Many of my friends enjoy good beer, but most don't know what they like or why, so they stick with easy drinking well known stuff such as Sam Adams. I want to put together a tasting to introduce beers representative of each style and do 3 oz pours of each beer, explainign what to look for int he style. I want easily obtained beers representative of the basic style. I live near Chicago, so looking for beers easily available here. Please provide your thoughts...add beers where necessary and provide feedback on what I've already got. Also, if you think I can remove some styles or should ad some styles, please advise. Obviously, I favor malts to hops (I actually have an allergy to some hops) so feedback to balance that is welcome. American Barleywine-Bigfoot IIPA - I. Stout - Old Rasputin Bourbon Barreled Stout - Dragon's Milk Wheat - Boulevard Brown - Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale IPA - APA - Sierra Nevada stout/Porter - Obsidian Sweet Stout - Left Hand Coffee Stout - New Glarus or Schlafly Strong Dark Ale - St. Bernardus Strong Pale Ale - Duvel Saison - Domaine dupage English Barleywine - Scotch Ale - Dirty Bastard Doppelbock - Optimator Pilsner -
Yeah giving your Boston Lager loving friends 105 beers to try is gonna be an overload and seem forced. I'd also do less beers so you can give a bigger pour. A beer novice having 3oz of a beer isn't gonna gain much, if they can have a half glass they might learn something. I'd go with: APA or IPA (nothing extremely hoppy) Barleywine (either American or English) Porter or Stout (nothing extremely bitter or coffee-ey) Hefewiessen Amber or Brown See what they like and remember for next time.
I like where you're going JG... Actually, to say they just drink Sam Adams type is a bit off...most do drink a lot of belgians and germans as well as some APAs and ambers. They are interested in beer and would be excited about this. You'll rarely catch a BMC in any of their hands. I just don't think they know why they like what they like. How about this? APA or IPA (nothing extremely hoppy) Barleywine (either American or English) Porter or Stout (nothing extremely bitter or coffee-ey) Dark Belgian Light Belgian Belgians will tie the above to something they know Then have a stronger IPA or Stout available if they want to take one to the next level.
I did a very similar thing for my friends. I would say its probably too many beers but if your buddies are all at least familiar with the different styles it wouldn't be a horrible amount. I had a large mixed crowd and 10 or 11 styles was way too many. I would imagine 6-8 solid styles with good beer representing them would be best.
Porter: GL Edmund Fitz, Smuttynose, or Fullers Hefeweizen: only one choice - Weiheinstaphaner Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Prima Pils A Sam Adams variety pack (familiarity=comfort) And just one extra strong or unique beer: Barleywine, Duvel, or old ale. My Labatts drinking neighbor bought a bottle of Arrogant Bastard because he wanted to branch out (and he liked the name). He took 2 sips, declared it tasted like ass and gave me the rest. Don't overwhelm them.
Looks good. Think about Pilsner Urquell for your pilsner, J.W. Lees Harvest for your English Barley Wine and your best fresh local IPA/IIPA for your IPA/IIPAs. Have fun!!!!
If you get fresh Zombie Dust, go there. If not, try Founders All Day IPA. Add in Founders Breakfast Stout. Maybe use Oskar Blues Little Yella' Pils.
id break that up by countries or something then you wouldn't have such a huge array of flavors bombarding your palate in one night. PLus then you could have like 3-4 different tastings so you can drink more of each style each time and do more tasting than sampling.
I think that would work, I didn't gather that they were as versed in some styles from your original post, from what you put in your second post, I think you're right on (A few less styles/beers overall, some they are already in to, some that are new) I like it.
Thank you all for the help...I think the feedback you've given me here will make this event a lot better. I'm pulling together a group and trying to set a date now.
Not sure if you have any women in your tasting, but if you do I found that having a few Framboise (Lindeman or Timmerman are two good ones) are usually a good call. Or maybe something lite like a Wittekerke or even a good chocolate beer like Souther Tier Choklat. I've converted many none beer drinking women into drinking beer once they realize they have good options to chose from. Most of them just don't realize what's out there.
Stouts and barleywines may be a stretch. Try a pilsner, white ale, sasion, belgian double, black lager, mild or a bitter. Start there.
