Where To Start A Newbie?

Probably start with a craft lager, Boston Lager or a local craft lager. Then maybe a craft pilsner then a craft pale ale like Sierra Neveda. If they like coffe maybe a lighter porter too.

 

Try Lagunitas IPA that's what got me started in this adventure or Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale

 

Victory Prima Pils is a great craft pilsner to start with!

 

Several non-craft friends like Bell's Amber Ale. Tasty ale that's very approachable.

 

I usually go a different route. With it being Alabama, I would assume whiskey flavors are popular, go big. Get something big and barrel aged. That, or if they like coffee, go dark and coffee-strong. Wait on hops, they are the current enemy until you break in their palate.

 

That's exactly what I came here to say, fantastic lager with a nice bit of citrus to it, but still crisp and very approachable. Also according to seekabrew its fully distributed in your state, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting your hands on some

 

Delirium Tremens. Still maintains that familiar golden hue, but will enlighten the craft newbie's palate. Plus the higher ABV will kick in quickly, and the subject will inevitably oppose his or her original inclination toward light BMCs. That is pretty much my introduction to craft beer in a motherfucking nut shell.

 

There were a few beers that led me down the craft beer path but the beer that hooked me was Allagash White. I checked seekabrew and while they don't distribute to Alabama, they do distribute to Georgia. If you're near the border I highly recommend giving it a try.

 

Allagash is where I started too! I was drinking blue moon, god knows how long ago, and my girlfriend at the time bought me one cause she knew better than me. Also, Im marrying her this year, the Allagash may or may not have been the deciding factor

 

Prima pils is extremely bitter for a pilsner, it may overwhelm someone who doesn't like bitterness or new to craft beer. Troegs Sunshine Pils may be a better choice.

 

+1
Something like head waters would be much better. The thing that I would tell them is this..... Just like drinking your first beer, it takes time to acquire the taste but when you do it's an addiction.

 

Founders All Day
Sweetwater 420
Blue Point Toasted Lager
Weihenstephan Pilsner

 

Funny, Blue Moon was another beer that started my craft beer journey along with Hoegaarden and Leinenkugel Summer Wheat. I really didn't know beer could taste like that :-). Then I had Allagash and I was all in.

Congrats on the pending wedding. She sounds like a keeper!

 

Switchback Ale is my total go-to to get people to expand their palate. Delicious, super drinkable and enough body to make your tongue intrigued for more....

 

Lots of threads out there on this topic. Do a search.

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Or if you really want to start small, Newcastle comes to mind. Better to get the "fear of scary darker beers" out of the way, and give them a sweet candy like beer, then give them hops like SNPA. Fat Tire from New Belgium seems harmless... Maybe a Boston Lager, but Sam Adams is annoying to me right now, so dont do that.

 

Not really. It's way over hopped and very different from a true pilsner. It's a pilsner for DIPA hopheads who have lost the ability to appreciate the more delicate nuances of the real thing. Victory's Braumeister pilsner series is much more authentic.

 

try weinstephaner original as a first time high quality lager, try hoegaarden or sierra nevada kellerweizen as high quality wheat beers, sierra nevada pale ale or founders pale ale as a way to ease yourself into the hoppy beers before trying IPA's, samuel smith's oatmeal stout is very drinkable and a great place to start for stouts or very malty beers, try leffe blonde, or duvaal or la chuff, if you can get it, to start with the belgian ales, as those are very drinkable and pretty universally pleasing. most importantly enjoy your entry into the world of better beer!