subject: How To Discover Craft Beers Without Getting Bitter [print this page] I meet people every week who like to drink beer; over 21 of course. But too many of these folks are only enjoying light beers at the end of the watery scale. Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing bad about drinking lighter beers in general, but what are you missing?
What you are missing are the wonderful, full flavored craft brews that are being made all around the United States and the world these days. But you can't just go jumping from a light, refreshing Mexican beer with a lime, to a thick, malty Porter Stout. You have to progress.
Here are some tips for enjoying beers in a progressive and fun manner.
First off, decide on what beers you like currently and use them as a baseline. Look at the alcohol content and the smoothness of the taste. Some people call this "drinkability." If you decide that the lighter Mexican beers are you starting point, then work up from there. Some of you, however, may start out with heavier ales or lagers, and that's fine too. The idea is to work up from where you start.
Next time you go to a bar, ask the bartender to let you sample some Belgian Style Wheat beers. These are usually light, sweet beers with a bit of pungency to them. These make a great transition from the lighter Amercian style beers, into something more. There are also Belgians that are darker and hoppier, but still retain their smooth character.
Next, you should jump right into something hoppy. This will really shock your system and give you a reason to enjoy the deeper notes of beers that are brewed with bitterness and higher alcohol content. The best hopped up beers are called India Pale Ales, abbreviated IPA. These beers were taken on European sailing ships in the 1800s because their higher hops and alcohol would keep the brew from spoiling on long voyages. I'd drink it just because of that!
Finally, you can can into something over the top. Some Irish stouts have super malt and heavy hops balanced. If you go for an Imperial Stout, you will hit the ultimate high malt, high hops and high alcohol, the perfect storm in brewing!
I hope that you will decide to discover all the great craft brews that are available to you these days. Stop limiting your beer! There are a lot of talented people out there making incredible brews everyday! You never know what you are missing.
