What should I try?

Everything.

 

While no 1 can tell you what you like, we can tell you what we like. try a brown beer, try a Orval if you can. TRy a hefe, or wit. should not cost you too much, and 60 miles is nothing for me to drive 150 1 way IF I really want it.

yea get a SNPA to try out the hoppy...side of beer.

 

Thank you for correcting yourself.

 

I agree 100%. Rogue is NOT a good example on which to cut your "craft brew teeth." All of this is subject to personal taste; i.e., some people like vanilla and some like chocolate; some people like cake, some pie. Get it? It's all personal and you will form you own conclusions. (Hopefully, without being too influenced by people on this site, including me!) I try it all and so should you!

However, I've never tasted a Rogue beer (and I've tasted just about every beer Rogue's bottled) that has not tasted or felt "watered down." All of them. Every now and then there is a hint of character but I'm convinced that everyone that likes Rogue really likes the bottles! (Hey, so do I! Love the bottles - just not the content - and that, again, is just my opinion). Taste Rogue, however, and make up your own mind.

I would urge you, however, to not judge quality craft beer and styles by Rogue. Try everything and put together some beer tastings, if you can, which is a great way to open lots of bottles, try lots of things, and not get to drunk or waste a lot of beer!

Have fun and don't be afraid to form YOUR OWN conclusions!

(Read Beer 101, read Beer Styles and read the other informational forums on BeerAdvocate. They are very educational and will teach you about a great deal quickly. I have found the "informational" forums fantastic on this site).

 

Based on that list I would go for Anchor, Sierra Nevada, and New Belgium. They are larger craft breweries possibly available closer to home for you. Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and New Belgium Fat Tire are all pretty easy drinking and good intro beers. Welcome to a really expensive hobby. Also something no one else has mentioned is homebrewing. Requires some investment/time/patience/space but it is a good way to ensure a steady supply of high quality beer since you live in a place that isn't abundant in craft brews. There are a ton of websites that will ship pre made kits right to your door. Cheers and good luck.

 

Fantastic advice. I could not have said it nearly so well. You are a charm!

 

Wow, genuine cynicism. I want to believe him, I'm a Democrat.

 

North Coast's Scrimshaw Pilsner is absolutely fantastic - get some!

 

How much does someone new to craft beer know or care about hope fade? I would wager very little. When I first made the leap from AAL's to craft a year old Stone IPA would probably still have tasted very bitter to me.

OP, for what it's worth, I think Stone is a solid brewery to get your feet wet with.

 

I'm not sure how we differ on this point:

As for hop-fade, it's not an issue of someone caring about it so much as being aware of the difference in flavor profile. For a n00b, I'd go with something that holds the flavor a bit longer than Stone's hop-forward concoctions or something that has a clear short consumption period. But even that only after he's primed for the hop wallop.

 

I'm just suspicous of the following type of posts from a first time/last time "BA member":

"i am new to the craft beers scene and now wnat to know what to do with my hobby and I like Budweiser and some of there products and not coors or any of theres and really want to get in on the craft seen because eye have friends i like that do. What shoudl I be doin?"- and never heard from again.

There are (some) nice people on BA- willing to share a vast expanse of knowlege and love helping people new to the hobby and these trolls (anti- trolls) are pretty annoying. I am a Republican and believe in people to, I just don't want them wasting our time (and my money).

 

I'll say what I know to be true ad infinitum .. Post away people!

 

After having looked at the lists, I will express some skepticism for how helpful any employee at this store is going to be. They have some serious classification issues, with some American beers in the import list and obvious non-microbrews in the microbrew list. That being said, there are good options available.

First, here are a couple that are more in line with the styles you've had and liked:

• Anchor Steam - a flavorful American-style lager
• North Coast Scrimshaw - this is one of the best American-made German Pilseners in my opinion

And then some that branch out in terms of style, but that you might find interesting. These are all good places to start:

• Boulevard 80 Acre - a slightly hoppy unfiltered wheat beer. Easy drinking, but still flavorful.
• New Belgium Fat Tire - a beer that doesn't get a lot of love on this site, but it's a classic American Amber ale and is a big part of the reason NB has become one of the biggest craft breweries in the U.S. I would argue that it's the best Amber on that list. Green Flash's Hop Head Red is also good, but it's almost like an IPA, given the pronounced hops
• Duvel - a world class beer that pretty much anyone can enjoy, and isn't a rude awakening flavor-wise from the less intense world of pilsners
• North Coast Pranqster - a solid American take in the same style as Duvel. Likely cheaper too, but it's not quite as good, so be warned.
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - an American classic pale ale. A good place to start for anyone
• Sierra Nevada Kellerweis - one of the best American-made hefeweizens, imho. Style is an unfilted wheat beer that is a great summer brew.