Tips for a beer newbie?

Don't become the person who won't drink anything if it's not a 90+ on this site. Some of my favorite beers are 80 somethings on here. Hype isn't healthy...I hear it makes beer skunk.

 

Drink what you like. Regardless of what others say about it.

 

what others are saying so far is good advice. I didn't read the second page of replies, so forgive me if I'm repeating somebody on there, but my advice is: what is expensive doesn't necessarily equal good. And cheap doesn't equal bad. And what is popular wont always be inline with your perception of good. And there will be times when what you perceive as good will not be popular. The latter is something to embrace, because the the price point will be nice on your wallet.

 

Definitely join a tasting group (there may be one in your regional thread) and go to a release (Westbrook maybe?), especially if a bottle share is involved. Those have been some of the best beer experiences I've had.

 

thanks for understanding. so true

* the one dude is right. snarky, not stark. I knew what dude meant tho

 

Turn around, run as fast as you can!

 

taste many and drink what you like

 

Read a lot. Try homebrewing. Share with others. Take your time and enjoy it.

 

Try everything. Learn what styles you love, what styles you hate, what styles you might be able to learn to appreciate, etc. If there's a place near you that does mix-a-six packs, those are a great way to try lots of different beers in a short time and on a cheap budget. That's how I started off.

 

I do have to say, keep retrying things you don't like. Every once in a while, try it again. I used to hate ipa's, would never order them, and then I kept trying more and more and found one I kinda liked. Had the one I liked again, and tried more like it, still didn't like most in the style though. Eventually I began to like and love most in the style. Took about two years of exploration. It's really fun and exciting to find something you like, I'm still interested in trying more saisons and retrying styles I haven't had in a long time. There's something always new and different which is great.

 

A great way to start is with the 250 list. There are a lot of good beers on that list that will be available around u. That's how I started to explore beers at first, and at the time I was pretty broke too.
When I ventured out to knew styles I'd try the highest rated beer by the most people that was avaible to me, you'd be surprised that most style have a few highly rated and readily avaible beers. Not saying to go just after what others think are best, but once u find a style u like u can venture out in it. Ive found some great B rated beers

 

When you go to a brewery you've never been to before, always start out by ordering a tasting flight. Then order one of your favorite out of what you just tasted.

 

you already like IPA's?!
that's a Good sign...don't ever stop trying different ones! They are a category all to their own.

also, Sierra Nevada will never steer you wrong as far as Breweries go...they've got a lot of really good stuff goin' on. Pretty Available anywhere too. - Watch for the Seasonals.

 

Welcome to this funny world of beer.
Simplest advice. Drink.
More complicated advice. Drink.
Most complicated advice. Drink.
Beyond that. If your state allows your packy to sell singles and you to build sixers. There's one of the keys to the building, because you can compare brewers, and regions takes on particular styles and also have something new to try on.
The other one is find your local brewers and do tasters of what they offer.

 

I think this guy is pulling your legs.

 

this. a friend of mine is still new to it and he was asking me about all different styles he seemed really intrigued by sours, just curious as to how it would be. he bought a bunch of them and loved it, there goes his rent money

 

well i mean hey if someone wants to pull my third leg, its gonna cost em. im not a cheap date

 

Get yourself a copy of Garret Oliver's Brewmaster's Table. It does a great job of introducing you to the prominent styles and giving you a little knowledge on them. It also mentions particularly noteworthy beers in the major styles. Most of the beers that he mentions are older more established products that will be familiar to most veteran beer consumers and give you points of comparison when you discuss which beers you like and don't like.

 

The post is from NC- like another fake one a couple of weeks ago. The "I want to learn the lingo" simplicity and the handles for people like this are always RK87 or something like that. But feel free to entertain yourselves.

 

My other piece of advice, and I totally have an agenda with this one, is don't neglect the lagers! With the disgust of the yellow-fizzy stuff fresh on our minds as we enter the craft world we tend to hear lager and run the other direction. We want it dark, strong, aggressive, etc. Subtlety gets forgotten about. So be brave and go for those well crafted Kolsch, Czech Pils and Maibocks, they are truly excellent styles and some brewers (both domestic and international) really nail them!