Trying to get a friend start on craft beer, but I'm not from CT and don't exactly know whats available out there year round on the shelves. What is your opinion on some great beers available there without going for the over the top limited ones? Thanks!
Which is getting harder to find now btw, at least in my area. Depending on where your friend lives, send him to Bevmax, Fairway, Whole Foods, or Total Wine. Let him talk to the staff and tell them what sort of stuff he has had, and likes and they can make recommendations. I say anything from NEBCO, Sea Hag which has already been mentioned if he can find it for an IPA, NEBCO 668. You can get just about any Oskar Blue's and Founder's regulars here, Dogfish is everywhere, Stone gets a good distro out here.
Thanks guys, I was gonna recommend bells and founders to start out with, but drew a blank on everyone else that was out in that area. (turns out bells doesnt distribute there according to their website)
Depending on where he is at there is access to Bell's right across the line in NY. Not far from me in Stamford. Send him to Half Time in Mamaroneck if it's not too far for him, or there's also one in Poughkeepsie. Awesome choices there.
To get started, I'd tell him to look for Sea Hag, Ithaca Flower Power, Wachusett Larry, Smuttynose IPA, or Founders Centennial. Also, as initiation into the craft scene, tell him to go around to stores asking for Heady Topper until he finds some.
If he's really brand new to craft beer, you can ease him in on the basics (Sierra, Dogfish, etc.). We have most of them. If he's got some experience then Spaceman has a nice locally available list although I think Larry might be a big aggressive for a newbie. I'd add Two Roads Lil Heaven to the list as a session IPA option, as well.
He's very new I told him a little about craft beer, but I'm in MN so far different selection for the most part. he regularly drinks heinekin and corona so gotta change that
Another common entry beer around here is Harpoon IPA ... Absolutely a great entry beer that I imagine many New Englanders on this site would tell you helped get get them into craft (and while we've moved on to hoppier offerings, it's still a welcome sight at a chain restaurant or bar that hasn't embraced craft like we have).
Since he's totally new I'd keep him away from Sea Hag or any other big-ish IPAs. Harpoon is a great suggestion, as is Two Roads Lil Heaven. How about Brooklyn Brewery? Readily available throughout the state and pretty good entry-level stuff: their Lager and Pennant Ale. They'll probably also have their Post Road Pumpkin available soon, but Dogfish Punkin is probably a better option and that will be everywhere soon.
Lagunitas, DFH and Founders can be found almost everywhere decent beer is sold. Also seconding Flower Power and Sea Hag
Sierra was the beer we got a friend of mine on...to get him away from Bud. That was 10yrs ago. Still a good bridge beer
