Where To Start A Newbie?

Allagash White
Southern Tier Live
DFH 60 Min
Cigar City cracker

 

I agree when it's the piney and citrus hops. New people have a tendency to not like this taste but floral hops in beers like Boston Lager or Brooklyn lager and pilsners are another story. Newbies seem to think it tastes amazing. I know I did when I first started drinking the crafts. but now, I think it's just average. lol!

 

I agree with the posts on macro imports. The Germans are world famous for beer for a reason. This fall try all the original Marzen beers. Its also good to go through the year round German and English beers as a jumping off point.

 

This is too easy. Go to a good bar & get a flight that covers multiple styles.

 

Anchor Steam or Paulaner Oktoberfest would both be good starting points. DFH 60 minute and SNPA are good ways to get into the ale side.

 

I personally don't think it's completely necessary to start with more simple styles (as in people saying that it's best to start with Fat Tire, SNPA, a pilsner, etc.) What has worked with me just introducing people to a wide variety of different beers and then figuring out their palate from there. I would get a mix of stuff that I think represents a wide representation of beer as a whole and then let them sample some small pours of it. If I had to go get some beers for someone to try right now I would get something along the lines of Old Rasputin, St. Bernardus 12, Duvel, Weihenstephaner Hefe, Jai Alai, and Petrus Aged Pale and get an idea from there.

 

I would take them to the best local brewery and give them my favorite brew. I don't understand why people have this idea that people need to be introduced to craft breweries by showing them "easy" beers??? If it tastes good to you, odds are it will taste good to other people regardless of their backgrounds.

If they don't have any experience with craft brews, explain to them why you like a certain beer before you give it to them.

 

I would start with some of the classics: Anchor Steam, Liberty Ale, and Porter, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and some of the Samuel Smith beers. Also Sam Adams.

 

^^ I agree fat tire was one of my first prob 10+years ....also witts are a good starter.

 

I absolutely adhere to the idea that a person's palate evolves, and what tastes fantastic to me might not taste fantastic to a newbie. I think Rogue Dead Guy is a great American representation of the style, is rich in flavor, and yet is familiar enough to someone with a an unsophisticated (or let's be honest, shitty) palate.

Interstellar Overdrive is a mind-melting psychedelic journey for the ages, but a the novice music fan might be better served with a selection from Dark Side of the Moon, you know?

 

Agreed 100%. SNPA is such an easy suggestion but newbies love those floral hops.

 

You made the point I was trying to make better than I did.

 

Would you go so far as to say a Scotch Ale would be appropriate?

 

I am all about local. Try him out with some Good People Brown Ale. Very easy to drink and fairly tasty.

 

Just push them in and give them a stout.

 

I guess this assumes that the person/people involved are willing to try different things, but flights are great. My wife dabbles - she liked Blue Moon. She liked some of Sam Adams "lighter" offerings and still does. I don't mind the Sam Adams, but the Blue Moon annoys me a liittle. So I showed her some other options. She liked Hoegarden. Then she got to other similar, better beers like Ommegang and Allagash. She loves DFH Namaste. A few tasting rooms later and she likes saisons, some smoked beers, and even a small handful of stouts. She doesn't like bitter and seems very sensitive to it. She will, however, keep an open mind and taste everything. By that I get some idea of where her palate is at the moment and what direction to go.

Extremes? Mixed thoughts on the dive deep versus wade the kiddie pool approach. I'm an all in or all out kind of person. My best example is IPA's - didn't get it, didn't like them until I tried Ruination and then the great understanding happened. I had tried many "lesser" IPA's before that, but the more extreme example unlocked the mystery for me. So I don't know which approach is best. I suspect the gradual weaning, but in some cases the go big or go home approach might work depending on the individual. Personally, most things that are an "acquired taste" I seem to like right away.

 

Newcastle.

It's got a good malty flavoring yet is no where near offensive or overpowering. I've started many a Bud/Coors swill drinker on the road to good beer over the years with Newcastle.

 

I just let all my BMC friends have a taste of the beers I drink and surprisingly they usually like them.

I was surprised to find a lot of my BMC friends like Stouts and porters even the first time they've had one.

 

Here's a thought: How about recommending beer made iin Alabama? Good People and Straight To Ale make some pretty good beers. Find what styles you like and branch out from there.

 

Don't push craft beer on others. You have to let them discover it on their own. Drink what you like let them drink what they like. Let them try your beer but don't force it down their throat. Reminds me of overly religious people that push their religion on others.