I started drinking GOOD beer about 1977, when I moved to the Wash DC area and could buy imported stuff in the stores....strated collecting the bottles/cans about the same time. and like JohnB, the rule is, I have to empty them...I have maybe 700??? (some are in boxes, as I ran totally out of shelf space)......

The thing is, the microbrewery industry in the US was just being revived in 1977, and I have some wonderful memories of following new beers..(I have one bottle from New Albion Brewery, the first 'real' microbrewery to try it..(not counting Anchor, who was sort of always there)

I have old bottles from Australia..(Tooths Sheaf Stout...Coopers Real Ale..etc..)...I love Belgian beers, and would kill for an Orval Ale...(or Bios Copper Ale...or Rodenbach).....but we CAN get almost any style of beer brewed in the USA now, and brewpubs are growing daily...

(I just had an Old Scrooge Christmas Ale, from Silver City Brewing in WA state....YUM!...brewed 1999, sold 2000, drunk 2001)

I think I'll take some digital photos of my 'wall' and post some memories....