Suggestions for a recent convert?

go visit as many breweries tasting rooms as you can. and you will learn....I dislike most IPA's so all I can say is dales pale ale.

 

Find a bottle shop that sells singles and purchase all of the different ones that are available in your area. Then you can start to trade for others that you might hear about.

 

Step 1: Have brother buy case of Heady Topper.
Step 2: Have brother ship you case of Heady Topper.
Step 3: Drink Case of Heady Topper.
Step 4: Repeat steps 1-4.

 

that would be a nice brother. the beer well meh. HT is not my thing. sounds like he is a hop head though.

 

Try the Port IPAs if you can, Anniversary, Hop 15, Mongo, Wipe out. Anniversary and Hop 15 really stand out. Green Flash West Coast. + more Sculpin.

 

Oh my, so many to choose from. Loose Cannon, Torpedo, Racer 5, FinestKind to name a few.

 

He can put 2 4 packs in a USPS large priority mail both. Stuff It with bubble wrap or newspaper. Then enjoy.

 

You should be able to get Sweetwater IPA, it has a nice citrus bite to it. Westbrook IPA (brewed in SC) is another solid IPA that you shoud be able to easily find.

 

just tell the ups person ist craft soda

 

Or just have your brother ship me some, for a test run. I will provide a detailed review of his shipping method, so there are no hiccups when he ships to you.

 

1) agree, have your brother send you some heady.

2) general "beer exploration advice":

just follow threads (not "messageboard threads," but like "chasing down leads, pursuing potential beer loves to the fullest"), if that makes sense. blown away by an IPA? look up all the big shot IPAs, and grab every one you can get your hands on. on your way, keep buying singles of other styles and wait for one of those to blow you away. then repeat the same thing with those beers.

the fact is, there's an enormous amount of quality beer being made in america right now. if you just keep your ear to the ground on sites like this (without taking things too seriously), and try random stuff at the store (narrowing down the good stores in your area is as important if not [way] more than learning about stuff online), you'll end up with tons of great stuff. styles you swore off early on will later be your favorite thing in the world (if only for a short time).

p.s. if your brother hasn't taken a trip to hill farmstead yet but loves heady topper, tell him to do so for his own sake.

 

Variety packs! Variety packs! Variety packs! Even if you know you love IPAs, it is still worth tasting a wide range of styles from different breweries.

 

get yourself some Black IPAs (american black ales, CDAs... whatever). they will have a similar hoppy quality to them that you like but will introduce you to new flavors on the 'dark side'. From there i would get into stouts. Belgians are a good intro to craft aswell...

 

A slew available: Two Hearted/ Caldera/Hopsickle/ Smuttynose/Crooked Tree/Hop Devil/added to what you've had , are all 1st rate and available most anywhere.

 

Is Lagunitas available to you? If so, go out and get some- really great bang for the buck, and they do hoppy beers right. I'm very partial to Maximus, but Hop Stoopid is also great, and there should still be plenty of Little Sumpin Sumpin available.

 

While he's at it, have your brother ship you some Lawsons and Hill Farmstead too!

 

And since your bro is in New England and (we hope) will be shipping you Heady and possibly Hill Farmstead, have him throw a bomber of Meadowlark IPA from Pretty Things in there. You won't be disappointed.

 

My brother lives in Vermont and raves about Heady Topper, but it's basically impossible to get in NC from what I hear. Any suggestions that would be accessible here?

Thanks guys![/quote]

Perhaps it's time for a visit. Vermont is lovely in the early fall. You won't have to worry about shipping either.