Where To Start A Newbie?

I'm from new york too, where can u find the victory pilsner u mentioned?

 

Blue moon

 

Key word here is "approachable". Think mellow amber ales like New Belgian Fat Tire, not too hoppy. Think quality lagers... Boston Lager, maybe not the most epic, but hell yes it's a good brew to start with. Think about some wheat beers too: Blue Moon is the obvious example, or step up your game with some SN Kellerweis or Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier!

 

you should start slow,sam adams boston lager then maybe some other offerings from them to break the ice,which will be very thick ice.then go to some fat tire form new belgian.my advice pick local brews to get their attention,people want to support local jobs and will draw their curiousity .bud has a hook in people with the brewed in the usa hook,so counter that with brewed in your home town,its a good way to start.

 

I would agree now but back in the day I would say I hated all ipa's. It really is just taste differences but I feel like for the majority of people it takes time to appreciate the taste that hops offer.

 

He's trying to introduce people to craft beer, not BMCs.

 

Pilsners and Sam Adams have already been beaten to death, so let me try a couple different ideas...

Hefeweizzens. A lot of them lack the bitterness of many other styles, so they're a good gateway beer.
Stouts. Particularly ones that are on the smoother side (like milk stouts). Vastly different from what they're used to, but again, not bitter - a good potential gateway beer.

Both of those were key to my early days of drinking. Your results may vary. And no matter what you go with, if your friends just aren't digging any of it...live and let live. Don't be afraid to clink your glass of craft with their Budweiser can.

 

Wheat beers ease folks into sumpin other than BMC. If that's what you're lookin' to do. Myself, I don't give a flying fuck what you drink.

 

Blue Point Toasted Lager

 

A Pilsner or a mild Pale Ale(SN, Dales, Headwaters), I've converted plenty of people by just not throwing Hops down their throat on their first go 'round. My brothers and friends alike all got Pilsners from me the first time I handed them a craft, or a Belgian White or Wit, anyone who's had Blue Moon and enjoyed it is usually good to go with like a Avery White Rascal or Uinta MonkShine.

 

My two first craft beers were rogue dead guy ale, and anchor steam... Both were really easy drinking, and made me realize what i was missing with BMC

 

Start at beer number 1 and don't stop until you have tried ALL the beer.

 

If they like something Guinness, then go with left hand milk stout or lily flag from Straight to Ale. Buy something local like a pale ale from Good People or Back Forty's Naked Pig. Definitely stay away from hoppy for a while. Maybe even try Sierra Nevada PA if they haven't had it. But most importantly, Roll Tide!

 

I prefer this method. Atmosphere and variety make a great hook.

 

Just experiment with what you both like. Show them how to make their own path.

 

I'm in western NY, near Rochester. I haven't seen any of the Braumeister series bottled, only on tap. They brew different versions periodically. Their website has a feature that tells you where their individual beers are available in different areas.

 

Scrimshaw! Mamas lil yells pils, Brooklyn lager would be your safest bets. Although when getting my gf into craft beer, she immediately enjoyed most wheat beers, and sweeter stouts and porters. Starting with the likes of brek vanilla porter or boulder shake.

 

If they've only been drinking light lagers I'd actually start them with Sam Adams light, show them a light beer that has some flavor, and then move on to Boston Lager. After that I'd go with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

 

Looking at the style guide on here and the BJCP I don't see how Prima Pils is over hopped, both say that a German Pilsner can have a high amount of hop and can have a bitterness that lingers, unlike other styles of Pilsners which tend to have more focus on the malts. Yes it is on the high end hops, but I don't see how it makes it less authentic.

 

Big fan of starting people with Fat Tire or Sierra Nevada pale.