Build a mix-six pack for a new craft drinker

I'm not sure if a new beer drinker would be down for a RIS or IPA.
I would probably do an Amber ale, a Brown ale, a craft lager, a porter, a heffeweizen, and an American Pale Ale.

 

Now this a thread I can get into. Here are my thoughts:

APA - SN Pale Ale?
Amber Ale - NB Fat Tire?
Lager - SA Boston Lager?
Hefeweizen - SN Kellerweis?
Porter - Deschutes or maybe even a chocolate/PB Porter?
Session IPA (stepping stone to an IPA)- Founders All Day IPA?

 

Honestly? I'd build this one:

SN Pale Ale
Dale's Pale Ale/Grunion
Vitus
Korbinian
SN Torpedo/Five Hop
Black Butte Porter

Hits some classics, and opens up some more basic beer flavor profiles. It would give them an opportunity to compare some very solid pale ales and others that stand by traditional beer values. Nothing too hoppy or dark. Although Breakfast Stout was one of my first stouts, I really didn't appreciate it until I had had some crummy, not-so-good stouts afterwards and revisited the Breakfast Stout. For that reason, I suggest starting simple and hitting some "easy drinkers".

 

Agree with Dan, a BMC drinker isn't going to go for a crazy RIS or IPA.

Keeping that in mind.

Stout: Ten Fidy
IPA: Surly Furious (Tough to pick here, but want to keep simple)
Pale: Tallgrass 8 Bit (same. Don't go too crazy)
Mild/Other: Great Divide Claymore Scotch
Mild/Other: Funkwerks Saison or Deceit
Pilsner: Sixpoint Crisp

 

I guess mine (using all CO beers) would be:

Left Hand Polestar Pilsner -or- Upslope Craft Lager
NB Fat Tire Amber Ale
Odell Cutthroat Porter
Telluride Face Down Brown Ale
Left Hand Milk Stout (non-nitro)
Odell Easy Street Wheat or NB Sunshine Wheat

Dry Dock's Apricot Blonde would be a good sub for any of the dark beers if they were more inclined to fruity beers. When I first got into craft beer I found most to be too bitter including all of Oskar Blues and Odell Offerings (minus Easy Street)

 

Arrogant Bastard - Because that's what we become after our craft beer knowledge grows
Weihenstephaner - Solid and will grow appreciation of beers other than American brew
Breakfast Stout - Great representation of the style and will deter or entice newbs
Lagunitas IPA - A staple of IPA goodness with good malt presence and enough hops to see if a person is a hop beer fan
Victory Pils - Smooth easy drinking, good stepping stone to American pils and slightly hoppy beers
Anderson Valley Gose - To get the new person thinking of what a beer can really be

 

First, I would only include three styles, with 2 different beers of each style. And my choices reflect what I started with.
For a new craft drinker, six styles is overkill, IMO.

Pale Ale - SNPA and anything else widely available under 7%
IPA - Torpedo and anything else widely available under 7%
Lager - Sam Adams and anything else widely available under 7%

 

With national distro for someone entirely new to craft beer:

Lager: Great Lakes Dortmunder/Great Lake Eliot Ness
APA: SNPA - a classic, a must.
IPA: DFH 60 minute
Amber: Bells Amber
Porter: Deschuetes Black Butte
Stout: Deschuetes Obsidian

Pretty standard, but a good set to ease them in. If you wanted to get a little crazy and really expand their mind, I'd consider:

NB Abbey
Left Hand Milk Stout - nitro or non
SN Otra Vez
Boulevard Tank 7

 

1.) Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
2.) Allagash White
3.) Victory Prima Pils
4.) DFH 60 minute
5.) Founders Porter
6.) Newbie's Choice :Anything that looks cool/interesting

 

Founders Porter
Bell's Amber
Dale's Pale Ale
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weizen
Weihenstaphaner Original Lager
Leffe Blonde

Nice mix of Euro/Domestic, and widely available

 

GLBC Edmund Fitzgerald Porter . . . feel free to disagree.
Columbus IPA . . . love this stuff fresh.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale . . . classic.
Brooklyn Lager . . . underrated.
North Coast Ol' Rasputin . . . it's everywhere.
Troegs Dreamweaver . . . not the best just a good introduction

La Fin Du Monde . . . if one of the above are not available.

 

Hmm. I can't really cover a mix-a-six for someone who either natively enjoys hops, or can learn to appreciate them, as I can't. I know that a mix-a-six where I literally couldn't drink 4 or more of the beers therein would have nudged me on my way out of craft beer. So, if you suspect your newbie drinker may be "blessed" with extreme hop sensitivity, I'd roll with something like...

Pilsner: SA Noble Pils, or similar. Illustrate right off the bat where craft beer whips AALs where they claim to live, to pique interest and set the hook.

Vienna Lager: GLBC Eliot Ness or Schell's FireBrick. A step darker, but still an accessible lager. Even Boston Lager can set off someone who's particularly hop sensitive - it's barely drinkable for me. Alternatively, if it's Oktoberfest season, you could roll with an Ayinger in this slot. If they're into this, consider expanding towards dunkels, bocks, browns, and/or ambers/reds, depending on what they say they like about it.

Hefeweizen or Witbier: Weihenstephaner Hefe or Allagash White. This is Intro to Yeast Flavor 101. If they like this, start walking them down the Belgian and weizenbock roads.

Porter: GLBC Edmund Fitzgerald or Deschutes Black Butte. Basic, but well-executed - an introduction to roasty flavors beyond the Guinness they've probably already tried on various St. Patty's Days. Founder's is out, because for supertasters (or at least my particular manifestation of it), that is unfortunately akin to drinking Pine-Sol. If they like this, guide them towards other porters and stouts.

Pale Ale: I can't really suggest one here, because every single one translates to me as raw concentrated perfume on my tongue. But this would be a great litmus test to see if they may ever be able to tolerate hops - if they react to one of these like you literally just punched them in the mouth, they may want to expand their palate in other directions first. If they love it, head for IPAs.

Gose or Berliner: I'd really suggest going with the Leipziger or similar here, for a preview of sour taste profile. If they're into this, point them towards other sours.

Just how I'd go about it. Mileage may vary, and all that.

 

I wouldn't go with anything to big.
Sierra Nevada pale ale
Sam Adams Boston lager
Funkwerks Saison or tropic king, they're both great
Great lakes Edmond Fitzgerald porter
Sixpoint crisp
Weihenstephaner hefeweizen

 

Don't have an entire list, but depending on availability, I'd throw in a darker Belgian (Chimay Premiere, or Rochefort 8 / 10). Heard so many times, "didn't get beer until I tried Belgians".

Other than that, all the suggestions here seem pretty solid.

 

Eddy Fitz is a stellar, world-class porter, though I wonder if its roasty quality would be off-putting? That's why I went with Black Butte, aside from it being my favorite, easily accessible porter

And good call on the Brooklyn Lager - wholly underrated beer. You could probably lump NB's 1554 in that same category as well - vastly underestimated beer.

 

SNPA
NC Red Seal
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen
BP The Commodore
GD Colette
Founders Dirty Bastard

 

Bells Amber
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Founders Porter
Bells Oberon
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Dogfish Head 60 Minute

 

Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Nooner Pilsner
Guinness
Hoegaarden
Anchor Steam Beer

 

All Vermont Edition

Lost Nation Gose
Fiddlehead IPA
Wolaver's Coffee Porter
Hill Farmstead Edward
Magic Hat #9
Otter Creek Couch Surfer