Planning a tasting for some first-timers

Try to get some skull splitter, that beer got me into scotch ales and craft beer in general. Also, try a non imperial stout. Sierra nevadas stout is a personal go to. But a nice list and a good idea never the less.

 

I'd recommend something from smuttynose... maybe old brown dog as you don't have a brown ale, or shoals pale ale. also i'd bet that victory prima pils would be a hit. just a thought.

 

I'm not sure what kind of experience your friends have had with beer, so my suggestions might seem "rudimentary," for lack of a better word. But... My girlfriend who apparently didn't like IPAs took to them after trying Founder's Centennial. That might not be a bad choice for one since it seems easy to find. Also, if you have friends who might be put off by an imperial stout, try a milk stout as an intro to stouts since they are smoother/sweeter and probably more likeable for the less beer experienced.

 

I wold advise against imperial Russian stouts, molyans dragoons stout is a nice starter if they have already had Guinness.

 

I'd recommend something like Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot over SN Bigfoot.
I just think english style is easier to cozy to compared to american style barleywine.

 

I put on beer tastings several times a year for various groups, from the most intense to the novices. I do beer tastings for charity events, wine and food groups and private clubs and organizations. (I've even done a tasting for a brewer and his staff!) My problem is always one of "theme." However, for doing what I would call (and have called) a beer "101" class, I think your choices are excellent. Everyone could come up with an alternative to probably every beer you've listed - but your choices are excellent and there is no reason to change except if your personal preference changes.

I have a tendency to use selections more available here in California and the west coast. However, as stated, you've chosen well. (I have started 100% of my tastings for "non beer drinkers" or "non beer geeks" with the Hefe you list. I've never had anyone...not a person....not like it.)

Anyway, from my point of view, you are on a great track.

 

if your friends are as uneducated as I am about beer.. you might what to make it educational to teach them what it is they are tasting. save what you consider the best tasting beers for the last. use the common 'low quality' high school beers to get them familiar with different tastes of hops, bitters and malts and how they are rated on beer judging *there is a beer judges handbook on the web somewhere, just cant think where are the moment*. the paper goes into the varieties of beer, coloration, flavors and such. the paper lists each beer's bitterness range, and assorted other factors. Once you familiarize them with the different varieties, then you can let them take small tastes of different beers so they can tell what the range means by what they taste. you can even use the wine trick by eating a cucumber slice between beers to clear their palate before tasting the next beer so there is no confusion. i would even include some holiday beers like a good chocolate beer, pumpkin and even ginger. I am still learning trying to find what i like... when i drank beer when i was younger, i had to get drunk fast to get past the 'beer' taste. even in bartender school, they never touched the varieties of beer. Now I am trying to find something I like so I can homebrew my own stuff

 

Get a twelve pack mix of Ipswich, Mayflower, Smuttynose, and Shipyard. That will cover your basic intro to craft beer styles. Then next time move to Belgians, sours, farmhouse, imperials etc. Its easier to intro newbies to pale ales and golden's than ris and quads.

 

I would crank it down a notch-how about an amber/a pilsner/as suggested a milk stout/a mazen-baby steps not giant leaps-possibly great lakes/sierra nevada/new begium/samuel adams/anchor steam-don't try to get too advance the first time-remember these are bmc drinkers-even bass/harp and guiness are a big change for them.

 

I would second the thoughts on the IPA and the Milk Stout. While I agree that English Barleywines are easier to get used to than their American brethren, I also know people who find them to be overly sweet. My only other suggestion would be to cut the Flanders/Gueuze out. Thats some crazy palate fatigue by the end of that tasting.

 

The IPA should be Flower Power.
If you can't get it, then Lagunitas IPA.

 

I like the list, but I would avoid the IRS. Maybe substitute Mayflower Porter.

 

For the IPA, I definitely wouldn't do the DFH. While I like it, I just find that it does not really taste like any other IPA. Maybe try a fresh Smuttynose Finest Kind. For the Doppelbock, consider going with Hooker's Liberator. If you are going to keep the stout, which might be risky, I would do something a little more tame than Stone.

 

I agree that the Stone IRS may be a bit much at first. I would consider including Ipswich Oatmeal Stout and the Mayflower or Founders Porter instead.

Also agree with the removal of the Gueuze/Flanders Reds. That along with some of the imperial offerings - DIPA's, RIS, etc. would make for a great round two for those that enjoyed the first tasting

 

OP is in NH.
http://www.seekabrew.com/distro/index.html

 

I like your list pretty much as it is and have no changes to recommend. However, if you haven't gotten that far in your thinking yet, I would recommend that you want to pay equally careful attention to the tasting itself. It doesn't have to be a big production number, but there are a few things that can make a difference to some of your guests whether they even notice it or not.

If you haven't already thought about this, be sure to have plenty of bottled spring water on hand so people can does themselves liberally with water during and between beers. It helps to freshen the palate and lower the impact of the alcohol. (A two ounce pour of that many beers will build up.) I recommend spring water since chlorinated water can affect the flavors you pick up during the tasting. A subtle point, perhaps, but one that can make a difference for a few folks.

Similarly, be sure to stock up on lots of unsalted crackers or prezels for folks to nibble on during and between beers. (Salt changes the palate but does not re-set it or cleanse it. Same with cheeses, etc., they change things but don't come close to re-setting the palate.)

Plan on serving everyone the same beer at the same time so that they are all on the same page with their discussion and with what you have to say to them about what they can expect and how to proceed with the tasting. Extra portions can be revisited at the end of the tasting as folks get to go back for a bit more of the ones they particularly liked.

 

It seems like you have good access to Founders since you chose DB, so I would switch out Stone RIS for FBS. It seems like you want to cover a lot of different styles, so I would try to get an IPA that has relatively low malt as well as one that is really malty. Flower Power vs. Maharaja for example.

Also, while I loved Hoponius Union, it's not really representative of lager and it's not widely available. Might want to use something like Prima Pils.

 

I have always thought Goose Island IPA would be a good IPA for a first timer.

 

I really think Stowaway IPA from Baxters is underrated. Maybe stick em' with a Green Flash IPA as well.

Maybe an Allagash White, for witbier.