I didn't like the style until I had...

I love IPA's, but not as wild about rye.

Friend left two Rye of the tiger by Great Lakes in fridge after a recent poker game

Game changer. Absolutely awesome!

 

Was never a big Saison guy until I started trying Prairie's stuff. No previous dislike but had found them a bit bland. Everything farmhouse style Prairie makes though is out of this world. And now I finally got some non-bandaid flavor Fantomes that are good, but not Prairie level.

 

I didn't like Barleywines until I had BCBW.
I didn't like IPA's until I had about 30 of them, there wasn't one in particular that did it for me but now it's one of my favorite styles.

 

Never had any Great Lakes, but I'd imagine that like 99% of other rye-ipa's, you hardly taste the rye at all. I wouldn't swear off/on rye beers until you've tried a straight-forward one, personally.

Might just be because it's bourbon aged; it seems like a lot of people in here only like BBA barleywines and scotch ales. Oh well, more for me! I think that BBA-styles are too different to group together, but that's just my opinion.

Also, if you haven't tried them, I bet you might like Firestone's Sucaba and DDBA. Not too similar to BCBBW, but not too different either.

 

I was a dark beer, stouts and porters kind of guy. Strong ales when I wanted something different. Pale ale? Naw, thanks. Then someone said, "Hey, try Zombie Dust. Not all pale ales are bilge water." And damn if he wasn't right. Led me straight into IPAs, and I've been mixing them in with my RIS and roasty toasty styles ever since.

 

IPA-Milwaukee Brewing Company Hop Happy
IIPA-Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Imperial IPA

Still waiting for a beer that makes me like Saisons

 

I have had at least a few ounces of so many barleywines (including what you mentioned), short of the super rare stuff like Wooden Hell and such. Barreled or not, there is always something I just dont like about them. Too sweet, too much of a caramel flavor (hate caramel / butterscotch in general), too hoppy, too boozy, too sweet...in the many years of trying, never found a single one I actually liked till the Bourbon County.

Even things like scotch / old ales (as defined by the brewers - often some overlap) tend to be a bit more palatable to me. Not a huge fan of such styles either, but I certainly have a few I love and seek out. Throwing these styles in a bourbon barrel definitely makes them more quaffable for me, but even then its very hit and miss (mostly misses). So yeah, more for all of you as I know im in the vast majority in disliking such styles

 

didn't like saisons till i tried dupont

wait, scratch that. didn't try saisons till i tried dupont.

 

CDAs. Then came Wookie Jack.

 

I was going to point out the lack of sourness in Love Buzz but I checked my review and saw that I had detected some tartness when drinking it so I guess you could call it a "sour" if you're using the term extremely loosely. But yeah, just the fact that it contains Brett doesn't automatically make it a "sour."

Also, sort of +1 for Consecration. I'd had many Jolly Pumpkin sours and some others and figured I hated that flavor, but then I had a Duchesse on recommendation from a friend and loved it. Then it was a matter of trial and error as I went through Rodenbach, Monk's Cafe and Cuvee des Jacobins (loved 'em) and Petrus Pale, Cuvee Rene and Tempatation (Didn't like 'em). Then I had Consecration and realized that I only really enjoy sours when they're dark, i.e. have a large amount of fruitiness and/or malt to back up the sour flavor.

Another style I didn't think I'd ever like was Scotch Ales, but then I had OB Old Chub and GD Claymore.

 

Malheur 12 was my gateway to better beer period! I haven't looked back since.

 

Ipas until I had Four Peaks Hop Knot that's the one that broke down the barrier for me and Double Ipas until Heady Topper

 

I never cared for Barleywines until I had Sucaba and of course BCBBW. I suppose I'm not a fan of American Barleywines.

 

Scotch Ales. I don't like regular Scotch Ales, but aging them in Barrels works magic! I'm looking at you Thirsty Dog Wulver.

 

I do believe you but in my experience, free stuff always tastes better.

 

Sours -- Duchesse De Bourgogne.
Now I want to try Rodenbach Grand Cru.

 

Sours were merely OK until I had Cascade's Honey Ginger Lime (and they have many more that are awesome)
IPAs, Pale Ales, and IIPAs - Not sure I can pinpoint one, but I know PW Ninja vs Unicorn was in there, as well as Sucks, and NG Moon Man (so good)
Barleywines - CW BBBW

 

Any hoppy beer until I had 90 Minute

 

Barleywine until I had bigfoot

 

I never liked sour and funk till I tried... never mind still hate em. I do have a Consecration on the shelf though and a CS Persica, hate to pop them and hate them vs sharing with someone who might love them.