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- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19http://www.beeradvocate.com
- LordOfTheSponge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15lol - that stuff is nasty even after you have developed a taste of beer.
- dancurranjr, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Want good beer? Go to a local brewery. Period.
Second bet? Find a beer in your local Whole Foods or similar sore that comes from an INDEPENDENT brewery.
Guinness has changed their ecipe for the American audience.
Redhook ESB is not independent anymore
Sierra Nevada is not independent anymore.
What's the difference? Take a Great beer like Redhook ESB or Sierra Nevada - have them get bought out - and the recipe changes. Production is stpped up and there are all sorts of additives and chemicals added to the process. "No Additives or Preservatives?" Kinda true - not in the recipe - but in the filtering process!
Most of it is Corn based as well.
Remember when you could drinka 6'er of Sierra and be 100% the next morning?
Try it now - screaming hangover - or farty as hell - thats the recipe change.
Find a local Brewery and drink REAL beer. 99% of what is on the shelf is crap.
You don't need to develop a taste for beer any more than you have to develop a taste for ice cream. Just stop drinking watered down Pilsners and try the smorgasboard of flavors available!
Find a local homebrewers club if all else fails.
Rediscover BEER. - drlha, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14Dugg up for Yuengling, which may not be the best beer in the world, but is the best "Domestic" beer available. At least its priced as a Domestic in Pennsylvania.
The others are good choices too, and easy to get almost everywhere, although I must admit I hate Dos Equis. ;) - mz00m, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12mmmm.....Yuengling
One of my absolute favorite beers, and contrary to what this article says it is NOT that widely available. You can get it anywhere in PA, and maybe NJ, MD, and some places in NY... but outside of that it gets scarce. - rugger, on 10/12/2007, -8/+19ah yes, the cause of and solution to all the world's problems
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I can't see a non-beer drinker taking a liking to ANY Pale Ale or Stout right off the jump. So I can't see why they recommend Sierra Nevada or Guiness.
However, the Yuengling choice is an excellent one for novices. But no mention of the Belgian Whites at all!??! You can get Blue Moon and Hoegaarden EVERYWHERE in the USA and they sell like crazy at the local bars. It appears that even beer novices seem to dig their sweet and citrus-like taste over the usual bile-infused Bud/Miller/Coors/Michelob fare. - rugger, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12Its too bad the real starter beer for most people consists of natural light, keystone light, or any flavor of the beast. That stuff can be real nasty if you haven't developed the taste for beer yet. I will say however that I didn't really acquire my taste for beer until i spent a semester of college drinking nothing but keystone light.
- PokySharpy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Guinness has NOT changed their classic recipe for the USA. Confirmed straight from the brewmasters at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland when I visited in July. If it's called "Guinness Draught" or "Guinness Stout" it's the same thing you'll get out of the keg in Dublin. It's sold in bottles, cans, and kegs in America.
There is a Guinness Original/Extra Stout which is another brew altogether (the original original recipe), but Guinness Draught is the default classic stout in Ireland, UK, USA, Australia.
I don't know how this urban legend got started. Sheesh. - jsd8cc, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13My recommendations (sans Gunniess):
1) Newcastle - classic brown ale (one of my defaults)
2) McEwan's Scotch Ale - fabulous dark beer (stronger with 8% alcohol) with a unique flavor (almost has a wine taste to it)
3) Boddington's - sometimes described as "vanilla Gunniess"
4) Chimay - brewed by Belgian trappists, type of beer depends on which kind you get (I like the Blue)
5) Boulevard Wheat - made in Kansas City, probably only available in the midwest (another default for me) - bikeidaho, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Heineken is crap. Try something better like Bitburger or Pilsner Urquell.
- jbrevik, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Yea. Heineken is crap out of the bottle. In fact most German,Holland,Belgium beers taste like crap bottled. The key is trying to find the mini kegs. You wont even notice that you were drinking the same beer that came from the bottle.
- klibeson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6One of the first steps in appreciating the flavor of beer is understanding the history. Look up how beer got started and what makes a lager different from an ale. Understand the different temperatures of how they're made and how they were intended to be consumed. Too many people drink them as cold as possible and lose the flavor in the process. Also, watch out for folks that tell you what their favorite beer is. It's been my experience that they evolved their tastes long enough to get to that beer and if you try it as your first, you may be unpleasantly surprised to hate it. My recommendation on that one is that if you didn't like a beer three years ago and you've been drinking a lot of the same beer, try it again. Your tastes change over time.
- jbrevik, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I would also recommend RedHook or Fullers ESB. These may not be the favorites among ESB aficionados, but they are widely available and they are a good start to some of the other stouts and IPA's. My second choice would have to be Anchor Steam. Again widely available and damn good.
BTW. If you ever are faced with the choice of buying a German,Holland import beer, but the 5 litter kegs. 10x more flavor and a better bang for your buck. Warsteiner, Grolsh, and Heineken are all available in the 5 litter keg. - theblackgecko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5We didn't need the whole article....
But, I'd agree. All of these five (except for the Guinness, which lives in its own world) are considered substandard in Oregon. - stan205, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8If anyone really wants to enjoy beer they come to Portland, Oregon. The key excerpt from Wikipedia being "with 33 breweries within the city limits, Portland is home to more breweries than any other city in the world."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland%2C_Oregon#Beer
Beer
Portland and certain other Oregon cities (such as Hood River and Bend) are well-known for their beer. It is often said that Portland is the home of the microbrew revolution in the United States. Some illustrate Portlanders' interest in the beverage by an offer made in 1888, when local brewer Henry Weinhard volunteered to pump beer from his brewery into the newly dedicated Skidmore Fountain. However, the renown for quality beer dates to the 1980s, when state law was changed to allow consumption of beer on brewery premises. In short order, microbreweries and brewpubs began to pop up all over the city. Their growth was supported by the abundance of local ingredients, including two-row barley, over a dozen varieties of hops, and the pure water from Bull Run (a drainage basin of nearby Mount Hood).
Today, with 33 breweries within the city limits, Portland is home to more breweries than any other city in the world. The McMenamin brothers alone have over thirty brewpubs, distilleries, and wineries scattered throughout the metropolitan area, several in renovated theaters and other old buildings otherwise destined for demolition. Other notable Portland brewers include Widmer Brothers, Bridgeport, Full Sail, Hair of the Dog, and Pyramid (formerly Portland), and numerous smaller quality brewers. In 1999, author Michael "Beerhunter" Jackson called Portland a candidate for the beer capital of the world because the city boasted more breweries than Cologne, Germany. The Portland Oregon Visitors Association is promoting "Beervana" and "Brewtopia" as nicknames for the city.[4].
Portland hosts a number of festivals throughout the year in celebration of beer, including the Oregon Brewers Festival. Held each July, it is the largest gathering of independent craft brewers in North America. Other major beer festivals throughout the calendar year are: in April Spring Beer and Wine Festival, in July Portland International Beerfest and in December Holiday Ale Festival.
An unusual feature of Portland entertainment is the large number of movie theaters that serve beer, often with second-run or revival films. Examples include the Academy Theater, Bagdad Theater, Clinton Street Theater, Edgefield, Kennedy School, Laurelhurst Theater, and Mission Theater. - captwnder, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I would have to argue and say that Yuengling might be the best beer I've ever had. I would love a list of beers that are better so I can try them. We just recently got distribution for Yuengling in SC so it's still fairly new to me.
- NoAccounting4me, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I commented on the blog, but I'll add my thoughts here:
The list was for STARTER beers. Hard-core beer snobs with developed palates may love the Dogfish 120-minute IPA, but to somebody who's idea of an import is Corona or Hieneken, it won't make a beer fan out of them, it'll send 'em running for the hills.
Do I like the Belgian trappist ales? (Chimay, Roquefort, Orval, Westmalle, etc.) I love 'em, and think they're pretty close to Beervana. Would I recommend any of them as 'starter' beers to introduce someone to craft brewing? Good Lord no!
The idea is to suggest beers that
a.) are pretty widely available (sorry to hear that New Belgium beers aren't available back east...)
b.) have enough distinct flavor and character to be different from the standard swill, without being too complex or overwhelming.
Is Guiness a good starter beer? Maybe, but I think both Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout and Young's Double-Chocolate Stout are better "starter" beers, because they're different in flavor without being too much.
Is Chimay a good *starter* beer? No. New Belgium's "Abbey" is a better introduction to Belgian-style beers, with the Delirium Tremens being a nice 'second-beer', and then eventually working up to the Chimays and the Roqueforts. I put La Fin Du Monde in that "second-tier" category as well; it's a great beer, but it's a real mouthful to someone who is new to actually **tasting** beer instead of just drinking it as fast as possible.
Widmere's hefewietzen is a good starter beer, because it progresses well, leading to "El Hefe" from Hales Brewery, and then trying the Pauliner hefeweitzen import.
Do I like the Dogfish super-hoppy IPAs? Sure, but I would never start someone on them. Sierra Nevada makes a good _introduction_ (though Bridgeport's IPA is also a good starting point) to what IPAs can taste like. - porkstacker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Here are my contributions:
+ Stone Brewing Double Bastard Ale (seasonal, look for it this October)
+ Baltika Extra
+ Anchor Steam Brewing Co. Liberty Ale
+ Affligem Trippel
+ Rogue Brewing Co. Dead Guy Ale
+ Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
+ Spaten Oktoberfest
Avoid mass-produced American and Dutch beers, since they contain craploads of headache-inducing preservatives. - elektricki, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4http://duggmirror.com/offbeat_news/Beer_School_5_Starter_Beers/
- sdether, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4That's like saying "why work hard to learn how to drive a race car, I'm happy with my Civic". And that's fine. If you're doing it because you feel that others are expecting you to, then screw it, don't. But if you like beer and are curious if there are others that you might enjoy even more, even if it's not love at first taste, do try the progression.
I used to not like IPAs or ESBs. Too much hop bitterness. I didn't force myself to like them, but people suggested other beers of that type and now I've developed a love for the refreshing bite and the strong hop aroma good IPAs offer. Nothing about impressing others, but simply because it makes my tastebuds happy. - uttles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Hoegaarden puts Blue Moon to shame, in my opinion. To each his own though. One note: I wish we could get Hoegaarden Grand Cru (sic?) here, that stuff is amazing.
- WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Ugh, that's like the French answer to Budweiser... truly crap beer.
- Ndiggnation, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3As a person who loves stouts, and anything Irish in general (most of my favorite beers are Irish), I'd have to disagree. IMHO, it's a great beer for what it is. Sure, it's mass produced, but I think it's one of the best widely available macro brews.
There are much better stouts obviously, but Guinness is a macro brew that's head and shoulders above anything AB or Miller puts out. Most people I know that aren't into good beers like Guinness, and at least that's a start for them on their way to better beers.
I'd consider myself somewhat of a beer snob, but I still drink Guinness fairly regularly when I need/want a decent beer to fall back on when I don't want to go too exotic.
By the way, what would you recommend as far as Irish brews go? - DuraznosTJ, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Fat Tire - New Belgium Brewery Fort Collins, Colorado
YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - toconnor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"It is kosher to call the Traditional Lager simply “a Yuengling.”"
Actually, anywhere within a couple hours drive of Philadelphia it's simply "a lager". - WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I love that Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but lately, I've been sticking to a couple new favorites:
Kona: Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale - Top notch smoothness and flavor, check it out.
Lost Coast Brewery: Downtown Brown - A smooth, rich brown ale, all-time favorite.
Lagunitas Censored (Kronik) Ale - A sweet, smooth, and powerful ale, nice sippin' beer.
Honorable mention: Mendocino Red Tail Ale, Red Seal Ale, Spaten Optimator, Lost Coast 8-ball Stout, Sierra Nevada Octoberfest, ESB Red Hook. - blixel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3That doesn't surprise me at all. And confirms my belief that anything local is inherently uncool. You could import recycled piss from the International Space Station. And everyone would think "OMG! This is the best beer ever!!" ... because it's foreign to everyone.
And ISS beer would reign king.
At least until someone setup a brewery on the moon. - TheOther1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@ LordOfTheSponge
that stuff is nasty BECAUSE you have developed a taste for beer! Like comparing Cold Duck to Dom Perignon. - Kelmon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm presently a big fan of Kwak. OK, the glass for it is pretty stupid (in case you aren't familar with it, think mini yard of ale with a sort of wooden retort stand to hold it) but it's a great flavour. Mind you, I had a bottle of that and a Grimbergen last week and felt pissed for the rest of the evening. The beer here in Belgium is definitely something that I'll miss when my wife and I move back to the UK.
Belgian beer - where all the sugar turns to dynamite - awm4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The Redneck Top 5
Roll Tide.
1. Miller Lite
2. Bud Lite
3. Coors Lite
4. Corona
5. Milwaukee's Best - maino82, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3if anyone of you are ever swinging through state college, pa, stop by "zeno's." it's a bar with a program they call "around the world in 80 beers." they have about 160 different kinds of beers from all over the place (with about 15-20 on tap at any given time) and it's a great way to get introduced to different beers. personally, i'm a big young's oatmeal stout, otto's black mo stout and murphy's irish stout fan. for those of you who aren't big stout fans, i'd definitely recommend mcewan's scotch ale, yuengling (the lager and the porter are both excellent), and boddington's.
- reclusivemonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Hoegaarden is superb beer. One comment I read on a beer lovers forum said it all about this superb Belgian white beer;
"If it had *****, I'd marry it" - toasterwaffle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Indeed, Hoegaarden is my favourite, as well as those I've seen have it. I was disappointed not seeing it, but then again, screw beer school: self teach.
- jarielbs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I guess Belgians are not really starter beers but should be mentioned since they have a unique and wonderful flavor as well as a high alcohol content. My favorites are:
Chimay
Duval
Leffe Blonde
Delirium - mt066, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yea I was suprised no belgian wheat ales either. They are a huge difference from your average pilsner beer and everyone loves the taste. You'd think that would be a good one to open people''s eyes a bit.
- TheRealPod, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Redhook..... far from my favorite.
- drlha, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Its easily obtained in Florida. Actually in my experience a six pack in the Cocoa Beach Publix was cheaper than you can get a six pack anywhere in PA (mainly due to PA's archane laws on selling alcohol).
Its also sold on tap in some bars there as well. My experience outside of Cocoa Beach area is limited though, so I'm generalising it to the whole of Florida. However I believe Yuengling actually have a brewery in Tampa. - dancurranjr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2PockeySharp --- What was the recommended serving temp of Guinness in 1996 - what is it now?
How long should it take to pour a Guinness (and why?) in 1996 - How long now?
Both have changed - both affect flavor and body. I was at the factory in Dublin as well in March and I'm a member of the 1759 society. And a professional brewer.
It's changed. - Kelmon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Yeah, Guiness is nice but, boy heck, do you know when you've been drinking it the night before. Tastes great but makes you stink and there's a high probability that you'll blow the duvet off the bed during the night...
- trutwin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21. Grain Belt
2. Stroh's
3. Schlitz (yes I said Schlitz)
4. Old Milwaukee
5. Hamm's - clownguyx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The one that got me away from Coors Light, Bud Light, and so on, was Amberbock. That was my gateway beer.
- umfskibum, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Seconded, Rouge DGA is one of my faves.
- panicofficer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I heartily agree about Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout. My husband drinks that and it's one of the few that I like. I would also suggest Lambics (I prefer Framboise) for those with more discerning palates. :)
- ziggystardust, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2While most of the brew's you all are listing ARE indeed fantastic. They are not great starter beers. Someone looking to break out of the watered down taste of most American Domestic light beers needs a gradual change and jumping straight to Guinness will leave their them little more than a bitter taste.
Pale ales and wheat beer will introduce noobs to richer fuller flavors without scaring them back to Nasty Ice. - Lou3000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Here is my list
1. La Fin Du Monde - A Quebecois beer that is my favorite, fruitier with a higher alcohol content, but great. Easier and easier to find. When I lived in Quebec, it was a standard.
2. Seirra Nevada - For the general American Beer, Fat Tire for the more discerning
3. Guiness - This is kind of a must, Boddington's if you want to branch out
4. Red Stripe - hooray, beer!
5. Czechvar - The central European beer, known as Budvar there though as it is brewed in Ceska Budejovice and is the true original budweiser
Honorable Mention
Heineken - regardless of popularity it is still really good and drinkable
Victory Pils - Big American pilsners suck, that doesn't mean all American pilsners suck, kind of hard to find
Negra Modelo - this and the beach and good mexican food is great - umfskibum, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2no PBR?
- mt066, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Yuengling is a great one. I've been to their brewey in Pottsville, PA. It's very historic. They showed us this giant cave where they used to store the beer before refridgerators were invented. Prety cool. And of course, they give you some free Yuengling too.
- alexdagrate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is a pretty terrible list. An introduction to good beer should cover the different forms of beer, with some education thrown in. I also agree the history of beer is a good way to cover the spectrum. Maybe start off with some nice basic ales from the UK, then try some sort of tame amber or pale ale from the US, then maybe throw in an alt like Dead Guy or Alaskan Amber, then move to some nicer german lagers, then some Czech pils. Then, hop around a bit with some stout, some porter, and maybe once a person has gained enough appreciation for pale ale, introduce an IPA with some real bite.
-
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