New to Beer..and BeerAdvocate..

Welcome. You might want to think about supporting the guys who run this site by subscribing to "Beer Advocate Magazine". It is now my favorite magazine. It will tell you a lot about craft beer. One of the things I think you may find is that as you try different brews and different styles is that your taste will evolve. for example, my first taste of Pale Ale left me thinking it was too bitter. Now, I love IPAs and DIPAs.

The front page of this site has a link to "Places". It should let you find out what craft breweries and craft bars and bottle shops are available in your local area.

 

Never forget that, and you'll do well.

 

Ok, so have him go out and grab a 120 Minute, WWS, Dark Lord and any other extreme beer he can find then and drink them right away.....why just dip your toes in, right?

You may not like my advice, but I think it's solid and a nice way to build up to the more extreme beers rather than just jumping in and possibly hating them.

 

You'll also notice a fair amount of defensiveness once in awhile on this site

Seriously, just try it all over time. You have LOTS of time, so enjoy it.

 

perhaps Utopias?

 

I think Sink the Bismarck and Tactical Nuclear Penguin are really the best beers to try first.

 

This post should be a sticky/required reading for all new BAs.

 

To question 1: There is no destination. It's better to take your time, and just see what you like, and watch as your preferences shift. There are trends toward easy drinkability, and then toward extremes of beer (hops and RIS) and then people seem to taper back out to more regular types of beers... my suggestion would be to keep track of what you've had, and how you liked it, in case you bump into one of those "Hmm... have I had this before?" moments. Untappd works pretty well for that. But don't be in a rush to try everything. Find things you really enjoy, and enjoy them. You'll work your way through everything over time.

2: You have it... it's trading. There are a few online beer stores, but they're generally overpriced, in my opinion. LOTS of trades happen here. Lots happen at beer tastings, beer release events, etc. Making friends in the Beer Snob community helps. Once you set your sights on something that you can't get around you, it's easy to track just about anything down on the trade forums.

 

It's all about the journey. There is no destination. No Grand Puba of the Brews. No such thing as a seasoned craft brew consumer. That kind of shit lives in the heads of those who are missing the point. Those who wear crowns of illusion/delusion.

Just like you don't need to listen to The Zombies before you delve into Syd Barrett, or listen to the Beach Boys before getting into the Olivia Tremor Control. In fact, a ripping shock to the palate can be an awesome and invigorating experience, and one that need not come before a soft touch of.

My neighbor (and his wife) had never had anything that could be considered craft beer when I first met them. One evening I split of bottle of KBS with them and both immediately loved it. These were Miller Lite and Harp drinkers.

Again, my intent is not to toss flames, but rather to eradicate this widespread misconception about rules for approaching beer, and levels of experience - and more importantly, that experience should be regarded in any manner. It's beer, and it's delicious.

 

I started my journey on some good Belgian and German beer because that was the specialty of the local spot where I lived at the time. Can't go wrong with some old school German brews, it's surprising what simplicity and quality can do for taste. I'd say start out small and go with easy to find beers. As you taste more your palate will become accustomed to a wide variety of of flavors.

 

Welcome aboard - you'll enjoy the journey..

Cheers !

 

If I can expand on that, there's a difference making recommendations and drafting a blueprint, step 1 then step 2 then step 3, etc.

I got my feet wet, as I assume most have, on my own and with little guidance. And I lived to tell the tale.

My opinion to the OP: don't overthink it. It's friggin' beer. Grab some bottles you think are interesting and have at it. It need not be any more complex than that.

 

Find a store that lets you mix a six pack, and do that. I still feel new to the whole beer thing, and Im at like 375 beers reviewed, and more tried. As the guy above me said, get your feet wet. Dont take the advice of everyone all the time. Dont be afraid to try something everybody else doesnt like. You may just find something you really enjoy (ie I really like Stone Belgo Anise IRS and its hated on here). Try things for yourself and form your own opinions.

Dont focus on reviewing everything. Sometimes you forget to enjoy a beer because youll geek out fast.

Lastly, dont be afraid to drink the same beer over and over. Trying new stuff is freaking great, but if you find something you really like, just stick with it.

Cheers and welcome!

 

Bottom line: this site, and many others, offer nice guidelines and suugestions for your continued education.
Take everything with a grain of salt; be open-minded; discover your own path; never stop learning...and don't get smug.
Welcome to craft beer. It's important to remember, this is beer...it's supposed to be fun.
Cheers

 

Welcome-

I highly recommend picking up stuff you interesting and tasting a wide variety. I would Aldo's recommend picking up a copy of Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher and/or Brewed Awakening by Joshua Bernstein. Both are excellent reference books and are enjoyable to read.

I would also recommend trying seasonal specials. Those are fresh brews intended for drinking in the current season and can be a great way to discover breweries that appeal to you. If there is a festival or two near you, this is a fun way to check out lots of beer. Finally, buy yourself a small notebook and jot down your impressions when you taste a beer.


Have fun and welcome to the world of "what did I just spend?, and I really better work out today."

 

Actually, he is doing the OP a favor IMO. Beer is/can be an expensive hobby. Starting slow is a great thing. He wont get too overwhemed with the moneytary aspects of the hobby. He will develop a love for the classics and keep his obsession under control.

Cheers!

 

Good luck w/ that OP.

 

Drinking -> Trading -> Brewing -> Cellaring -> Hoarding -> Obsessing

But seriously, welcome to the community and give yourself plenty of time. You have your whole life to enjoy this hobby, so don't get in over your head. Stay local as much as possible and if your city doesn't have a big craft scene, get in on the ground floor and help out! I've started volunteering lately and homebrewing, and these are great ways to bring new people into the community and make friends. Find (or start) a tasting group so you can build up your skills. And most of all, don't take it too seriously. It's just beer, have fun. Cheers!

 

No offense, but it sounds like you take it too seriously.