Beer taste better as it sits?

Welcome to Beer Advocate!
One thread you might want to check out, as a new beer drinker, is New Beer Sunday. I think you would get a good feel for the nuances of beer.

 

When I got into craft a few years ago, one of the first beers I tried was a BBA Dragon's Milk Stout. I drank it cold from the bottle, and the bourbon taste was so overwhelming that I immediately swore off BA beers. I posted here about it, and was advised to use a glass and let it warm a bit. Huge difference, and now BA beers are my favorite, particularly Rum BA.

 

I would recommend finding some tulip glasses. It makes a world of difference with some beers, and they work fairly well for most beer styles. I refuse to use pint glasses if I have other options.

Its interesting that you noticed taste differences attributed to temperature from that one beer alone. Not everyone notices that factor right away, but its an important factor. Like ice cream and other food/beverages, many flavors are masked when served too cold. Many restaurants and bars serve IPAs and stouts way colder than they should.

 

Honey Rye Pale Ale is a hell of a beer to start a drinking habit with. Beer is an acquired taste and something that bitter would turn anyone off to it if you didn't know what you were getting.