Another "how do I get my friend into craft?" thread...

I agree with some of the people chiming in here that I would first try something mild, hop-wise, like a Lager, Pilsner, Kolsch or Blonde Ale. Maybe a Hefeweizen. If that goes well, try a lower IBU session IPA, next a Pale Ale, then an IPA and so on. Having a female friend that likes craft beer could be loads of fun. I hope it goes well. Cheers!

 

Not trolling. Have a friend that gets annoyed by every post involving a wife or girlfriend ending up at females like fruit or wheat beers. And she was right.

 

Abita amber is a good starting point

 

A sold hefeweizen like SN Kellerweis or Wehenstepahner might be an attractive option.

However, there are some people who think beer should taste like an ice cold bud light (or whatever AAL they usually drink) because that's what they're used to. And when they have something that tastes different, it's a disappointment.

And, I'm convinced that there are some AAL-only drinkers who really just don't like the taste of beer. They just want the coldest, most close-to-water tasting brew they can drink. Beer is used as an alcohol delivery device.

No big deal, though. Not everyone likes good beer. Just like not everyone appreciates a good <insert any food, hobby, sport, etc. here>.

 

The lack of acknowledgement that likes or dislikes of any particular beer style has nothing to do with gender isn't helping the situation.

 

She might like cream ales. Spotted Cow by New Glarus is good if you're ever near Wisconsin. The first couple pages of the "Latest WOW beer" thread had lots of people were raving about Thumbprint Berliner Weiss by New Glarus. They called it perfect for summer.

 

You give her a stout, an ipa, and an adjunct lager. If she only likes the adjunct lager, then tell her to just enjoy those landsharks. Not sure why there is a push these days to get "friends" in to craft beer.

 

Blue moon? any good Belgian wit (real imported ones), or German hefe? she tried those?

 

My friend passed me a Magic Hat once about 12 years ago and it changed the way I look at beer forever. Not sure why you wouldn't want to share something you enjoyed with someone else. If they don't like it, fine, leave it at that. But what's wrong with giving someone something new to try?

 

a) I'm not really sure there is a "situation"

b) There will always be exceptions and I'm sure there are plenty of BCBS chugging ladies out there. However, the OP asked for suggestions for his FEMALE friend. From that, I made suggestions based on the large sample size of female friends that I have who have tried to appreciate craft beer. I can pull up instagram photo's, facebook comments, and other "evidence" that these particular females that I'm friends with appreciate the styles I suggested. There is no sexism there, there is only evidence based on my experience.

c) Of course it's personal taste but to say that gender doesn't have an influence in likes or dislikes is somewhat naive as well (in a broad scope). Again, there will be exceptions to every rule or assumption or stereotype...but when you factor in preferences and cross reference to gender, there will be many common themes. How else do you think marketing works and is so effective?

Anyway, I'll bow out of this conversation. I'm certainly not a sexist and could care less what beer someone chooses to enjoy, male or female. I'm sorry I took my experience's and tried to answer someones question. It never ceases to amaze me how people get so offended on the smallest of things.

 

I don't think IPAs are the way to go. He said the ones she tried were too bitter.

 

You need to free them from the Matrix!

 

You can't just thump them on the tongue with some bursting at the seams beer that you get beer wood over. Beer is merely a benign delivery method of liquid alcoholic content for a lot of people. It achieves those goals in the social settings they drink it in. It does not challenge them with these big choices, nor decisions of if I don't feel this, what will I drink next? You gotta think more subtly about it when turning on people who aren't used beer that is about flavor, complexity and CHOICE. Spring happens to be one of the best seasons for beer for getting this road started for people. Kolsch's, wheat pale ales, cream ales, pale ales, pilsners, possibly saisons's and farmhouse ales. Good beer is about context too. You remember that first time where it all clicked with you and good beer and you were no longer just seeking a benign delivery method of alcohol.

 

I find gunpoint works the best for me

 

I don't think you're sexist, didn't mean to insinuate that you were (and yes this will eventually be about beer, I promise). Additionally, I'm not offended in the slightest by what you said. My comment that your comments weren't helping the situation was because you were discussing the preferences of beer for your female friends exclusively. Had your original comment "All the females I know like XYZ beers..." been written "Many of my friends like XYZ beers...." it would have taken gender out of the conversation (which is appropriate to do as there are no differences in the way men and women perceive tastes) and thus shown that you don't think gender impacts beer preference. By making suggestions of what his female friends will like based on what your female friends like perpetuates a stereotype that women like a certain type of beer because they are simply women (which is a big issue on these boards and has been discussed in the past) and that what one woman likes another may like. While suggestions based on your personal observations are totally fair and make perfect sense, one can't help but wonder why you didn't suggest the beers your male friends took to early in their craft days. Surely their "new to beer" experiences could provide some info to the OP. You stuck with just women, hence my comment. Again, I don't think your sexist (not that it matters what the hell I think, I just want it to be clear that I wouldn't call someone who wrote what you did sexist), but I do think your choice of words could lead some to believe that you are.

As for the bigger issue at hand, the beer choices. OP, I think most people gravitate towards sweeter beers like a heff or a wit or a fruit beer in the early stages of craft exploration. That said, I have seen many make jumps to more intense and pungent flavors too. My wife for example, went from drinking Stella to DFH 90 min. So one never knows.

Salute!

 

yea women seem to love the IPA's that the local micros are making here. surprised me because I do not enjoy 90% of them.

 

1. Acquire a used bourbon barrel
2. Find friend
3. Shove friend into bourbon barrel
4. Fill barrel with Prop
5. Age friend until friend tastes like Prop
6. Trade barrel aged Prop friend for .rar waelz.

 

Many options. Some may be better than others...

All Day IPA, Guinness, Bell's Oberon, Blue Moon, any Trappist Enkel or Dubbel, Sam Adams Boston Lager, GLB Dortmunder Gold, Lagunitas Pils, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Blue Moon or Oberon is a very safe bet imo.

 

I started with a ruination! I was instantly in love with hops, and hop bitterness. You can always find and IPA or a big beer in my fridge and I also like the dark, bitter and roasty stouts. SO - my advice is start with what you are enthused about. Pick the beers that you would want to share because you like them. If she does not like it, she can tell you why and that will help you make another choce.

 

Have your friend try Fat Tire. That's the one I always recommend to people curious about craft. They always like it.