I've just recently discovered micro and craft beers. I like some and not others. How do i determine which are good and quality? I tend to like the lighter and sweets such as pale ale, lambic, whites and fruits. My faves are Coney Island Lager, North Coast Tangerine Wheat, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Lindemans Peche and Blanche de Bruxelles. Reading the forums I never see these mentioned, which makes me question my taste. Lol. Any thoughts or advice?
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is an amazing example of its style. However once your palate becomes stronger you will probably find yourself wanting heavier IPA's. The fact that these beers are not mentioned much on this site doesn't mean they are not great beers, it just means that most on here have a heavier palate. There is a vast world out there of Craft beer for you to explore, the great thing is you get to decide which style is the best for you!!
Enjoy what you enjoy, not what you read posts on. Forums are a great way to learn about different styles, breweries, etc and to get recommendations but in no way should it be the arbiter of what is good.
First of all, welcome to the wonderful world of craft beer! I would personally suggest to try any and all craft beers you can find with an open mind and if you don't like a certain brew/style, don't give up on it as your palate will change with due time. There are so many amazing brews out there as well as awesome breweries…Sierra Nevada is one of my favorite breweries btw. Cheers ~
Don't worry about what is discussed in the threads... the threads tend to focus on more aggressive styles (i.e., IPA, IIPA, imperial stuff, etc.). Personally, the styles you list are very good and do not get enough attention, but that will not likely change any time soon. What I would recommend is click on the beer styles link on the BA home page and find the styles you like. Under each style, it gives you the top beers in that style. This is a great starting point.
My suggestion would be to pick a particular style you're into to, you mentioned pale ales. I would look under the section of this website that lists top beers in that category. Keep in mind you won't be able to find some of them in your area, and that these rankings are based on reviews. Pick a few highly rated ones and go from there.
drink lots of beer, read about beer, read Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher, drink more beer, take notes on what you are tasting, drink more beer, drink more beer, drink more beer.
That's the great thing about beer, there is a style for almost everyone! Enjoy what you like to enjoy, and don't let others talk you out of what you like. Odds are your palate will change over time (everyone's does) and you come across a whole new slew of styles you really enjoy, which is another great thing about beer! Also, Sierra Nevada is a respected and well liked brew. I still go to it in certain situations where I want a sessionable beer with lots of flavor. Welcome to the hobby/addiction of craft beer!
I would suggest buying a go-to glass, such as a 16 oz tulip. Or a pub glass, perhaps. A fine piece of glassware enhances the experience. I also have found the "Beer Styles" in BA to have been very helpful in my journey. Remember, this is marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy!
Fixed. But really, you're over-thinking things. You like certain beers, but don't see them mentioned here? Be thankful that you enjoy less expensive, super easy to find beers! As you continue to try others, it's quite likely that your tastes will change and you'll start craving different beers that often come with a higher price tag or are less readily available. It's how I started, and it's how a large number of others have as well. If you start at the top of each style's Top 10 list and explore other beer from there, you may find yourself extremely disappointed that you've found the best beers right away, and nothing else tastes as good afterwards. Keep drinking what you like, but don't be afraid to try something new based off of something as silly as the name or the packaging. You'll find some pretty shitty beer that way, but you'll also find some stuff that you might not have stumbled across because it isn't mentioned on every other BA thread. Cheers!
Drink lots of beer. Drink more of what you like, and less of what you don't. Repeat as often as feasible. Every palate is different, so realistically, this is the only way to find what you like.
My advice is to just keep trying beer. Find styles you like and try all that you can get your hands on. Over time your palate will change and your taste for other styles will expand. Cheers and Enjoy!
