What's a good beer for a beginner?
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M$14 Answers
I actually started my beer tasting as a child on hot summer weekends when my Dad would give me a sip of Narragansett or Hull's, which were both essentially New England micro-breweries (okay, moderate-breweries) and no longer around (I believe), but I still remember the flavor of Narragansett. Have yet to find another that is similar. Too bad. Not that it was necessarily an aficionados brand, but there was something very clean about the flavor.
I happen to like pale blonds or heavy dark ales. (Weird, I know.) Some favorites include:
Modelo (especial and negra)
Summer Sam (Samuel Adams)
Smithwicks (pronounced smIdiks or smItiks)
Micro brews are a great adventure. One day I'd like to travel the world micro-brewery by micro-brewery. In Germany it's pretty cool because each town (or general vicinity) has "their brewery" and that's what everyone in the area drinks/supports.
There are many fabulous beers (as @albanian can tell you) - way better than the few I mentioned. But as suggested above, try a lot of them out and find the one(s) for you. Don't assume that just because you're a "beginner" that you should start with light beers. Actually, that might turn you off altogether if your palette prefers a creamier essence versus acidic. Just be adventuresome and don't force yourself to drink one you don't like just because you paid for it. Beer is like any fine food/drink - it's meant to be savored, not justified.
Beer is a great beverage! Have fun discovering it.
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M$
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M$
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M$Personally, I like best highly hopped double and triple IPA's and the like.These are not for beginners. But, just as a super strong, bitter beer is not for beginners, neither is a cheap, mass market tasteless beer.
The intrinsic, main, characteristic tastes of beer are hops and barley malt. Barley malt is much more, well, accessible than hops. For an all around beginner, I would recommend a beer which introduced the flavors of malt and of hops, with an emphasis on the malt. The Dutch brown beers are low alcohol and were intended for nursing mothers and infants. Although medical advice has changed, they would be good beginning beers for all ages. Austrian beers, again strong in malt rather than hops, and British milds and Nut Brown Ales would also be good for beginners. All of these styles are also brewed by USA craft breweries.
Stop and think about other items of gourmet interest. If someone from the Orient wanted to learn about Western baking and pastries, would you recommend they start with Twinkies and Little Debbies? I hope not! There are good examples in all fields, and likewise bad examples of mass market trash. When it comes to beer, there are lots of accessible brews. To use another analogy, in classical music you don't have to enjoy Cage, or even Stravinsky. Try Tchaikovsky or Beethoven - they are easy to appreciate. But that doesn't mean anyone should listen to pop or rap. Trash is trash. And if you call me elitist I will consider it a complement.
The following video should be required watching for all Mahalo folks.
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M$
the whole point of my comment is that you don't start off with the more complicated things of anything. Just like learning a new skill, you start with little baby steps and what you do know about the skill. Eventually you grow a little and become more adventurous. As you explore your new skill and ability, you take on more complicated variations of it. But if someone who is an expert with the skill you are trying to learn tells you that you should skip all the baby steps and be able to compete with the pros immediately then you tend to be a little disappointed and let down because you weren't nurtured in a safe environment then. You don't start out a pro at anything, never... so why start out with a more constructed beer? This is why I always recommend someone start out with the easily recognizable, no matter what it is they want. Hockey players don't start off in the pros, they start off as children learning how to skate, they join the local team, then they play for minors, working their way up into a position on a farm team if they are lucky. Eventually they get to the pros.
Kind of the same thing.
I'm going to consider this argument done, we've both had some great points. It's not worth having a meltdown over, and honestly I don't really care to get into it.
but I would definetely buy a beginner a double malt one, preferebly red, I suggest:
Harp Strong, John Martin's
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M$
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M$
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M$Colopure Cleanse Review
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M$
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M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
ah molson canadian, it's Canada's water and the label proves it. Kokanee, if considered for drinking, should be done at as cold a temperature as possible.
Coming from a country with a very large number of beer types per capita (Belgium), I need to add some Belgian beers to the mix that are exported. E.g. Witte van Hoegaarden or Leffe.
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M$
(where did all the Corona Fans come from?)
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M$
The two beers that I would highly recommend are: Carlsberg and Stella Artois (red label is most common). I'm really surprised no one has mentioned these because these are some of the best beers in the world, AND they can be found in most stores/bars/restaurants in the US. These are a reasonable value, and knock any American brew out of the water. Carlsberg is a fantastic Danish beer, while Stella Artois is Belgian. Both have nice balanced taste, and make a nice conversation piece too (not being pretentious-just drinking good beer). I took a group of friends out last evening, and introduced them to Carlsberg, which was on tap-my buddy Josh left with his new favorite beer, thanks to my advice. Another buddy studied in Copenhagen, and drinking Carlsberg reminded him of all the good times abroad-he doesn't even like beer, but LOVES Carlsberg.
Most often, one of these two will be on "draft" or "on tap" at any reasonable bar-meaning that they come straight out of a fresh and delicious keg, at the proper serving temperature, and on display with the tap handle-it's like a menu of beer for the whole bar to see, making it very easy-order with confidence.
I would recommend either Carlsberg or Stella Artois so highly to anyone, I would take the $2.14 as a guarantee to buy you your first one. I am that confident you'll love it. Love the beer you drink, and responsibly! Good Luck!
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M$*edited by staff*
Anyway, stick to corona's or try something like bud or bud light. I myself drink molson canadian, and have for as long as I can remember, just my prefference.
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M$
I don't feel bad about voting down this lousy answer because it is so rude.
Useful as this answer is, voting it down for the rudeness and name calling.
chris you should not have not voted Digi's Q down!
Digi worked in the industry, so did I, He's right.
I don't know what Albanian along with his bear friend were drinking...but it was definetily no corona, bud or coors.
call it a lousy answer if you want albanian, but I've worked in many bars and clubs over the last 10 years. These guys are out there and they are far worse than you think.
Aside from that, I realize there isn't a sarcasm meter on the internet, so I could see how the humour might be lost on some people... perhaps if you read it as if a comedian was telling it to you then you might change your mind.
Apart from the jab at the mirco brew nuts (which was actually meant to be a satirical joke) the rest of the post is actually what I've always said to all newcomers to alcohol.
To Alb...Since you just deNigrated Mexican beer...I am "forced" to ask you what beer do you have in "albania"
I don't think much of your taste in humor either. There are legitimate answers to this question, and they don't include bud or corona.
Digital's answer was not within the bounds of a polite Mahalo answer. He has toned it down now without the vulgarity.
As a general thing I do not play favorites, there are thousands of great beers! Two that are recently widely available are Arrogant Bastard from Stone and He-brew RIPA. They are great beers; but, not for beginners. Something like a Dutch Brown beer, or maybe NewCastle Nut Brown Ale would be among the good choices for youngsters learning about beer.
The original answer was vulgar, resulting apparently in it being "edited by staff". They neglected to edit out Corona as a vulgar excuse for a beer, especially if you stick a citrus slice in it. If you are forced to drink Mexican beer try Negra Modelo. Otherwise stick to Margaritas south of the border.
You obviously don't know squat about beer.
see elitist....
beer for many, is a means to an end. If it wasn't then budweiser wouldn't be the number one selling beer in the world and it would taste a heck of a lot better.
I've tasted and enjoyed many beers and had made it my mission a few years back to drink the micro brew wall at my local liquor store. We all have a flavour we prefer, I just let the beginners know that it's best to start off with the obvious choices and then work your way into more refined flavours. Not everyone likes a honey ale or some other flavour. Most people I know who tried the beers made with wheat last year (due to the barley shortage) sincerely did not like them, but there were a few who LOVED them. Take it easy guys and realize that most people get on a brand they like and then they stay there (see budweiser)
What vulgarity Al?
It's a compliment if you worked in the industry. You just did not get the joke!
good point Digital...Bud isn't bad. I prefer Coors...I wonder though what Albanian's favorite beer is...
I don't know if it was the one you tried; but, back in the '70's Narragansett Porter was probably the best beer brewed south of Canada. As a porter, a brown, malty not so hoppy beer, it would be a great starting beer if it were still around. It may be, the Narragansett brand name has been taken over by the same retro-style marketer as Pabst. But more widely available and better these days is Anchor Porter.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/213/34544
Nancy it's true...de gustibus non disputandum est! We can talk and debate about tastes but you can't impose them to someone who doesn't share them. You just accept it and that's it. It's a matter of culture, not intelligence.
Thanks for the Narragansett tip. I'm on it!