Guide to European Beer

Check out the beer styles page on BA. It gives you a description of each style and the country it originated from. And guess what, there is a Belgian/french ales section! So you can find those Belgian stryles that dont fit the typical sour, clove, banana flavors you dont like. Check out the reviews on BA and pick out a beer you think you might like based on its description. And have fun!

 

I wish I could help you RichardMNixon, but I don't have much experience in this department either. I would love a bit more of an informative answer.

Maybe nicnut45 was honestly trying to help with the somewhat obvious suggestion of researching the beer styles page. I think the fun of a thread is getting to interact with folks who have experience with whatever you might be interested in, instead of just reading a past account of that experience. Its hard to ask the beer styles pages follow up questions.

 

This is brief and likely incomplete, but on Belgian bottles you will likely see Saison, Wit, Tripel and Blonde on the label of those beers. On Abbey beers or Belgian Strong Ales, some will list Dubbel on the label while others like St Bernardus will list degrees Plato, while others like Chimay make a distinction in the name.

Lambics and Gueuze will also carry the name, but Flanders wild ales will often show bruin, pale or rouge.

I'm guessing your banana/clove issue are forms of yeast and/or wheat. If you don't like yeasts, Belgians might not be for you. you shouldn't force yourself into them as there is plenty of domestic craft to enjoy!

Again- probably an incomplete primer, but maybe enough to get you started?

 

I'd say this is definitely a good start. I will also agree that if you dot like the banana/clove flavor the Belgians might not be for you. Perhaps start off with something like a La Trappe Dubbel

 

You could give German beers a go. A lot of them are malt forward of that's something that you like

 

Aye, and what about UK brews! Belgians may not be a flavor that you will appreciate, but there are plenty of countries out there that American brewers owe their own interpretations to.
Start with English/Scottish and German.

 

And skunked by the time they make it to the states

 

I'm guessing he won't run into the same labeling issues/confusion that he had with Belgians as UK beers generally say stout, porter, pale ale etc on the label. He should take a leap of faith and grab some Yorkshire Stingo whether he knows what it is or not.

 

Samuel Smith Stingo would be a great introduction, Fuller's 1845 too.

 

How's that work? Do they open up the containers, cut open the stretch-wrapped pallets, pop open the cases and lay the bottles out on the deck on the voyage across the Atlantic? Seems like a lot of effort and the probability of rough seas would mean a lot of bottles rolling into the ocean.

 

My advice on European beers is that labels that say the words Ayinger or Weinstephaner are awesome!

 

I reckon they'd come across the pond in closed cases so I don't *think* light struck steps in until they make it to the retailer when they break up the cases.

 

But if he grabs a Hefeweizen by Weihenstephaner he will get something he doesn't want. Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen is just full on "in-your-face" banana, fruity and a little sour.
I would recommend some british ales, or stouts, most scottish ales I had so far were really good.
The german beers, especially the lager/Pilsners that are sold in the US are usually pretty boring, there's much more interesting stuff than that!

 

Fish get thirsty too.

Seriously though, you can absolutely get non-skunked German beers

 

This is true. I overlooked the part about his hatred for banana flavor.

To the OP, scare up some Korbinian and Celebrator, both are phenomenal!

 

Ask gustogasmic.

 

It can only happen at the retailer/the storage area... Even if you would leave the boxes open or lay some on top, the containers would probably still be closed and only let little light in, and most containers get sealed, so the crew of the ship should not be able to fool around with the beer!