Hello! Beer novice here looking for some recommendations

Your in CA so Alpine is where I'd start, and Nelson is tremendous.

 

Allagash White.

 

Also try Deschutes Chainbreaker

 

^ Allagash White, Sam Adams Boston Lager, and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout all great places to start!

 

Hoppy Wheat Beer!

To me there are two top contenders, depending on your personal preference:

Boulevard 80-Acre - Just enough hint of hops that you can taste it, but it is still definitely a wheat bear and very sessionable with low abv at ~5%. For fans of Wheat Beer
Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' - Much stronger hops presence with just a mild wheat undertone, higher abv at nearly 8%. For fans of IPAs

 

Try a session IPA, all the great taste of an IPA with an easy to drink feel and less bitterness. I like Lagunitas Day Time.


If you like Weizens, I'd recommend Dogfish Head Namaste, Allagash White, & Sierra NV Killer Weis

 

Bottle Logic She Shot First.

 

Since you are new to this stuff, don't limit yourself to trying to find a specific style of beer. Go try everything. The best way to learn what you like and what you don't is to visit breweries and get tasting trays.

Look up what breweries are in each of the Bay Area counties, make a list and do a little research on what they make, how they are received by other beer fans. Start near your house and hit a few a week. Ask for a sample tray of everything they make. Try everything, even if you don't think you like it. You say you don't like particularly 'bitter' IPAs right now... That's a really, really general statement and you are a novice, so who knows what you are going to like and not like after you get a few hundred beers under your belt. Lots of people start out having a similar opinion about IPAs in the beginning (or sour beer. or fruit beer. or......) and their tastes change.

I would also recommend hitting places that make a dozen or more beers before moving on to smaller places. That way, you get the widest variety of styles.

Have fun! This is a great time to delve into this hobby, lots of great beer and lots of diverse options on the market.

 

Where did he go?