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[codswallop]

I'm a beer virgin, 37 years old, never had a beer.

I hated beer until my late 20s. Couldn't stand the stuff. At one point I realised it was because I was drinking the wrong beer. Once I found beer I liked, there was no turning back.

My advice? Go to a specialist shop, and buy a bottle each of a few very different styles (pilsner, Belgian strong, IPA, saison, lambic, porter, nut brown, witbier, wheat beer, dubbel). A good shop will be willing to share their knowledge, if you tell them the sorts of flavours you like. If you can't find something you like in all those styles, you're probably a lost cause, beer wise. Honestly, the styles can be so different it's not even really the same drink.

You can get beers that are like thick dark chocolate and ones that are like champagne, and everything in between. You'll find one you like, if you're willing to wade through a bunch you don't. And don't try the cheap swill, it'll just turn you off. A good example would be trying cheap whiskey like Johnnie walker versus something like Macallan.

 

[mcfrank]

Reminder to LA Beer Gaf, Pliny the Younger taps today at 38 degrees in Alhambra. Here is the full schedule for LA/OC

 

[TheBrain76]

So you've never even had a Miller Light or Coors or something basic like that?

I would try these:

Blue Moon - This is a wheat beer, usually beer drinkers move up from your basic Miller to try this and then to better wheat beers. Also try something like: Goose Island 312, Bell's Oberon, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Hofbräu Hefeweizen

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - this is a gateway beer into pale ales, and then hoppier beers like IPAs. Like this? Try something like Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Three Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale, Deschutes Red Chair NWPA

New Belgium Fat Tire - This is an Amber Ale, so it's a bit darker, more flavor.

Guinness - a good beginners stout. Like this? Try Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

I think if you like what you taste you can move up to more intense beers. If you go all out and try something too unique at first you may be put off.

Nope. The smell is/was always too off-putting.

Dang. It's really easy to end up liking beer. I'm a novice, but maybe something like a Sam Adams Boston Lager might be a decent start. Stouts and porters can be awesome too, but I don't know how a good one would go over as a first beer.

Working on the last bottle of a Founders Pale Ale pack myself. Pretty good.

I'm intrigued by lagers and stouts, so I'm glad to see some suggested.

I hated beer until my late 20s. Couldn't stand the stuff. At one point I realised it was because I was drinking the wrong beer. Once I found beer I liked, there was no turning back.

My advice? Go to a specialist shop, and buy a bottle each of a few very different styles (pilsner, Belgian strong, IPA, saison, lambic, porter, nut brown, witbier, wheat beer, dubbel). A good shop will be willing to share their knowledge, if you tell them the sorts of flavours you like. If you can't find something you like in all those styles, you're probably a lost cause, beer wise. Honestly, the styles can be so different it's not even really the same drink.

You can get beers that are like thick dark chocolate and ones that are like champagne, and everything in between. You'll find one you like, if you're willing to wade through a bunch you don't. And don't try the cheap swill, it'll just turn you off. A good example would be trying cheap whiskey like Johnnie walker versus something like Macallan.

That is the most intimidating part. When I try something new, especially food or drink, I'm always overly concerned with finding the best representation of whatever I'm trying. Example: The first time I had a Long Island Iced Tea it was great (it had a kind of citrus taste). I ordered a second one and it tastes like a completely different drink not bad, but not worth whatever they were charging. Later I was telling my mother-in-law about it and she said that they're supposed to taste more like the second one and that there's no citrus taste to the drink at all. I don't know so I just don't order them anymore because I don't want to spend money on a roll of the dice.

Anyway, I know I WAY over think this stuff, but I appreciate the advice so far and will post results when I finally test the waters.

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

Picked up the favorites and a new friend at Total Wine, gonna enjoy this 4 day weekend quite a lot.

Also tried a totally new beer last night, Founders' Backwoods Bastard Ale. Ale aged in oak bourbon barrels, so strong and intense jesus christ. One of the murkiest, thickest brews I've ever had to stuff down. Delicious, but man it's like one step away from being some kind of meat marinade.

 

[Link]

This is how I weened myself onto beer:

Malt beverages (Mike's, etc.) -> Miller Lite -> Yuengling -> Everything else

Come at me, bros!

 

[mcfrank]

The line for the first Pliny the Younger tapping in LA county for 2013.

Edit: they passed out tickets. I am 115 out of 340 servings they are offering.

 

[t-ramp]

The line for the first Pliny the Younger tapping in LA county for 2013.

Edit: they passed out tickets. I am 115 out of 340 servings they are offering.

Did you take that picture?

 

[distantmantra]

Also tried a totally new beer last night, Founders' Backwoods Bastard Ale. Ale aged in oak bourbon barrels, so strong and intense jesus christ. One of the murkiest, thickest brews I've ever had to stuff down. Delicious, but man it's like one step away from being some kind of meat marinade.

Hot damn, that's a lot of trub.

 

[mcfrank]

Did you take that picture?

Yep. Been in line for 2.5 hours about to sit down now.

 

[distantmantra]

Yep. Been in line for 2.5 hours about to sit down now.

It's good, but not THAT good. Enjoy, though!

 

[eudaemonic]

Dammit. Having a hard time locating a peche n Brett. If anyone is in Southern California and might be interested in trading something out of the Horders Society, let me know. I'll have some Sour in the Rye Peach I can swap.

 

[mcfrank]

Dammit. Having a hard time locating a peche n Brett. If anyone is in Southern California and might be interested in trading something out of the Horders Society, let me know. I'll have some Sour in the Rye Peach I can swap.

It is going to be pretty tough to find at this point, but more is coming later this year allegedly. I have a few bottles, but I don't think I would trade for anything from The Bruery. I might be open to a different trade though. PM me (I am in Pasadena)

 

[mcfrank]

I had pretty much the best beer day ever.

Started with the Russian River pale ale flight - Row 2 Hill 56, Blind Pig, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger

Then I had a My Bloody Valentine, followed by a full switch to sours/brett beers. I had an Allagash Interlude (amazing), a Bear Republic Cuvee de Bubba (so/so), and finally a Russian River Sanctification (Holy hell, amazing)

I love living in LA with access to all of these amazing beers.

 

[Giant Robot]

couldnt make it out to my friends restaraunt today that was tapping Pliny The Younger, but he will be doing it again tomorrow! Same concept as Mcfrank posted above. Tickets at 11am.

Here's his IPA list for tomorrow:

• Russian River- Pliney the younger
• Drakes- Black Label Hopocalypse
• Russian River- Pliney the Elder
• Drakes- White Label Hopocalypse
• Fifty-Fifty brewing- S.S. Steiner experimental IPA
• Dogfish Head- 120 Minute IPA
• Deschutes- Hop Henge experimental IPA
• Green FLash- Palate Wrecker DIPA
• 101-North brewing- Heroin IPA
• Tap It brewing- IPA (GABF GOLD Medal Winnrer!)
• Stone and Drakes collaboration- 1/4 century problems
• The Brewery Abigaile- DIPA
• Sierra Nevada Collaboration- Hop Harmony
• Newport Brewing- straight outta Newport IPA
• Knee Deep and Boulder collaboration- Shakenbake Rye.P.A
• Sea Bright Brewing- THe Blur DIPA
• Lagunitas- Maximus
• Almanac- Single Origin Chinook IPA
• Karl Strauss- Tower 20 DIPA
• Firestone Walker- Double Jack
• Mission Brewing- Shipwrecked DIPA
• Uinta- Detour DIPA
• Ballast POint- Big Eye (NITRO)
• Coronado Brewing- Islander IPA
• STONE- Ruination
• Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery- Organic IPA
• Port Brewing- Mongo DIPA
• Firestone Walker- Wookey Jack Black rye.P.A
• Ballast POint- Sculpin
• Dogfish Head- 90 minute IPA
• Widmer Borthers- Falconers IPA
• Ninkasi- Tricerahops
• Hermitage- Single-hop Galaxy
• Devils Canyon- California Sunshine IPA

 

[codswallop]

Had two Victorian (Australia) beers last night:

Southern Bay - Le Petit Tronc (a brett-ish saison):

Really enjoyed this one. For a new brewery they're pumping out quality beers.

Hop Dog - C-Bomb (American style IIPA, 150IBU):

Good, not great. The high bitterness wasn't overpowering.

 

[DimmuBurgerKing]

This is how I weened myself onto beer:

Malt beverages (Mike's, etc.) -> Miller Lite -> Yuengling -> Everything else

Come at me, bros!

I think most of us started out with stuff like that. The major macrobrews and such.

Hell, the first beer I actually bought for myself at 21 was Bud Ice. The reason? The "chunky" bottle shape. I couldn't even finish it. At high school parties and shit, it was always PBR or Miller High Life. Nobody cared about the flavor, of course, at that age.

I credit Guinness and Newcastle Brown Ale as the two that first opened my eyes to the world of beer beyond Coors/Miller/Anheuser-Busch.

 

[PG2G]

Managed to find Founder's Breakfast Stout for the first time in LA, kind of excited to give it a try. I don't really think it sees distro out here.

 

[distantmantra]

It is going to be pretty tough to find at this point, but more is coming later this year allegedly.

The second batch already hit Portland last week, not sure if it's leaving Oregon.

 

[nicoga3000]

I wish I could explain how amazing this local brewery is. They do tappings every 2 weeks or so. They brewed my favorite sour EVER about 4 weeks ago. They tapped a quad 2 weeks ago, and they're tapping a Session IPA tonight. The beer this place does is FANTASTIC, and it's really affordable. If there are any Indiana beer folks in here...

 

[Cr0wn0]

Dammit. Having a hard time locating a peche n Brett. If anyone is in Southern California and might be interested in trading something out of the Horders Society, let me know. I'll have some Sour in the Rye Peach I can swap.

Arizona is supposed to get a decent allocation of this sometime soon. Unfortunately lately the beer kings in my area have been buying out the entire supply of some of the rarer beers before the rest of us even hear they are out. If I can get some i'll let you know. I work from home so I'm usually guaranteed a few bottles since I can run out right away and I can goto multiple places.

 

[eudaemonic]

The second batch already hit Portland last week, not sure if it's leaving Oregon.

I'll keep an eye out then. Gonna hit my bottle shop sometime this week to look for it as well. Sometimes I just have crappy timing.

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

Apologies for the shitty cellphone pic, but I don't have anything better atm to take shots with. Just got home from hanging out with some pals for the long weekend and this is what I have left from the trip to Total Wine. They stopped selling Ommegang in my home area and it's been killing me since they are my favorite brewery, so I made sure to stock up. Also grabbed the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye as well as Unibroue's La Fin du Monde. After GAF's love for the latter I knew I had to pick up at least a bottle to try. Will report back with my experience as well as some other reviews/notes later this week.

 

[distantmantra]

I'll keep an eye out then. Gonna hit my bottle shop sometime this week to look for it as well. Sometimes I just have crappy timing.

The second batch is also oakier and has less peach flavor. The bottles from batch 2 for 2013 have black caps.

 

[nicoga3000]

I tried a Session IPA tonight. It was not good. WAY too bitter. I love me some IPA goodness, but this was just not right.

 

[mcfrank]

Apologies for the shitty cellphone pic, but I don't have anything better atm to take shots with. Just got home from hanging out with some pals for the long weekend and this is what I have left from the trip to Total Wine. They stopped selling Ommegang in my home area and it's been killing me since they are my favorite brewery, so I made sure to stock up. Also grabbed the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye as well as Unibroue's La Fin du Monde. After GAF's love for the latter I knew I had to pick up at least a bottle to try. Will report back with my experience as well as some other reviews/notes later this week.

Nice haul

 

[DimmuBurgerKing]

Apologies for the shitty cellphone pic, but I don't have anything better atm to take shots with. Just got home from hanging out with some pals for the long weekend and this is what I have left from the trip to Total Wine. They stopped selling Ommegang in my home area and it's been killing me since they are my favorite brewery, so I made sure to stock up. Also grabbed the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye as well as Unibroue's La Fin du Monde. After GAF's love for the latter I knew I had to pick up at least a bottle to try. Will report back with my experience as well as some other reviews/notes later this week.

I seriously love me some Three Philosophers. La Fin is great, too, though. Nice haul!

 

[VALIS]

Had my first expensive beer drainpour yesterday, a bomber of The Breury's Autumn Maple. Seems I bought this accidentally given I don't like heavy sweetness in beer, and this was ridiculously sweet. Tried to drink it, tried to pawn it off on my wife, no sale. Down the drain. Felt sad. But I could not drink 22oz. of a beer that tasted like maple syrup.

I practically hiss at that Rogue Donut Maple Bacon every time I walk by it in a store. Chocolate, dark fruits, citrus fruits, nuts, these are all good food flavorings for beer. Donuts, maple syrup, bacon, barbeque are fucking not.

 

[distantmantra]

Rogue's Voodoo Donut collab beer is a overpriced piece of crap.

 

[distantmantra]

Went on a five mile run this evening and then stopped in at my neighborhood pub for a glass of Boneyard's Notorious IPA3. 13.5% ABV but damn is it balanced well.

 

[DimmuBurgerKing]

Rogue's Voodoo Donut collab beer is a overpriced piece of crap.

It was pretty vile.

 

[HiResDes]

Today's haul...New Albion Ale isn't flashy at all, but there's an odd depth to its simplicity.

 

[PG2G]

So, I picked up a mini-growler (32 oz) of Alesmith's Vietnamese Speedway Stout. I drank some of it over the weekend, but there is no way in hell I'm drinking a beer with vietnamese coffee in it on a weekday night. Any ideas how long it'll last? It has a twist on top

 

[HiResDes]

So, I picked up a mini-growler (32 oz) of Alesmith's Vietnamese Speedway Stout. I drank some of it over the weekend, but there is no way in hell I'm drinking a beer with vietnamese coffee in it on a weekday night. Any ideas how long it'll last? It has a twist on top

Drink in the morning, wuss

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

So, I picked up a mini-growler (32 oz) of Alesmith's Vietnamese Speedway Stout. I drank some of it over the weekend, but there is no way in hell I'm drinking a beer with vietnamese coffee in it on a weekday night. Any ideas how long it'll last? It has a twist on top

It's probably already bad. Those twist tops are the worst.

 

[Seth C]

So, I picked up a mini-growler (32 oz) of Alesmith's Vietnamese Speedway Stout. I drank some of it over the weekend, but there is no way in hell I'm drinking a beer with vietnamese coffee in it on a weekday night. Any ideas how long it'll last? It has a twist on top

If you hadn't opened it, maybe it would have lasted till the weekend...if it was very well carbonated to begin with. If you like flat stout it's no problem!

 

[PG2G]

Awww damn. *Goes to pour a glass*

Yeah, definitely doesn't taste like it did Saturday night.

 

[Seth C]

Awww damn. *Goes to pour a glass*

Good man.

 

[thespot84]

in case if you're wondering if your favorite brand is owned by a multinational:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/19/172323211/beer-map-two-giant-brewers-210-brands

 

[distantmantra]

in case if you're wondering if your favorite brand is owned by a multinational:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/19/172323211/beer-map-two-giant-brewers-210-brands

Not a single one.

Heard the story this morning on the radio, good job as always.

 

[PG2G]

Can't tell if buzzed or wired on caffeine... or both :/ Going to be a long night lol

 

[Mr.Swag]

Just made myself an awesome taco while drinking some beers.
Beer + food is awesome.

 

[distantmantra]

Can't tell if buzzed or wired on caffeine... or both :/ Going to be a long night lol

Coffee beers typically don't have very much coffee in them, so you're buzzed. ;-)

 

[Scratch]

Coffee beers typically don't have very much coffee in them, so you're buzzed. ;-)

coffee beer tastes...weird.

 

[B For Bendetta]

This time of year is awesome. Schlafly is phasing out their winter styles but always brews too much so they have cases for twenty bucks. I'll pay five bucks for a six pack all day long. Picked up their Winter ESB, one of my favorites. Not too shabby

 

[DimmuBurgerKing]

Finally got to drink a bottle of this:

Honestly one of the better balanced IPA's I've had the pleasure of tasting. Grade A in my book!

 

[fenners]

Coffee beers typically don't have very much coffee in them, so you're buzzed. ;-)

Yep It's typical to have less than a pint of brewed coffee in 5 gallons. That's nothing.

I *love* Jester King's various coffee stouts. Their Whiskey Barrel Rodeo is possibly my favourite beer & I *need* to brew up a batch myself.

http://jesterkingbrewery.com/beers/#beers_251

 

[Nostalgic Nightmare]

Today's haul...New Albion Ale isn't flashy at all, but there's an odd depth to its simplicity.

Des can you describe this beer for me? Ive seen it quite a few times and loved the box, it also looked like the bottles were longer but maybe thats just me. Anywho id be curious how it is, but didnt want to get a whole sixer first.

On an aside i finally tried golden monkey and damn, after 2 i was feeling pretty good. That one is going into the rotation for sure.

 

[nicoga3000]

Finally got to drink a bottle of this:

Honestly one of the better balanced IPA's I've had the pleasure of tasting. Grade A in my book!

Hopslam is a pretty solid IPA. I wish the session I had on Monday tasted more like this, but what can you do?

 

[HiResDes]

Des can you describe this beer for me? Ive seen it quite a few times and loved the box, it also looked like the bottles were longer but maybe thats just me. Anywho id be curious how it is, but didnt want to get a whole sixer first.

On an aside i finally tried golden monkey and damn, after 2 i was feeling pretty good. That one is going into the rotation for sure.

It's nothing spectacular, especially if you don't give a chance to develop on your palette. It's crisp, light, slightly bitter, but not very hoppy. It has depth, but none of its supplementary ingredients are thrown in your face. The carbonation that hit initially is quite pleasant. On the way down I can taste notes of some sort of kickin spice, wild hops, and possibly some orange. It's a wonderful session beer, because of its restraint, and ability to seemingly enhance the palette rather than destroy it. I also think it would pair extremely well with salty and spicy dishes.

 

[Tunic]

Picked up Firestone Walker Sucaba 2013 to enjoy tonight. Very excited to finally get around to trying it. Also picked up a couple of bottles of Deschutes Hop Henge which I have had before but it was restocked at my bottle shop. I love beer!