Transition to Craft

The OP lives in Georgia. Firestone Walker isn't distributed there.

 

Firestone Walker Pale 32

 

What we have here is a failure to communicate...

 

33?

 

I would try the following --Great Lakes -The Wright Pils, Lagunitas Czech PILS , FW Pivo Hoppy Pils , Victory Prima Pils. You may want to try Sam Adams Lager or Noble Pils. A sampler 12 pack of your favorite brewery. But you there may be a few who have tried Guinness Stout and a stout or porter may help.

 

I have definitely found that trying to actively convert someone simply doesn't work. Drink something good when in their company and if they want to try some, you have yourself a candidate!

 

Sierra Nevada pale ale was my first Craft beer that got me hooked, I'm sure it will be an easy beer for your family to enjoy. Happy holidays.

 

I see a lot of you suggesting hop-forward beers and I don't think that is a way to lure someone to better beer.

Those are really good beers without a punch you in the face "otherness" that a BMC drinker will shy away from. I've never had someone try a hefe and pull a sour face. The eye brow go up, the eyes widen and they stare at the glass.....

 

I think Victory Prima Pils would be a good fit - should be readily available as well.

 

Have you tasted Bodhi?

 

My friends love fresh Victory's Headwaters Pale Ale. Which makes me believe that Citra is the "Wonder" Hop.

 

I kindly recommend letting people just stick with what they already like. Is there really a need to convert someone?


If so, I suppose start easy with something like brown bottle Pilsner Urquell.

 

Fat Tire is what started it all for me.

 

I still remember picking up a special Sierra Nevada release, it may have been Celebration, about 10 years ago and not being able to get past the first few sips because I felt like I was sucking on a pine scented car air freshener, or chugging a bottle of Pine-Sol.

Fast forward to today, after training on Belgians and working my way through all kinds of different craft beers from around the world, I now crave hops at almost all times. I don't even crave beer, necessarily, and I definitely don't crave alcohol, but I am completely addicted to that first whiff of fruity, juicy hops coming off my afternoon brew. I think it's really interesting just how significantly taste can change over time, although I guess a lot of it can be chalked up to new hop breeds and brewing techniques.

 

Shiner Bock, Fat Tire, Newcastle Brown are all easy to drink (they all taste good too) and will accustom folks to drinking stuff that is not yellow. Those three were my gateway beers years ago. Along with Abita's entire lineup.

 

Send me some. :-)

 

I wish I could! I got some in a trade. It's like Raw Hop Dankness in yo face! But seriously, Bodhi is a Hop Head's wet dream.

 

Look at what some of the really big craft breweries have as their staples. New Belgium: Fat Tire. Boulevard: Unfiltered Wheat, Pale Ale. New Glarus: Spotted Cow. Sierra Nevada: Pale Ale. Bell's: Oberon. Sam Adams: Boston Lager. Plenty of wheat beer, malty lager, and not-too-bitter Pale Ales. Stuff that can get a permanent tap at a lot of places that don't even vaguely resemble a beer-centric restaurant/bar.

Back in the day (early 90's), Boston Lager, Pete's Wicked (RIP), JW Dundee Honey Brown, Guinness, and a few others of that ilk were enough to get me started. I'm drinking a Quad with Pinot Grape Juice (Pipeworks) as I type now... how far I, and the industry, have come...

 

Well, first, Great Lakes isn't distributed in Georgia and secondly, The Wright Pils is no longer available. Other than that...