzly Paw Brewing Company for the first time. Normally I would have gone in for a
pint. This time I spoke to a waitress
about their beers before being seated.
I found out about the accident last week that caused them to lose the
entire production of Rutting Elk Red.
Instead of a pint I ordered the full flight sample of 6 of their
beers. I had never had a sampler tray
of beer before. 

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Whilst I was taking my notes
three different waitresses stopped to ask what I was doing. A great pickup idea for those who are not
attached, perhaps. One of the
waitresses brought out the brewer to spend some time with me to discuss their
beers, their styles and recent tastings he had had from the Pacific Northwest.

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Before I could enter my ratings online
I had to add the brewery, and then each beer.
Thanks to RateBeer this is an easy process. In my first year as a pioneer in Alberta I have added at least
three breweries and over a dozen new beers to the site. I normally send an email to the brewery when
I add them and sometimes even get a response back.

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I started keeping ratings on this
site to keep track of what I had to drink and what I liked. I have found so much more in fellow
RateBeerians and finding new locations.
RateBeer has licensed me to open up conversations with brewers and
coworkers and even teetotalers about beer of all things. I have found many styles I did not know
existed. I keep track of new Alberta
raters and send them a welcome email and track their progress and what they
have found to drink. If I could get
TimE and the hoarder to enter their ratings Alberta would look pretty good on
the average rating per member stat.

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I took out my Premium Membership
the first week it was offered. I bought
a RateBeer.com bottle opener and my golf shirt and ball cap arrived in the mail
today! Hi, my name is Presario and I’m
a BEER GEEK!

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I keep track of new Alberta raters and send them a welcome email and track their progress and what they have found to drink