So I have loved beer for quite a while. I find myself being a big fan of Sam Adams for americans and German beers like Ayinger. But one of my friends is trying to get into "good" beer and he is very picky. All he seems to drink it crap like bud light and all of similar quality. I did try and let him try a few like hoegaarden and hefeweizens and he says that they taste "rotten". I dont want to tell him he has the taste of a 5 year old and chase him away from trying good beers, but he's being a... well difficult. Any advice to ease him into it?
Let me wrap this thread up for you. 35 people are going to tell you to let him drink what he wants, 25 will call you an a-hole in some form or another for trying to force new beer on him and 15 will give you helpful suggestions Honest advice, anytime you are hanging together and you have something new, see if he would like to try a bit. Maybe at some point he will enjoy something enough to pop his own bottle with you and you can start picking up other examples of the style for him to try.
Mostly agree with this. The biggest thing is don't be combative about it, as that will surely turn him off to the idea.
OK OK...The 5 year old is here. So my buddy above is helping me through this process, and I'm really in the mood to like something but I've had trouble getting into anything. Maybe if I provide the beers and my reactions you guys might be able to help me pin down some choices. Today we went out and I picked 3 and he picked 3 in a hand picked 6 pack at Total Wine. Delirium tremens - A very severe rotten taste Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen - A more mild but still distinct rotten taste Samuel Adams Blackberry Wittbier - this one sounds good...but what a bad idea. it needed to have been more berry or more beer but the 50/50 taste just clashed Yuengling Black & Tan - Didn't mind this one too much but it was a bit of a mud taste Woodchuck - Not my thing at all Dos Equis - Had no taste so it was bearable but quite pointless bud light platinum - Love the taste that is at the end of the sip, quite enjoyable leinenkugel's sunset wheat - Was bearable and reasonable but not exactly what I'd do over hoegaarden wit - blanche - The citrus peel helped covered up the taste to the point I wouldn't mind drinking it but certainly wouldn't buy it again Mike's Hard Lemonade - This one clearly isn't a beer but goes to show I enjoy citrus, and sweet tastes So I'm hoping that now that we've provided some more information some of you might recognize the taste I'm shying away from and have some suggestions. We're going to try Ayinger here in a few minutes so we'll see. I enjoy lots of liquors and mixed drinks so I'm wondering if I'm just not a real beer person. I'd hate for that to be the case so I'm really giving it a shot here. Thanks!
If you are determined just keep trying styles until you find one you like. I'll second the SN pale ale recommendation and also tell you to branch out some. Try a milk stout, an oatmeal stout, there are plenty of non BMC lagers out there to try....there's so many styles. I'd say stick with your bud and dabble until you find your bag.
You tried a few wheat beers and you didn't like them, so you went out and tried more immediately? That doesn't seem all that smart. K.I.S.S. Try some Sam Adams Boston Lager. Move on from there. SABL will be probably the most similar to what you like while still being challenging enough that you might taste it and go, "Whoa, that's a whole lot of flavor!" Plus it's super easy to find, most bars will have it, etc.
The love of Bud Light Platinum is not promising, lol. However, as others said start simple.. SN, Sam Adams Boston, not sure if Bluepoint is available where you are but their Toasted Lager is a farly basic intro beer. I know when I first started getting into craft, I leaned towards the malty so try some stouts and brown ales. Sometimes though a more "advanced" style might appeal to you as well. One of my best friends hated all lagers but found he immediately fell in love with Don De Dieu, which is a big 9% Belgian Strong, not what you would consider a beginners beer. Basically, if you are interested enough, try a bunch of different styles and if nothing suits you, so be it, stick to whatever beverage it is that you like.
Start with Yuengling. When I was in Ohio, that was the cool thing to drink. I would bring cases back from PA, and they would eat that shit up. I was guilty of ordering cases of the black and tan as well. Other things to try are Pale Lagers. Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold and Thirsty Dog Labrador Lager are amazing beers that also translate very well to the non BAs.
Yuengling and Sam Adams were suggested and you may want to give a crack at Amber Bock, Killian's and other offerings that come from the big boys. Also, pick up one of the seasonal samplers that Sam Adams offers to cover a variety of different styles. Oh, and Lagunita's Pils is also maybe one of the most drinkable beers ever if all else fails.
