New to craft beers

I am going to assume that you've tried some IPAs or APAs. Put those on the back burner for now. Find a store that sells singles (or allows you to break six packs) and try as many "styles" as you can besides IPAs. Try to avoid buying any beers more than a year old - the fresher the better. Take note of what you like / don't like and use the reviews here as a resource. When a beer clicks with you, explore others in the same style and others by that brewery. Other people might suggest some IPAs that they don't find to be bitter, but there is so much more to beer than IPA.

 

As bitterness is your primary concern. Keep yourself South of 60ibu's and you'll be fine for getting introduced into the world of hops and its friends who make beer so good. We're getting quite a few Chicago breweries that are rocking it now, and that's really the best way to insure what you will get is fresh. It's definitely possible to get 4 day old beer from out of state, but since you're not chasing bitter bombs nor have interest in getting into them, YET. That born on date is not nearly as important as quite a few people here would like to stress on, and you might find you're a huge fan of Brett beers, or vertical (aged) beer, or barrel aged beer. So, really, the race to finish it so close to its born on date is MOOT because you are seeking out what time does to the beer and its youngness is only a teaser of what it'll become. A good bottle shop won't screw this up, and you have far more important things to think about, like what you want to be drinking in the first place.
Hit up some taprooms, brewpubs that do flights, and take advantage of ANY bottle shop that allows you to mix a six. Those really are the best keys to unlocking what you want out of good beer.
PS. if you take a flight with some hop bomb as a crew member, leave that till last.

 

I started off with wheat ales and lagers for about a year. Then went into APA's...Sierra Nevada PA and Sun King Osiris....then after a few months of APA exploration I made a jump into IPA and DIPA.

I'd suggest (and this is just my opinion) Schlafly summer lager and Sam Adams summer ale...since it's the season.

Go ahead and try a Sierra Nevada PA...when you're up to it, dont ignore the brilliance that is Half Acre Daisy Cutter (chicago)...I envy you for that

 

I would think there are 10 places in Chicago area to try all the beer you want. Be brave try it all. Sure I am not a hop head, but I still try any beer at least once. visit the micro and do the samples. experience of WHAT you like is the ONLY WAY TO LEARN. None of us no matter what school or how long they been serving beer knows what you like and what your taste is.
NO 1.

trust yourself.

Period.

costs more to sample lots of places, but then you will have that knowledge.....

 

Yeah I'd say I've learned most about my tastes from samplers at bars and from mix-packs at the store. Just go into a brewery where you enjoy the vibe. Have something tasty to eat, and pay attention to your beers.

If you have 4, play around back and forth with all of them and see if you can taste the differences, and note which you like the most and least, and why. The IPAs will probably be too bitey for you right now, which is cool. They used to be the same for me, and now I love them.

Maybe you find you'll lean more toward pale ales or whites or maybe you'll end up liking the darker stuff like Porters and Stouts. Then you can go to the store and experiment a bit with making a mix pack of those types of beers.

If you're at the store and making a mix pack, refer here for scores because it's super helpful. It's not perfect because taste is subjective but if you see a highly ranked beer you at least know you're going for something solid which is a good representation of the style.

Most importantly, have fun! Beer for me is not only a new hobby, but it's a way to see the world and meet some awesome people. Enjoy it!

 

Like almost everyone has suggested so far, I would say stick with what you do like and sample single beers or flights of the hoppy ones you don't care for yet. Nothing worse that getting stuck with entire 6 or 12 packs of something you can't drink!

Just a couple of years ago my brother didn't really like any beer at all, but he knew I was big into the craft brews so he kept trying things when he could. He started with wheat beers and actually began to enjoy those. Every time I had something hoppy I always let him try it even though I knew he wasn't going to like it. After wheat beers he started enjoying porters and just kept going from there. Two months ago he and I went on a little beercation out in the great Northwest visiting places like Deschutes, Rogue, Freemont... Now he's slamming IPAs and DIPAs with the best of us! It definitely took me by surprise but it's awesome! Tastes definitely do change.

I know for myself it took a little while to get into the IPAs and everything too. Some can be really off putting at first. I started with Lagers and stouts and anything that was more on the malty side. I think the first ones you start to like will be the ones that are described as juicy with citrus/tropical fruit aroma and taste that hide the piney bitterness. Who knows, you may never like IPAs, but that's cool too. There are so many styles to enjoy! Have fun with it! Remember, it's beer and beer is supposed to be fun!

 

Go down to Revolution's Brew Pub or Taproom. Sit at the bar. Order sample sizes. Talk to the servers, tell them you're trying things out for the first time. They should be super helpful and friendly. Take note of the styles and what you think. Most of Rev's beers are true to style. Don't be afraid to bring a little notebook. Do you have any friends who are into craft beer? Bring them along that always helps.

EDIT: Like an idiot I didn't read the first part of OP's post saying he was trying to get into the world of hops. Start with Goose Island 312 Pale, Green Line, and IPA. All deliciously easy to drink and low on the bitterness.

 

Meant to add a few of the "juicy" IPAs that I was refering too! My favorite is Fresh Squeezed by Deschutes, followed by Dirtwolf by Victory, Jai Alai by Cigar City, and Sculpin by Balast Point. I don't think you will enjoy any of these right away. They are just a few off the top of my head that aren't too harsh. Cheers!

 

Definitely go the Tap Room or Brewery Tap room route... I'm assuming Brewery Tap rooms are similar to the Breweries here in NC in that they will give you a taste of anything they have on tap. Once you find something you like, grab a pint. Remember it, rinse and repeat. Won't take you to long to figure out a style or styles, then you can get comfortable asking around for similar beers either here or by pulling up locations here and seeing what they produce in that style.

Not sure? This is a great place to ask.

 

A lot of DIPAs, like Great Lakes Lake Eerie Monster seems to have a lot of malt in it to balance everything out. When I still had some trouble getting past the bitterness, that was one of the big beers that made it a lot easier to tolerate.

Another one you should be able to get is Boulevard Hoppy Wheat. Perfect for this type of weather. It's got a nice little hop bite but the wheat smooths everything out nicely. That's one of my go-to beers when I want something lighter but still hoppy enough to get my fix.

If want to try something completely different than an IPA, give Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar a shot. That's an easy to drink and damn tasty brown ale. You'd have no problem finding that and it's another one that got me into the craft beer scene.

 

Here are some recommendations for easing into Craft Beer:

Victory Brewing Prima Pils
Stone Go-To IPA
Surly Helles
Avery White Rascal
Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager
Samuel Smith's Pale Ale
Bells Porter
Bells Oberon
Ommegang Hennepin

 

It sounds like you want something hop forward but inoffensive. Southern Tier Hop Sun has a bright, citrusy smell and taste imparted by hops yet is still very light, approachable and easy drinking.

Breweries in the area may have similar or better offerings but I'm not familiar with the locals.

 

Here are some more recommendations for easing into Craft Beer:

Sam Smiths Oatmeal Stout
Founders All Day IPA
Lagunitas PILS
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Guinness Extra Foreign Stout
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
Sam Adams Boston Lager

 

Forget the easing in, go for the great stuff, dont settle for anything mediocre, go straight for Zombie Dust. My first craft beer was Green Flash West Coast IPA, it was so different to me with the hoppiness but I loved it and it unleashed the hop head in me.

 

don't listen to any of the above just go out and get some of this...

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bottle or can it is sure to please, cheers!

 

Big hoppy beers are definitely in, but there are plenty of options if you don't like highly bitter brews. Beer bars, brewpubs, and stores that sell singles might be your best path and don't be afraid to ask for advice.

 

Blackhawks logo!!! but seriously there are plenty of great breweries in the Chicago area... Just keep trying new things until you find some different brews you like and then get more of those styles... Also if you're down by Wrigley look up the beer temple that guy (Chris) knows his stuff! and check out his vlog at craftbeertemple.com to find about new beers and stuff that may just be available around you...

 

I agree that you can stick to the maltier beers to get started, but if you are determined to get into hoppy brews then start with Pale Ales before IPAs, and start with English-style versions of the Pales and IPAs.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/154/ and http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/150/

Arcadia Brewing is available in Illinois, and their versions of these two styles are English-inspired. Anglers Ale is the Pale Ale, and Arcadia IPA is a standard IPA (as opposed to their Imperial IPA or DIPA).

 

I've been at this beer thing for almost *mumble*-ty years now and it was only recently that I really got into the heaven that is high hoppiness. I avoided IPAs like they carried ebola virus and stuck with brown ales, stouts and porters. I discovered that lighter brews could be really tasty a few years ago when I picked up a 12 pack of Full Sail Session Lager. Over this past winter my father-in-law, a devout Mich Golden fan, bought a 12 pack of Leinenkugel Hoppin' Helles and that stared me on the road to high hop heaven. Is Hop Stoopid a bomb? Damn straight and I love it, same as Ruination. It takes time, or it may never come at all. Either way, no worries. It's beer in all its infinite varieties.

Drink what you love. Love what you drink. And try anything once.