Newbie looking for suggestions.

So you like a couple of wheat based beers. Read through this thread and try these out as a starter:

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/the-glorious-hefeweizen.97643/#post-1430960

 

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier for sure!

Not sure if you've tried any stouts or porters yet, based on that post, but those styles got me into craft, while hefeweizens were also a style I liked early on, so while different, they're not incompatible. My boss actually found me in a beer tent on my first day and she said, "I like stouts and hefeweizens, maybe that's a weird combination." Nope! At the time, those were my two primary styles as well.

 

Rodenbach Grand Cru or a good Flemish Red Ale like Strube Grand Cru or Duchesse De Bourgogne - any of these will open a window into craft beer for you.

 

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier is my first suggestion...
You might also want to look into somesome American (Craft-brewed) Pale Wheat Ales (c.f. Bell's Oberon, Boulevard Wheat, etc.) Out your way is the Harpoon U.F.O. still available?

Cheers!

 

Barleywines would work.

 

protip: find a local brewpub or beer bar that does tasters or 'flights' of beer. You'll get 4-5oz samples of a lot of different styles and it's a great way to try new things without taking huge risks on buying whole bottles or 6 packs.

 

Look to see what is included in summer variety packs that are available to you, and then pick these beers up as singles to give them a try. Usually the summer variety packs will have some wheat beers, which are what the beers that you already noted are, and these are already to your liking.

 

My $0.02:
Go to a beer bar and ask for a taste of anything that might appeal to you - but buy at least one beer for every 3 tastes. Or go to a store that sells singles. Be adventurous. Discovering new and different beers on your own is so much more gratifying than taking random suggestions.

 

Listen to otispdriftwood. Also my advice is don't be afraid of singles. When you go into your bottle shop don't let $4 stand in the way of a new style or a new experience. Try everything and don't be shy to say how you feel about it. After you have tried a hundred beers you will know what you like. Read the reviews but never take them too seriously and enjoy every last beer you ever have. Someone made those.

 

I'm leery of single bottles, no clue how long they're been collecting dust. Good beer bar order flights or sample a little of everything. Simple places like Mellow Mushroom often have 20 taps, better places maybe twice that.

 

Belgian Tripels. The best mix of subtly, complexity, flavor and alcohol content. Even if the ABV is high, it's not overwhelming.

Pick up a bottle of Allagash Tripel. Should be easy to find.

 

Beer flights and mix sixers are a great way to expand your palate (and are also just plain fun to experiment with.). But if you're looking for specific suggestions of what to try, I would recommend picking up a Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin. It's a wheat beer, well balanced and easy enough to find. It's 7.5% ABV.

Since you're in MA, try some local beers too. I love Smuttynose and Old Brown Dog Ale. It's out of New Hampshire, but very well distributed (especially on the east coast.) It's ABV is 6.7%. It's an American Brown Ale, so it's a bit hoppier than the English style, but by no means a hop bomb. It's a great example of American Brown Ales.

During the summer, I love a well done saison and they are getting easier to find. I think that Goose Island distributes Sofie in MA. If not, try DuPonte or Boulevard's Tank 7. Pretty Things Jack D'or is also a wonderful example of a saison and is out of Cambridge.

 

Brown ales are low bitterness. So are most red ales and dry stouts. There is a large range of flavored within those three styles.

 

I believe this is what you're looking for...
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30/94997

 

Not sure where you are in MA, but Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont sells mix-sixes, and they have a pretty good selection. Not sure I've run into any others in my area (Boston) that do that. Not to say there aren't any, I just don't know where they are.

Also, and I can't believe I finally get the be the first person to post this obligatory line, but Jack's Abby does a variety of lager styles and you can usually find singles of their beers for between 3 and 5 bucks a piece. Also, Goose Island does distribute Sofie into MA, and it would be a wonderful choice.

 

What's the difference between a single bottle collecting dust and a six-pack collecting dust? As long as there's a date on the bottle, it's something you can check before you buy. Caveat emptor.

 

I'm relatively new as well (been drinking craft beers almost a year now, probably) and the best advice I can give you is pay attention to the labels of beers you enjoy. If you like it, take note of what the label says--what style it was, what the alcohol content was, some labels give a vague overview of the flavors used, etc. Sites like this make it super-easy to find beers of the same/similar style.

I suggest browsing through these to start you off. They're the styles that got me into craft beers and, from the point of view of someone relatively new, they're a great starting point.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/89
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/90
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/48

And like previously mentioned, just try to get to beer bars and ask for a small sample of things you've never heard of. My personal favorite method is going to bottle shops and picking up mix-sixers. Most times I'll spend $40 - $50, but I'll come home with anywhere from 12 - 15 bottles of brews I've never tried before. Just don't be afraid to branch out. Good luck!

 

Most breweries offer a sampler. Go to your local brewery and try everything on tap.