Beginning to enjoy better beer...

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Craftbeernewb, Mar 8, 2012.

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  1. Craftbeernewb

    Craftbeernewb Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2012 Missouri

    Well, here I am. At 31, I'm finally starting to branch out into "better" beer. My motivations for doing so are simple. Married with a kid, I find myself doing most of my beer drinking at home, and only one or two per night. This has led me to seek out some more flavorful beers, which means craft beers. I've been a staunch Miller Lite guy pretty much forever, and my friends still are. That's fine, but that leads to me having to guess about what types of beer I'll like.

    Luckily, I've found BA. I'm using the reviews, and have been scanning the boards for a little bit now, and have a few craft beers under my belt. What I'm hoping for with this thread are some suggestions, whether it's specific beers, or maybe some different styles, etc. anything that can help me find new beers and enjoy them more.

    Learning that glassware was important was one of those things that I thought was a BS, until I did an unofficial test with a bottle of Boulevard Pilsner (being a good Kansas City boy, a lot of my experimenting has been with Boulevard products). I took a couple drinks out of the bottle, then poured what was left in a glass (I had always referred to these glasses as pilsner glasses, but I suppose it's more of a weizen glass...think the "Brewtus" glasses from Applebee's). The difference was large, and I was convinced. I have since picked up a tulip as well as a pint glass to help ensure my success with the different beers I'm trying.

    Untappd has also been a great tool to help me with recommendations, and the list of beers I've checked into Untappd on is as follows:

    Boulevard Pilsner
    Pilsner Urquell
    Blue Moon Harves Moon Pumpkin Ale
    Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
    O'Fallon Pumpkin (I started this in October, and I realized quickly I REALLY like pumpkin beer)
    Sam Adam's Irish Red
    Sam Adam's Winter Lager
    Boulevard Wheat
    Blue Moon Winter Abbey
    Guiness Black Lager
    Schlafly Hefeweizen
    Schlafly Winter Ale ESB (This was the only of all of these beers that I didn't finish. This was vile.)
    Summit Winter Ale
    Breckenridge Vanilla Porter (I had tried some dark beers in the past and didn't care for them...this is fantastic!)
    Boulevard Irish Ale
    Boulevard Chocolate Ale (my first experience having to deal with a Black Friday crowd for a beer)
    Sam Adam's Alpine Spring
    Hopslam (a little bitter for me, but I liked it. I just wouldn't drink it all the time)
    Breckenridge Avalanche Ale
    Breckenridge Pandora's Bock

    As you can see, there's a definite leaning towards lighter ales and lagers, no stouts on there, and just one porter. Any recommendations for some other beers to find?

    I'm also learning that I'm looking for cheaper options. When I first started doing this I thought $10 for a 6er was expensive beer...The Hopslam was expensive enough that I got a look from my wife...

    I'm hoping to keep this thread going as I go along, and hopefully it will prove helpful to others coming over from the Macros in the future...
     
    #1 Craftbeernewb, Mar 8, 2012
  2. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Maven (1,391) Mar 23, 2008 California

    I don't see any Sierra Nevada, Anchor, New Belgium, Stone or Deschutes on your list.
    High quality beer at very fair prices.
     
    #2 tjensen3618, Mar 8, 2012
  3. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Ditto-
    Definitely try SN Pale Ale asap, and go for the Summerfest when it comes out.

    I'll also add that, while you tried the Sam Adams seasonals it doesn't look like you tried their flagship Boston Lager, which is still one of my favorite beers in their lineup and something that might be right up your alley. ETA: Noble Pils too!
     
    #3 TongoRad, Mar 8, 2012
  4. FosterJM

    FosterJM Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2009 California

    If you got the look from your wife over a 6pk of Hopslam, you might want to find another hobby. (I'm 1/2 serious) The better beers are going to be pricy but they are worth it in the end. I would say that start with ALL the Boulevard options even the 750's or the 4pk. They range in styles and they can lead you to where you think you want to go. Try to find a shop that allows for single bottle purchases. Use BA as a tool to look up styles or use the lists as in best of styles. Find people in your area to pair up with and do tasting.

    Hope this all helps.

    Cheers!
     
    #4 FosterJM, Mar 8, 2012
  5. Craftbeernewb

    Craftbeernewb Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2012 Missouri

    Thanks for the replies so far...I'm hoping that the look comes more from shock of within a couple months going from being able to get a case of beer for $15, to paying $20 for a 6 pack...I'm not going to lie, I was a little taken back by the price of it too, when I saw it.
     
    #5 Craftbeernewb, Mar 8, 2012
  6. Craftbeernewb

    Craftbeernewb Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2012 Missouri

    Oh, and the Bully's are all definitely on my list - they're affordable, and they are easy to find around here. I'm also quickly adding the SN Pale Ale, and the Sam Adam's Boston Lager....I've actually had something from Deschutes, but it was at a bar after the first MU-KU Basketball game, and I wasn't in position to actually taste anything....I don't recall what it was, but it was a lighter beer, I would guess the Mirror Pond Pale Ale, but I may be wrong. I'll try them again as well.
     
    #6 Craftbeernewb, Mar 8, 2012
  7. Whiskeyjack

    Whiskeyjack Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2012 Arizona

    Try 2-3 of the top ranked beers from as many styles as possible to figure out where your tastes lie. It will be expensive initially, but there's really no other way to proceed. Once you know what you like, start looking for value beers among you favorite styles.

    Take advantage of your proximity to Boulevard. They're one of the few American breweries that produce excellent Belgian-style ales. You'll be able to taste a top-shelf quad, tripel, and witbier for much cheaper than others can.
     
    #7 Whiskeyjack, Mar 8, 2012
  8. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Try some Tank 7 (Boulevard), or other saisons (Saison Dupont, Hennepin, etc.). They're light and flavorful, but will get you started down the wonderful road to Belgium.

    Also, Duvel and La Fin Du Monde would taste great from that tulip glass.

    Cheers!
     
    #8 Orca, Mar 8, 2012
  9. denver10

    denver10 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,155) Nov 17, 2010 New Mexico
    Pooh-Bah

    Definitely go with Deschutes...their entire lineup is solid and each beer is a nice representation of the style it is. And I can't say enough good things about their most recent seasonal Red Chair NW Pale Ale. If typing all caps wasn't so obnoxious I would every time I discussed that beer.

    Some other beers to maybe consider. Odell's 90 Schilling, Alaskan Amber Ale, Firestone Walker's Double Barrel Ale, Rogue's Hazelnut Brown (I noticed you haven't tried any browns yet and you seem to be gravitating towards maltier beers as you head down that list so it should be a fit), Left Hand's Milk Stout is a wonderful stout that is very easy drink and unintimidating on top of being delicious, and try some Belgian (or Belgian style) ales. If you like Boulevard people seem to like the 6th Glass a lot.
     
    #9 denver10, Mar 8, 2012
  10. ant880

    ant880 Savant (1,179) Nov 7, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Once she gets over that sticker shock, you can look forward to the next level look of "you just spent how much on a 22oz?"
     
    #10 ant880, Mar 8, 2012
  11. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,428) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    So it seems to me that the downside is that if you listen to these very good suggestions, you'll have to change your BA name. Or maybe that's a good thing?

    Anyway, just try different things and see what you like. If the price of things like Hopslam is a little too steep for you, consider buying singles of a few different things. That's a great way to quickly try a lot of different beers anyway.

    Have fun with it and remember that it's just beer!

    Cheers.
     
    #11 Steimie, Mar 8, 2012
  12. Ungertaker

    Ungertaker Initiate (0) Apr 30, 2010 Minnesota

    Fat Tire is a fairly inexpensive beer that fits in well with those.
     
    #12 Ungertaker, Mar 8, 2012
  13. Etan

    Etan Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Wisconsin

    I would start exploring Belgian styles (trappist dubbels, trippels, quads, and strong pales and darks in general). And don't neglect the Germans either!
     
    #13 Etan, Mar 8, 2012
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