Introductory craft beer 6 pack

I would take them to Tröegs and get a mix a 6er. It would include:

Sunshine Pils
DreamWeaver
Perpetual
Grand Cacao
Troegenator
LaGrave

 

hmmmm

SNPA- it’s a classic and a great entry point

Old Rasputin- let em try a “dark beer”

Gumballhead- good balance and easy drinking

Firestone Walker Mind Haze- I was split on hazy vs west coast style IPA but I think for someone new a hazy would be more palatable. Mind Haze is good and widely available
Franziskaner hefewizen- who doesn’t love a good hefe. Could do several other German hefes instead but I can’t spell them without looking it up

Bells Amber Ale- I’m not going to lie I wasn’t blown away by this. BUT it’s definitely an easily approachable beer

 

To hit various flavor profiles while simultaneously using well established and obtainable beers I'd go with:

SNPA
Stone IPA
Duvel
Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen
Pilsner Urquell

The IPA and Pilsner could be 'game day' decisions, based on freshness, however .

 

Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
Edmund Ftizgerald Porter
Weihenstephaner Hefeweisen
Ayinger Pilsner
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

 

While I love this beer, I feel this one can be very polarizing. The peat and smoke found in this beer can certainly be a turn off to many unrefined palates and it could turn them off of craft forever! This is something I would recommend once they have done more than just dipped their toes in the craft waters.

 

This was the beer line up I encountered when I visited a new friend's house back in 1998. I was a craft beer newbie. I must have liked the beers because I have been visiting him weekly since then.

North Coast Brewing Co Pranqster’s Belgian Style Ale – 6.9% ABV, 12 oz. (18-Oct-98)

Brauerei Aying Celebrator Dopplebock – 6.7% ABV, 11.2 oz. (18-Oct-98)

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat Duvel Belgian Ale – 8.1% ABV, 25.4 oz. (18-Oct-98)

Samuel Smith Imperial Stout – 7% ABV, 12 oz. (18-Oct-98)

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout – 5% ABV, 12 oz. (18-Oct-98)

Great Lakes Brewing Burning River Pale Ale - 6.0% ABV, 12 oz. (18-Oct-98)

 

I would say: Anchor Steam and Boston Lager to start. Then for a light one, either Allagash White or Dortmund Gold . Then Two-Hearted and an easy hazy like Pseudo Sue to ease into the hop game. Top it off with Old Raspy. Seems like it's easier to find the hoppier and heavier beers like T2H and Raspy, but much less consensus on where to start with a clear or light beer. I think it takes time to appreciate them, so Allagash White is a nice place to start with a flavorful Belgian theme or somewhere like a Dortmunder with Great Lakes. Lots of ways to do this 6-pack right I'd say.

 

Yep, that Spotted Cow is perfect. Just get a newbie hooked on a beer that's unavailable in 49 of the 50 states. <Big Grin>

 

Going with stuff that is not too expensive or difficult to track down. Who knows if this friend is going to like any of these choices! (although s/he is likely to like a few at least)

1. Enegren The Lightest One (Helles)
2. Trumer Pils
3. Allagash White
4. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
5. Russian River Blind Pig
6. Guinness Draught Stout (Nitro)

Yeah, only one dark option but in this exercise I'm thinking about sharing with a person who really isn't into beer. I'm also keeping the ABV low. Baby steps.

 

It's a step up, but the Guinness Extra made me an instant fan when I just started.

 

Round 1
___________________
Pale Ale (Sierra Nevada)
Session IPA (All Day)
American IPA (Sculpin)
West Coast IPA (Stone)
New England IPA (Fiddlehead)
Amber?Red Ale (Nugget Nectar)

If they like these and
want to dabble further?

Round 2 (Another day?)
__________________
DIIPA (Hopslam)
Stout (Old Rasputin)
Imperial Stout (Left Hand Milk Stout)
Porter (Edmund Fitzgerald)
Imperial Porter (Victory Ay Sea)
Barleywine (Bigfoot)

Other styles
in the future?
___________
Brown Ales
ESB
Bock
Quadrupel
Scotch Ale
Pumpkin Ale
??????????

___________________

 

A lot of these are not very approachable to the novice but if going for an introduction to the diversity of flavors and styles I’d go:

BCBS
Hopslam
La Fin Du Monde
Cantillon Classic Gueuze
Aventinus
Mother of All Storms

 

Up here in Ontario, Canada, I would choose:
1) Steam Whistle Pilsner
2) Cobblestone Stout Nitro (Mill St)
3) Exhibition IPA (Royal City)
4) Ode'Imin (Manitoulin)
5) Boneshaker (Amsterdam)
6) 666 (Great Lakes) Toronto