5 Best Beers For Beginners
November 18, 2009
What are the 5 best beers for beginners? Who knows! We all have our hows and why’s, but I thought it would be cool to throw out my list of beers I recommend to people newer to beer than I am, and why. Do you have a list?
One thing I’ve learned about beer since starting The Brew Club is that everyone has different tastes when it comes to beer. When it comes to beer, one might say that “taste is on the tongue of the taster” as much as “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
That being the case, what is the best beer for a beginner? I don’t mean the person who has never tried a beer before in their lifetime, but rather the person who has had the common beers like Bud, Coors, Corona or the like and is looking to venture out.
They are looking to you to steer them right. One wrong suggestion and its back to the macros! That’s a lot of pressure! Its a lot of pressure because (and I’m sure you’ve all seen this) lets say you’re in your favorite beer store (we call them liquor stores in Jersey) and you see someone looking for beer.
Seemingly stuck in an orbit around around the giant stacks of Landshark Lager or Bud Light Lime, you can tell that they aren’t a beer person. The familiar has them trapped in something like a tractor beam. Reaching out for help, they ask the stock guy about buying a different beer. Something new to try or to bring as a gift to a friend or something. “I’ve heard about these craft beers” you might overhear the person say.
Most of the time when I see this happen, the stock guy recommends a beer like ‘Imperial Bitchslap’, ’10,000 Minute IPA’, or ‘Hoppedoutofyourfuckinmind Ale’. (I made that one up.) Chances are, this person, through no fault of their own, is going to take one sip of this extreme beer recommended by the beer expert and dump it down the sink. Never again! I’ll stick to what I know thank you.
The point is, just because your palate has adjusted to extremely hopped beers, or Imperial Ales, doesn’t mean a noob will appreciate it in the least. (Hell, I haven’t even embraced those beer styles yet!) Can advanced beerness hurt more than it helps?
So, what things do you consider when giving advice to someone like this? Do you have any safe-bet beers that you suggest regardless of the person, or do you probe into their likes and dislikes about what they’ve had in the past? I’m curious to how you approach this and what beers you’ve suggested.
For me, I’ll ask if they’ve ever had anything other than Bud or Coors. Ever have a Guinness? What did you think? Ever try Bass? How was that? Schaffer? Hmmmm. This could be tough.
Here’s my list of safe-bet beers that I think are decent choices for beers for beginners. Feel free to poke holes or add to the list!
- Gunniess from the tap or the can with that widget thing. Its a good beer, not extreme in any way, and it can be found everywhere. Its a good intro to those mysterious dark beers.
- For something that is perhaps less scary looking, I think Bass Ale is a good choice as well. It too can be had from one of those funny widget cans, can be found anywhere, and makes a good intro into the world of imported exotic British Ales.
- People with death grips on American Macro beers might be persuaded to try a nice Pilsner. It looks similar, so perhaps this is the easiest leap to make, and there’s lots of good examples both foreign and domestic. Pilsner Urquell might be a good choice or perhaps something like Prima Pils from Victory.
- Another safe bet is the Belgian style ales from Blue Moon. Say what you will abut it being made by Coors, but its a good gateway beer. Blue Moon also can be found anywhere, and it gives people a chance to try something new, a little spicy and ‘oooh, its unfiltered’ without being blitzed with extreme flavors and high ABVs.
- The Guinness pick from above got me thinking of another great choice. A nice Chocolate Stout! Who doesn’t like a chocolate stout? Smooth, dark – and chocolaty! First one that pops in my head is Young’s Double Chocolate Stout. Readily available and very tasty.
So there you go. That’s generally my list of best beers for beginners. I know, I know, only one craft beer in the mix. Part of my thinking is accessibility. Craft beers can tend to be very regional and hard to get sometimes. These beers (save the Victory mention) can be found in most places, BUT substitutions can surely be made. That’s just me.
What’s your process of recommending beer, and what beers to you suggest?
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November 18th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I’m going to have to agree with you, especially on the Guinness recommendation. It was my original gateway beer, and the only “good beer” I ever drank back in college. Since those days I’ve found all sorts of stouts that I like better, but Guinness will always hold a special place in my heart. I think I would add Fat Tire to that list though. Definitely a non-extreme and approachable brew for the masses that are looking for something more and are scared of the “dark” stouts.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Some very good choices there Scott. I would probably go with a different wheat type beer to recommend. I even have some friends that aren’t that into beer that hate Blue Moon but have liked other wheat styles. I personally like the just as available Shock Top over Blue Moon but if I want to recommend a craft brew I point them to Ommegang Witte or Avery White Rascal.
Prima Pils is a great pilsner and I think it could convert some but I see many people that aren’t use to a real pils with flavor thinking it’s not good. Go figure something with flavor not as good as the watered down versions!
I think anything from Samuel Smith is a good gateway beer too. They stick to the traditional recipes it seems and don’t over do anything. Their Pure Brewed Lager is a good choice. I had my dad try it and he really enjoyed it. Their Pale Ale, Taddy Porter and Oatmeal Stout I think are good too for getting started.
Great article on a great topic.
.-= Mike – MikeLovesBeer.com´s last blog ..B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout =-.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Great article. ‘Imperial Bitchslap,’ ha! Nicely done. I’ve seen that happen too many times, and I often toil over which beers I should use to introduce my non-beer-drinker friends to the great big world of beer. And, btw … blue moon was my gateway beer, many moons back. Good choice.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Obviously my tastes will differ slightly, being this side of that there ocean, but I’m with you all the way on the Young’s Stout and the Blue Moon, both very accessible.
I probably wouldn’t do the Guinness as you already have an accessible Stout on the list.
In terms of a lager, I’d shy away from Pilsner Urquell towards either Staropramen or what you guys call Czechvar – that is the ‘real’ Budweiser, they’re slightly more subtle and complex than PU.
In preference to Bass I think I’d have to add either Timothy Taylor’s Landlord or Black Sheep Riggwelter as examples of a Yorkshire Ale, and while I’d love to add Greene King IPA, I think I’d have to include a Leffe as an introduction to the dark beers of Belgium.
.-= Bob the Brit´s last blog ..The Lord Mayor’s Show =-.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I’ll offer a female perspective on this. I started out as strictly a wine drinker and remember my first serious beer experience was a Grimbergen triple. It was a while ago but I remember being impressed with the texture. I had never tasted anything like it.
If I had to recommend a beer, I’d also start with a stout. I think the creamy texture appeals to a lot of people. I’d go with a Victory Donnybrook from the tap at their restaurant, of course.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Good suggestions everyone!
@Rnast- I share the same sentiments. Guinness was a ‘gateway’ beer for me and I still enjoy it today. I don’t see how one can go wrong there!
@Mike Loves Beer – Sam Adams escaped me completely for some reason – and you can get it just about anywhere which is something I was trying to keep in mind with my list. Good call!
@Bob the Brit – Good choices! I could see being happy with any of them as an intro to beer!
@Rachel, interesting first serious beer! I agree with the stout route. For some reason people think they are super-strong or whatever, but really they’re mostly kittens! Haven’t had the Victory Donnybrook yet.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Brewing Beer at Home With the Coopers Homebrew Kit =-.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
@Rachel You make a good point. Not all “Beginner Beer Drinkers” come from the Bud/Miller/Coors group, some come from the wine and liquor world. I’ve actually heard from multiple sources that Wine drinkers tend to enjoy the complexities of many of the Belgian styles. Similar to how they are used to picking out flavors in different wine styles. Interesting stuff.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Hey Scott, I said Samuel Smith
.-= Mike – MikeLovesBeer.com´s last blog ..Bam Bière =-.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
@Rnast: Yes. I think you are exactly right. We honeymooned in Napa and I tried being a wine snob but that didn’t work out. I still really love wine (reds mostly) but I do prefer a Belgian or Belgian style most days. I was amazed to find out how much beer adds to really great food too. I think that Belgians are the way to go for us girls. By the way, I love sours too–anyone? Petrus Pale Ale and Monks Flemish Sour Ale are two of my favorites.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Antoine Amrani Chocolates =-.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
@Mike – D’Oh!!! Sam Adams wouldn’t be too bad either though!
.-= Scott-TBC´s last blog ..Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier =-.
November 19th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Guinness was my gateway beer too, good call on that.
I would add a APA to your list (American Pale Ale). Sierra Nevada pale ale would be a good classic choice. Not all beginner’s need to be steered away from hops – some will do well starting with an APA, which is like an IPA on training wheels.
I also wouldn’t recommend as many imports to a beginner, unless they’re from the wine / liquor world. If they’re BMC drinkers then many of those drinkers are very price-conscious and a large part of the reason they drink BMC is that it’s so cheap. Young’s Dbl Choc Stout is pretty pricey in some supermarkets ($4/pint at mine), plus some don’t even carry it, so I don’t see it being something that a light lager drinker would switch to as their go-to beer. They might try it once and say oh that’s kind of interesting but regard it as an experiment and not bother to buy it again.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:05 am
@Patrick – good points, I wasn’t really considering price but its worth keeping in mind. I guess I’m just thinking of ‘gateway’ beers, something to try to pique interest, not necessarily something to buy for drinking every night. American Pale Ale is a great suggestion too, and it shows my own bias against beers more hoppy than malty wich is something else I hadn’t considered in my list!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Brewing Beer at Home With the Coopers Homebrew Kit =-.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I’d have to include on the list, George Killians Red Ale. Easy to find, in most grocery stores and pretty good beer overall. Another might be a Chimay Grand Reserve if you think they are feeling a little adventurous, and might want something a little better than the rest. If they pay a little more for it they might think it is a little more special. Finally I would add a nice pale ale, not an IPA, hops might scare them, but something like a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or a Bass or Anchor Steam just to ease them into the transition to flavor.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Ho, Ho, Hum. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale =-.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Staying with the BMC line of reasoning, I always thought the Bud American Ale was a safe bet. I’d agree your Guinness pick and Bass was a good choice too. I’d also feel comfortable suggesting Rogue’s Dead Guy as well.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I think a good gateway beer is also the Longtrail beers such as Blackbeary wheat… or their summer ales… By the way… Awesome cartoon! =)
November 20th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Hey, thanks for stopping in Liz! Good suggestions – Long Trail is usually a good bet and thanks for the cartoon work!
.-= Sc-tt-TBC´s last blog ..Brewing Beer With the Coopers Home Brew Kit-Part 2 =-.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Nice suggestion Mike on the Dead Guy Ale. I forgot about that one. Very flavorful, and not too spendy either.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Whatcha Having this Weekend? =-.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I concur! Rogue’s Dead Guy is a great beer that would be hard-pressed to offend anyone! What’s it a Maibock or something? Good choice.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier – German Smoke Beer =-.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Yeah, Dead Guy is a German Maibock, but double dead guy isn’t a doppelbock like you might guess from the name – it’s a strong ale. Both do use the Rogue Pacman yeast though. Those crazy brewers at Rogue take their name seriously.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
We just reviewed the dead guy on my site. I think this one might become a regular go to beer for me.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Whatcha Having this Weekend? =-.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:14 am
Thanks Don, I’ll have to check it out! I had Dead Guy a few months back and reviewed it, but I gave publishing priority to Pumpkin Ales. I though it was a great beer and I would add it to my list now that I’ve been reminded of it.
.-= Scott´s last blog ..Buffalo Bill’s Brewery Pumpkin Ale =-.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:35 am
Methinks this should be rewritten as a Top Ten… there’s certainly plenty of excellent suggestions to select from.
.-= Bob the Brit´s last blog ..The Lord Mayor’s Show =-.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
I think that Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale is a good gateway Pale. I’m not a big IPA fan, but I can drink this one easily. It’s not uber hopped and is quite smooth. I’d also go to the Sam Adams line for a smooth transition. Their Winter Lager was the first non-stout bitter beer that I enjoyed. (I now consider it a kind of sweet beer since I’ve moved onto drinking craft stouts;-) ). Victory’s Dark lager is another great, smooth beer to bring the lager drinkers.
.-= Wendy Edsall-Kerwin´s last blog ..AEDM and Updates =-.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Thanks Wendy. That’s the second mention of Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale as an IPA intro. Not being an IPA fan, I’m thinking I should give this one a try myself! Interesting choices for the other styles as well. Thanks!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Brewing Your Own Beer at Home – Part 3 Mixing =-.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Great article, Scott. As someone who has recently jumped head first into the excellent world of craft beers, I can relate to the process of converting someone into drinking great beer. I think it’s important to keep in mind that most macro drinkers: “A” buy beer that is as “unobtrusive” to their taste buds as possible and “B” They buy quantity over quality.
So I think to successfully convert someone from macro to micro one must make option “A” as smooth as possible. So that means no “big” beers, no high ABVs, no bitter IPA aftertastes, or anything with really overbearing flavors. If that is a success, then Option “B” (price) eventually takes care of itself and one starts to wander into the 22-ounce section of the beer cooler.
One of my first “good” beer experiences was thanks to my younger brother. He brought over a 4 pack of Boddington’s and I was immediately hooked. That’s because “Boddys” is a very smooth, creamy beer that has a straight forward taste. In other words, it wasn’t too far taste-profile-wise from a lighter-bodied lager. (And that cascading pour effect! Too cool!)
Another great style of beer for the beginner is American Hefeweizen. Both the Pyramid and Widmer Bros hefes are widely available and again, have a very friendly taste profile. To lemon or not is up to you. My wife — who thinks most lagers taste like “Budweiser” — loves these beers.
Sam Adams was also inadvertently mentioned here, and I agree that the basic Boston Lager is an excellent choice for a beer with a very good flavor profile that introduces the palate to some floral-style hops. This one, as well as many by Sam Adams, is still a favorite of mine. The black lager is also a very good, yet basic beer.
Two others that have become favorites of mine — and have also helped me convert a few macro drinkers — is the Session Series of Lagers by Full Sail. These are becoming more available, but it’s a harder find in some places. Full Sail brewed this Lager to appeal to the Corona crowd. The stubby bottles also make a great conversation starter. (I recently bought a 12 pack of Session on sale for $11.99.)
As much as I love them, I have found that stouts are a harder sell to the good beer newbie. The dark roast bite can be a bit startling to some. I have found that Murphy’s seems to be a bit more friendly for the newbie. It’s not quite as bitter, thus satisfying option “A” again.
These might not be the best beers out there, but as the saying goes, “you’ve gotta walk before you can run!”
November 24th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
@Scott from Manland – Excellent comment, thanks for taking the time to crank that out!
Good beer suggestions, and I like the conversion logic you presented. Boddington’s was one of my first ‘real’ beers as well!
You’re right about the American Hefe’s – I had a few over the summer that shouldn’t scare off anyone from Flying Dog, Brooklyn and Boulder Beer. (I’d skip the lemon.) I’m not sure I’ve seen anything from Full Sail in my neighborhood – but I’ll keep them in mind now that you’ve mention them.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier =-.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Scintillating Topic!
I honestly love the variation of response you have managed to get. I guess location somewhat varies the selection.
From my experiences, there are some great recommendations in all of the responses:
@Bob the Brit – Spot on with the Urquell or some Czech Pils
@Scott – Sam Adams is a great beer, one I wished I had started with.
@Wendy – I love the Sierra Nevada Pale – very palettable, another I wished I had started with.
My only thought as I’m an Australian living in Switzerland after previously living in Germany, is that I believe good starting beers should be somewhat global, thus we can ensure that everyone can try them. (although I will add say that I started on the Aussie Macro of James Squire Pilsner, Available only downunder so let’s skip this one)
So with all of these great thoughts, I’d like to propose my 5 ‘entry beers’:
My top 5 starters:
Hoegaarden wit – Find it anywhere, easy to drink, not too complicated, decent flavour and a good intro to Belgian Beer.
Franziskaner Weiss – Great Weissen, plus it is has great distribution in Europe
Brooklyn Lager – Pleasure to drink and solid Lager. Found this in Australia and Europe as well as the US
Czechvar – Good introduction into the Pils world, pretty much available most places
Guinness – Don’t need to say any more here.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I wouldn’t dispute any of those @Nate, although I think that two white beers (The Hoegaarden and the Franzikaner) maybe exclude some other brews, how about an English Ale like Bass? Or Leffe as an introduction to Belgian Ales?
And of course Czechvar is an introduction to the Czech lager world, as its not in the strictest sense a pils, hailing as it does from Budweis, about 80 miles south west of Pilsen.
I’ll get my coat!
March 30th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Great stuff Nate! As this post grew some legs, it really became hard to limit it to just 5 – but I think everyone had some very good suggestions that will hopefully be helpful to anyone looking to get started.
BTW, (I’m sure the answer is yes), but are there any well-known Swiss beers?
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Aprihop – Dogfish Head Brewery Spring IPA =-.
March 30th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
By far the best known Swiss brewery was Hurlimann in Zurich, founded by Albert Hürlimann (one of Louis Pasteur’s yeast pioneers) who dedicated the brewery to brewing potent brews. As well as Samichlaus (which is traditionally lagered for ten months before bottling) they also produced a great pilsner style brew (now brewed under licence by Shepherd Neame in the UK) and the excellent Drei Koningk (Three Kings) Christmas Beer. The brewery was bought by Carlsberg in 2000 and now produces mediocre beers for the local population, while Samichlaus was rescued from oblivion by Schloss Eggenberg in Austria.
On my various trips to Switzerland the most readily available brew was ‘Cardinal’ a middle of the road session lager. I regularly heard rumours of microbreweries, but sadly never found any.
March 30th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Thanks Bob for the info! I’ve seen Samichlaus here, I didn’t know it was Swiss!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Founders Breakfast Stout =-.
March 30th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Hey Guys,
Bob, fair call on the wheat beers, I’ll give you that one. Although I could argue about their differences
As for Swiss beers, Hürlimann is small, known but not so wide spread. Yeah Cardinal is the mainstay especially in the South. The more North and especially North East you head the more you find Calanda, which has it’s middle of the road lagers, but also does some unique brews with special alpine waters and hops.
Where I am (The French speaking, wine drinking area) we have a great macro brewery called Boxer, which actually does some solid brewing, albeit just for the surrounding area. I will aslo highly recommend Les Brasseurs, a boutique micro-brew house and bar located in the larger towns around here.
Beyond that the Micro brews do exist and mainly in the German speaking part . I really like the Micro-Macro brews from Appenzell and Monstein. Both are from the Alpine areas and have some very cool traditions, methods and top shelf beers. As a matter of fact I should be doing a tour of the Monstein brewery in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for that on my site.
If you're in CH, ping me and let's see if we can't organise some beer tests
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Winter’s last blast – Calanda Bräu =-.
May 26th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Funnily enough we did a really similar concept over at FIWK about 6 weeks ago. I think we had 3 of your list – Guinness, Blue Moon, Bass – and we had Heineken instead of Pilsner Urquell but I can’t fault you that. I do think you got a little out over your skis with the Chocolate Stout recommendation though.
I also agree with Don about adding in Killian’s Irish Red, and with Wendy about adding in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Personally I put Newcastle on that list, but having read your Newcastle review I’d think twice about recommending it now haha
I think Fat Tire is a gateway beer for a lot of people. And for me personally I would have anyone try an Alaskan Amber (or White Ale) because I’d bet they would enjoy it, and it’s plenty flavorful as a gateway beer.
.-= Royce´s last blog ..Beer Wednesday: Pipeline Porter by Kona Brewing Co =-.
May 26th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
@Royce -looking back I think you’re right about the chocolate stout but even still its a familiar flavor to most people and i was thinking a well-done sample might help hook ‘em!
Having just tried the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I would add that to the list if I were doing it today. Not a hop bomb at all, but it does the trick and is a classic version of the style. I think Newkie brown could work, but its just too inconsistent to risk having a noob get a skunker and ruin them for life! Maybe on tap and not from the bottle?
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Rogue Brewery Dead Guy Ale =-.
August 12th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
You wrote this article for me, so thanks. I’ve drank beers like Bud Light, Corona Light, Michelob Ultra and MGD 64 for years (as well as mixed drinks). Recently I’ve been feeling sick after only a few and a friend said he experienced the same thing before switching to dark beers.
I’ve decided to venture out tonight and buy dark beer from the grocery store, though I’m hesitant and scared. I’ve tried Guinness and it was too strong for me. I need something subtle to ease me away from translucent yellow beers. And when you said one bad taste and it’s back to “what I know”, that is totally me! lol
August 12th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
@Tam Tam – I’m not sure that the lightness or darkness is what’s bugging your gut – for the most part, beer is made with the same basic ingredients. I’m thinking your body is just rebelling against low-quality beer!
The goal is to keep trying – know there is better beer out there and you just need to find a style you like, and remember, good beer comes in all colors!
Perhaps something like a Belgian Wit, or Hefeweisen? Flavorful, light in color, and not too extreme. People will curse me, but try a Blue Moon and see what you think about it. Another nice beer is Dead Guy from Rogue, or even lighter (color) try a Brooklyn Lager!
I’d suggest reading all the comments for this post. A LOT of good suggestions are up there in addition to what I wrote about. Hopefully, you’ll let us know how you do!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..St Bernardus Witbier =-.
March 18th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
If they don’t like the darker ones, Harp Lager would be a good bet. Not too crazy and fairly light too.
I’m a newbie myself and have wondered about Murphy’s Stout. Would you recommend that one?
March 18th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
@N. – Thanks for the comment! Harp would be OK, its been awhile since I’ve had one and I wonder if its too similar to their ‘regular’ beer. Murphy’s Stout is actually pretty good, and would make a good alternative to the Guinness.
June 21st, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Seems pretty in line with this article:
squidoo.com/the-best-beers-for-first-time-beer-drinkers
I would agree with the addition of Stella, got my little brother to finally kick the Coors Light habit.
November 15th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
my personal “break through” beer was Yuengling Black & Tan; mild and flavorful. Still love it. The wheat beers would be a good intro, Blue Moon is a good one that’s inexpensive and readily available.
Something else to consider when suggesting a beer to a newbie is the price! If you suggest a great beer but the noob sees it’s $12 for a six pack, they may bolt to the 30 pack of Milwaukee’s Best for $15, then they’re ruined for life
November 15th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
@Steve – that’s a very good point! I was thinking just last night that for a $12 bottle of something from The Bruery, well, as you mentioned a lot of other beer could be had for that amount! (I still bought the one bottle though
)
December 22nd, 2011 at 4:36 pm
I am a beginner and this advice is helpful! I never drank the michelonbs/bud/ etc. I’ve taken single sips of my hubby’s fat tire. My gateway was 2 wks ago on tap, La Trappe Quadrupel Koningshoven, and now i have been researching what to try next. My husband enjoys Sam Adams Boston Lager on tap a restaurant we frequent, and I liked it too.
But where to go next, now that I enjoyed that quad??!! I think I may have begun with a Porsche level beer too for flavor and price, and I am on a Subaru budget. Please advise! As I recall, I liked the latrappe quad (excuse my novice language and please let me know if i am not describing it accurately) since it was pretty sweet at first and then other flavor notes started to arise; it might have been creamy too, i dont recall. All help welcome!
ps, the La Trappe Quad was on tap at Wolf Creek brewhouse in Valencia, CA.
December 22nd, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@Jane – that’s awesome! Now that you have the bug, try everything! You’re right, the trappist ales are high quality, but a bit pricy. Look into ‘abbey ales’ which are similar, and more reasonable cost. I just got a six pack of Leffe Brune for 8 bucks. Korsendonk is another brand to try. Let us know how it goes!
December 23rd, 2011 at 3:15 am
@Jane that is indeed an impressive introduction to ‘quality beers’. I didn’t realise ‘La Trappe’ was available on tap!
I agree with Scott, Leffe would be a good, affordable compromise, while you investigate your next Porsche!
December 23rd, 2011 at 10:58 am
@Bob – I was thinking the same thing! She’s found a beer goldmine there!
December 31st, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Hello everyone,
I am also a novice beer drinker. I am also trying different wines as well (I like the syrahs and reislings best). Mostly, I have been drinking mainly Bud light, Coors light, and Corona. I bought some Beck’s a little while ago, but didn’t really care for the after-taste. It didn’t taste too bad at first, though. I assume that Becks is probably just like Bud or Coors, though.
I have tried Sam Adams (don’t remember which one) and it was ok, but it wasn’t a ‘wow’ moment, if you know what I mean. I have also tried Pumpkin Ale for the first time back in October. I had heard that it tasted like actual pumpkin pie, so I was really excited, but to my disappointment, I naively thought they were being literal.
About 10 years ago, I travelled to Bath, England for 2 weeks. At a local pub there, I had my first Gunniess (draft). I didn’t like it at all. I felt like I needed to drink the whole thing, so that I wasn’t disrespectful, and it took me a while, lol. It has been 10 years now since I’ve tried it, and maybe my taste buds have changed. I’m not sure if I am ready just yet, though.
Based on the above comments, there are now several beers that I will definitely try. Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale sounds like a winner. So does Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
I do have a question about mixers. I have read online that lime flavored sodas like ginger ale and 7-UP can be used to mix with beer to make a Shandy. I have also heard about adding fruit as well. I think someone above mentioned adding a slice of orange to one beer. Do you recommend going that route or just sticking with the beer and no mixer?
Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions. I am not planning on becoming a hard-core beer drinker, since I drink maybe 5 or less drinks a month, but I have always been on the look out for better tasting beers (better than Bud and Coors at least), but have just been too intimidated by anything that isnt a lager.
December 31st, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@Ben – just take your time and keep an open mind! There are some really good suggestions in the comments above. Personally, I don’t dig the shandy concept, or adding orange to Blue Moon (or any Belgian White) but that’s just me. YMMV.
Leinenkugel makes a Summer Shandy which is half beer half lemonade, and there’s a German version called Stiegl Radler that you can check out too (which is better I think) and is lager and lemon soda. Here’s a writeup on it…
http://thebrewclub.com/2010/08/16/stiegl-radler-lemon-beer-review/
I’d just advise against going tooo hoppy like an American IPA or toooo strong like an Imperial Stout, but you’ll get there eventually!
Keep us posted and feel free to come back with more questions if you need some help!
January 1st, 2012 at 12:57 am
Hi all,
Today I bought a variety pack called Moerlein Discovery Pack Sampler. This link is the only one I could find online that showed the different beers in the sampler.
http://www.thepartysource.com/express/results.php?i=CHRISTIAN+MOERLEIN+BREWING+CO.
If the link doesnt work, it has a Double Dark Lager, a Golden Helles, a Northern Liberties IPA, and an OTR ale. So far I’ve tried the double dark lager and I thought it was drinkable. It was pretty mild and I didn’t notice too much of a bitter after taste. My palette isnt developed enough to tell you all of the flavors I tasted.
I heard from an employee in the store from which I bought the sampler, that the Moerlein brewing company is based in Cincinnatti. Though that didn’t really influence my choice.
I will try the other three beers soon, but from what I’ve heard about IPAs, the Norther Liberties beer might be a little strong for me. Not sure. All in all, so far, so good.
Thanks, Scott, for the information on shandies.
January 1st, 2012 at 2:46 am
@Ben – Cool. Variety packs are a good way to start. I’ve never heard of Moerlein, but there’s a lot of things I haven’t heard of yet! I’d say the dark Lager is a good start. The ‘OTR Ale’ seems to be an American Pale Ale, which to me is like the American IPA’s more conservative cousin. Make sure you’re pouring into a glass, and not chugging from the bottle!
January 4th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Hi everyone,
Ive now tried all of the different kinds of beer in my variety pack. I dont care for the OTR ale or the IPA. Both are still way too strong for my underdeveloped palette. The other two are enjoyable, with the dark lager just edging out the helles. I’ll try a chocolate stout next and the Dead Guy Ale. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thanks Scott for all of the info you have given me so far.
January 4th, 2012 at 10:12 am
Hey Ben. The IPA and APA were the last ones that I got a hang of too. I found them too ‘hoppy’ and bitter when I was just beginning. A good alternative is Sam Smith’s India Ale which is an example of the traditional English-style IPA. Smoother and just ‘less’ than the American versions. Plenty of good stouts though to make up the difference! Keep us posted!
January 5th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
this blog is so helpful! i tried Full Sail Wassail–tasty enough but not special. Fransiskaner (sp?) was boring to me. then i got waylayed with martinis the last couple of weeks during the holiday and have a bunch of beers on hand to try including sam smith’s winter welcome, KBC winter, KBC porter, Black Toad dark ale, pilsner urquell and bass. it’s pretty what trader joe’s had available! i’ll keep you posted and in the meantime, when do i drink from the bottle vs a goblet (my trappist quad was served that way) or a glass (pilsner?)
January 5th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
@Jane – glad to be of service! Please keep us posted as you go on your beer journey! Personally, I never drink from a bottle, no matter what the beer is. You lose so much in the overall experience when its locked-up like that! In a glass, you get more of the aroma, which of course, enhances all the nuanced flavors of the beer!
BTW, a goblet is great for beer tasting.
January 16th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
@Jane
I agree with Scott on the glass -vs- bottle. From the bottle you miss most of the aroma. It just doesn’t make it out of the bottle. From a glass it’s well, right under your nose! Also you can SEE the beer, the color and clarity are different for each style and the head differs too.
January 22nd, 2012 at 2:06 am
Hi all, I wanted to write back and first say thanks for all the helpful replies to my first post! Next, I have been trying a few bottled beers to see what I like/dont like. If you pros out there are able to enlighten me perhaps on some of the “technical taste” qualities in the beers below (ex, hoppy, or top brewed (i doubt any of mine were), bitter, or malty, etc) it might help me guide myself to the next phase in my journey. Or maybe you see some sort of pattern. I bought mundane stuff from trader joe’s but, I figured it would be a start. None of them really made me feel nirvana (like my on tap La Trappe quad did). In order of preference:
* Sam Smith’s Winter Welcome: What a lovely drink! Drank it room temp (I didnt like it cold) which seemed to make it taste “correct” somehow. Accompaniment with homemade sharp mac chee (English style with bite of dijon and worchestshire sauce) enhanced the food. Starts off quite sweet and the concluding lightly bitter taste stays with you but not in a bad way. Beautiful amber color. Sweet aroma. Gentle frothiness that made me smile.
* Black Toad dark ale: pleasing rich color, heady frothiness, easy to drink and great with potato chips!
* (3rd place but probably not comparable to these others bcs it was on tap: Sam Adams Boston Lager. I liked it much better than Bass due to the tartness you finish with.
* Bass: Enjoyable, light, tasty on its own (ie, doesnt seem to enhance food). Probably a good beer to fall back on when in doubt.
* Full Sail Wassail: tasty enough but not special
* Fat Tire Amber Ale: i dont even remember what it tasted ,but i recall that it was not objectionable.
* Fransiskaner: boring but had a ‘clean’ sort of taste
* KBC porter: decent but unmemorable.
* Pilsner Urquell: Surprisingly I disliked this. I thought it would be innocuous and easily likeable, but I found it slightly bitter and very, very boring.
* KBC winter: wow, i HATED this. i found it very bitter. i drank it room temp as well as chilled and disliked both versions. Ended up pouring it out.
Well that is where I am at for now. Any new directions to recommend? I live away from civilization in the mountains, but, I do occasionally have access to BevMo and Trader Joes for example in northern LA county. If anyone has recommendations of where to buy, I’d be curious.
January 22nd, 2012 at 2:11 am
ps, have not yet been able to purchase leffe brune or korsendonk. but i havent forgotten those suggestions!
January 22nd, 2012 at 3:08 am
Sorry to hear that Franziskaner and Pilsner Urquell didn’t to it for you, your palate clearly leads towards Ales.
A rule of thumb is that beers tend to taste better at the temperature they were brewed at – check my post : http://thebrewclub.com/2008/09/11/warm-beer-in-the-soft-summer-rain/
I would recommend any other Sam Smiths ales, or looking out for Porters (particularly Fullers London Porter, or any French Bieres de Garde.
January 22nd, 2012 at 5:26 am
Hello everyone. I have tried Young’s Double Chocolate Stout and Woodchuck Granny Smith Apple Cider now. I didnt really care for the stout even though I could taste a hint of chocolate while drinking it. (It comes in a can. Not sure if that makes much of a difference.) The cider was wonderful. Crisp, clean, and refreshing with a significant, but nowhere near overpowering tartness of granny smith apples. Woodchuck is definitely a brand I’ll be buying from now on.
I still have a couple of cans left of the stout and was wondering if anyone knew what kinds of foods go well with chocolate stouts. I have heard that not-too-sweet desserts are a good choice. How about other foods? Thanks everyone.
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@Jane – Awesome! Sounds like you’re well on your way! Bob’s post is very interesting, and the temperature concept was new to me until then too. It makes a difference! As Bob suggested, it seems you prefer Ales to Pilsner-style lagers, but don’t let that stop you from trying other lager styles like Bocks.
@Ben – Interesting. I haven’t embraced ciders as an alternative to beer. I don’t hate them, but at the same time they just haven’t grown on me. Maybe you’re something of the opposite of Jane. Maybe you should check out some lighter beers like Belgian Wit, Hefeweizen, or something like the Sam Adams Boston Lager?
I prefer Chocolate stouts AS dessert!
January 23rd, 2012 at 6:05 am
Lol Scott. I’m sipping on a chocolate stout as I type, but it is still a bit strong for me. I have had Sam Adams Boston Lager before. It wasnt bad. Stronger than i was used to at the time, but enjoyable.
I’m still tasting different kinds of beer and filing them down in my mental list of likes and dislikes. Hopefully, my palette will develop over time so I can enjoy the stronger beers out there.
January 31st, 2012 at 11:06 pm
@Jane
Looks like you’re building quite a list of beers! I’ve yet to find any Sam Smith’s in my area. Have you tried Smithwick’s Irish Ale? I thought it was pretty good.
February 1st, 2012 at 12:15 am
@Steve – I agree! Jane is really going for it!