New to craft beer please recommend

Kauto Star

Hi all, have been reading this forum over the last few nights and decided to give the craft beers a go. Looking for some recommendations to start me off. Going to get couple of different bottles from supermarket or off licence this weekend to start. Looking for something that won't break the bank but is still interesting. I'm currently your standard Guinness, Heineken, Carl'sberg, bulmers drinker. Will try anything. Please point me in the right direction, cheers

Lovely Bloke

What, from those four listed, is your favourite style?

Stout, Lager or Cider?

If it's stout, go and get some of the O'Hara's Stout, It's a good entry to craft beers, a familiar style to you, so you can compare the differences. Just remember, it won't be creamy like pints of Guinness are, more similar to a pint bottle.

If you like the lagers more, then you could try a IPA (Indian Pale Ale), they are usually full of hop flavours, and some really wallop you around the chops with the hoppiness, and that is not to everyone's taste.

Maybe start off with a Golden Ale, something like Troube Brewing Ór - it's quite similar to a lager, but with a more pronounced Malt profile.

Actually, pick up a few of each of the Trouble Brewing beers - they have a porter called Dark Arts which is delicious.

O'Hara's also do a Pale Ale, and a Red Ale both of which are quite good.

Martyn1989

Pick something from a range of styles, find out what you like, where will you be doing your shopping?

dan1895

Most of the fun is finding out what you like. I've been drinking craft beers for maybe two years and still wouldn't have a favorite. Pick up some beers in your local off licence, maybe just two or three and see what you enjoy or head to a bar that specialises in craft beers with a few friends and start picking things off the menu.

Happy drinking.

Kauto Star

Thanks for the replies.

Stout is definitely what I go for if having a few to really enjoy, lager more for a long session. I will have a lookout for O'haras stout and the Dark Arts tomorrow so.

I was planning on having a look in a fairly new off licence in Wexford where I live. It's a dirty looking old place full of different unusual bottles judging by looking in window one night when it was closed. If not any supermarket as all main ones are in town bar Superquinn.

Colonel Sanders

Kauto Star wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

Stout is definitely what I go for if having a few to really enjoy, lager more for a long session. I will have a lookout for O'haras stout and the Dark Arts tomorrow so.

I was planning on having a look in a fairly new off licence in Wexford where I live. It's a dirty looking old place full of different unusual bottles judging by looking in window one night when it was closed. If not any supermarket as all main ones are in town bar Superquinn.

You'll get O'Hara's in Dunnes & Tesco. I absolutely love their Leann Follain Stout. I can't think of anywhere in Wexford to get Fullers London Porter but its also gorgeous if you can get your hands on it. My local Dunnes sells Old Engine Oil (another nice one IMO) but no idea if all do

Where's the new off licence in Wexford? Are you in Wexford Town? If you drink in the sky & the ground Fischers Pils is well worth drinking. Although I get a serious hang over from it. If its a craft off licence then I'm sure the staff will be more than happy to chat & help you out

As another person posted just keep trying! I'm not an expert & wouldn't have tried nearly as many beers as others on here but like trying!!

GLaDOS

1+ on Dark Arts, O'hara's leann follain is great too.

I'm relatively new to craft beer as well, my advice is just dive in and approach everything with an open mind. My initial approach was to pick bottles with cool labels

Zebra3

http://www.beoir.org/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=search&Itemid=69

Not a great selection of bars in Co. Wexford for you OP, but something.

Lovely Bloke

Ah lads, Leann Folainn is a great beer, I love it, especially the cask version - but for someone totally new to Craft Beer?

I don't think so, it's such a departure from the likes of Guiness or Murphy's etc, and could be off putting. I mean, you'd never sit someone down and lash a BrewDog Hardcore IPA into them as their first taste of that style, would you?

Now, I know LF isn't some Russian Imperial monster stout, but it's still a fair bit outside the zone as to be unpalatable to someone new to the scene.

I like the recommendation of Old Engine Oil, but I wouldn't give someone an Ola Dubh.

I think the best way to get someone "into" Craft Beers is to recommend beers of a style you think they'd like, going by their current preferences, explain to them why you think they'd like it, tell them what to look out for - someone who drinks the mainstream lagers is going to recognise the hop flavour - someone who drinks Guinness is going to recognise the roasted barley flavour - even though those flavours are practically washed away in the Macro products, they are still there.

Something like Leann Folainn, or Hardcore, is not going to open up someone's taste buds, it's going to kick them from here to next week.

Small steps. You want someone to go "oh yeah, that's actually not to different from my regular XXXXX, think I'll stick with this, and maybe try something else a bit further down the taste line" rather than "Blaugh, wtf is that, gimme my guinness back!!"

BeerNut

TheNinthGate wrote: »

Small steps. You want someone to go "oh yeah, that's actually not to different from my regular XXXXX, think I'll stick with this, and maybe try something else a bit further down the taste line" rather than "Blaugh, wtf is that, gimme my guinness back!!"

There's something to be said for both approaches. I know people who have gradually widened their tastes by trying new but not very different things, but also plenty of people who've had a complete beer epiphany from drinking something radically different to what they're used to. Anyone who tries one new beer and refuses to try any more because they didn't like it probably wasn't going to do much exploring anyway.

From my experience doing tastings, the best gateway beer for someone looking to try something different from the mainstream brands is Goose Island IPA. I'd recommend it to the OP.

Losty Dublin

BeerNut wrote: »

There's something to be said for both approaches. I know people who have gradually widened their tastes by trying new but not very different things, but also plenty of people who've had a complete beer epiphany from drinking something radically different to what they're used to. Anyone who tries one new beer and refuses to try any more because they didn't like it probably wasn't going to do much exploring anyway.

I'd agree with this outlook. Some of the craft beers are very different to the palate compared to the better known beer brands and as the old line about Guinness goes, they are aquired tastes. Try a few at first and be open minded but please try them again a second time if you don't take to any of them at first.

When you mention Stout, Dungarvan's do them rather well IMO

twerg_85

BeerNut wrote: »

Anyone who tries one new beer and refuses to try any more because they didn't like it probably wasn't going to do much exploring anyway.

In general, people are risk averse. If you want to spread the good taste of finely crafted beers, slow and steady is probably the best way to go. If you have an individual who you know is looking for a particular taste, then the big bang approach works fine. You gotta know your target though.

I remember over in London 2 years ago with a bunch of lads drinking their stella. They were laughing at me as I orders my real ales. When I got a porter that looked like flat coke (and tasted as bad, I'm not a huge fan of craft stouts), they thought it was hilarious. I just moved onto the next one and was rewarded with a delicious ale. I can understand where they were coming from, they didn't want the risk of getting even one bad drink, whereas for me (like others have posted), trying is half the fun !

F.

BeerNut

twerg_85 wrote: »

If you want to spread the good taste of finely crafted beers, slow and steady is probably the best way to go.

I'd also recommend not using the phrase "finely crafted beers". It makes one sound like an advert.

Ruben Remus

For starters, I'd recommend the following:

* Chimay Red (a dark Trappist ale from Belgium, most good offies have it)

* Leffe Blonde (Belgian ale, widely available)

* Hoegaarden (Belgian wheat beer, widely available)

* Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (a reasonably hoppy beer from California, fairly widely available)

* O'Shea's pale ale and stout (brewed by the O'Hara's people in Carlow and sold exclusively in Aldi)

* Galway Hooker (a tasty Irish pale ale which is mostly found on draught but also in bottles in some offies)

* Theakston Old Peculier (dark and slightly sweet English ale, available in Tesco/Dunnes)

* Young's Double Chocolate Stout (also English, available in Tesco/Dunnes)

Tube

BeerNut wrote: »

From my experience doing tastings, the best gateway beer for someone looking to try something different from the mainstream brands is Goose Island IPA. I'd recommend it to the OP.

No, absolutely not! GI IPA is like PH's Hop Head, it's for people who have already had Galway Hooker, enjoy it, and want something more, a lot more!

Martyn1989

The beer that got myself and most of my friends off the Dutch Gold or Bavaria debate was Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Goose Island was one we tried and loved soon after.

People experience bitter, sour, sweet and rich things every day. You don't have to baby sit these people. A Leann Follain is alot richer and more complex then a Guinness but its not this insane eye watering experience its being made it to be.

OP should go and pick an American pale ale, an English bitter, some Irish stouts/reds/pales, something wheaty, something Belgian and just have at it.

Theres nothing wrong with buying a beer for the name/label. I do it and I am sure every regular poster here has done it.

MonkstownHoop

Martyn1989 wrote: »

The beer that got myself and most of my friends off the Dutch Gold or Bavaria debate was Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Goose Island was one we tried and loved soon after.

People experience bitter, sour, sweet and rich things every day. You don't have to baby sit these people. A Leann Follain is alot richer and more complex then a Guinness but its not this insane eye watering experience its being made it to be.

OP should go and pick an American pale ale, an English bitter, some Irish stouts/reds/pales, something wheaty, something Belgian and just have at it.

Theres nothing wrong with buying a beer for the name/label. I do it and I am sure every regular poster here has done it.

When i seen Banana Bread Beer i couldn't not buy it

Colonel Sanders

MonkstownHoop wrote: »

When i seen Banana Bread Beer i couldn't not buy it

I was the same. Completely sucked in!

Didn't like it though!

Kauto Star

You guys are certainly passionate about your beers, partly what's got me interested in trying it out.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get into town today and so only got to local village near me. Made some dodgy purchases too to make it worse. Got baltika 3, 5 and 7 on a deal in the petrol station. Also got Efes pilsner and Schneider Weiss original tap 7 from supermarket there. That's all that was there except a non alco erdinger.

Quick look on net suggests they all mass produced and bad tasting bar maybe the Schneider Weiss. Drinking the baltika 3 now. It's ok but nothing special. Hopefully the Schneider Weiss is better. Will try get into town tomorrow to get some of the stouts that were mentioned.

Kauto Star

Hey colonel sanders just to get back to you bout the new off licence. I was on about the one down beside the lotus house Chinese, think they actually own it. Prob 3 or 4 months old by this stage but still new to me as I haven't been in yet

Kauto Star

Ok tried the Schneider Weisse and that is certainly a lot different to anything I have tasted before. Not quite sure it's for me but will try a few more wheat beers before I reach a definite opinion. I dunno was it the taste of cloves that is described in it that I didn't take to or was it another sort of taste I didnt fully like. Like maybe a hint of Medicine like TCP or something like that in the background if that makes sense? When I tried simple root beer in America it tasted completely like TCP an was disgusting. I really do think there was a slight hint of this to this wheat beer but maybe just me.
A beautiful looking drink otherwise.
The mission is to get some stouts tomorrow to see how much they differ from Guinness

Lovely Bloke

Kauto Star wrote: »

The mission is to get some stouts tomorrow to see how much they differ from Guinness

And porters then.

Fuller's Black Cab Stout, if you can get it, is great. As is their London Porter.

Get some Old Engine Oil if you can, that's great.

As for the Irish offerings. OHara's Stout, Dungarvan Blackrock, OHara's Leann Folainn, Trouble Brewing Dark Arts Porter would all be very good examples of the style. Oh yeah, Porterhouse Plain is one of the best stouts available too.

Let us know what you pick up, before you drink them if you can - some stouts are more flavourful than others, and if you drink one of them first, it may make the next one seem bland.

Oh, one last thing to say.

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is very good.

Martyn1989

Kauto Star wrote: »

Ok tried the Schneider Weisse and that is certainly a lot different to anything I have tasted before. Not quite sure it's for me but will try a few more wheat beers before I reach a definite opinion. I dunno was it the taste of cloves that is described in it that I didn't take to or was it another sort of taste I didnt fully like. Like maybe a hint of Medicine like TCP or something like that in the background if that makes sense? When I tried simple root beer in America it tasted completely like TCP an was disgusting. I really do think there was a slight hint of this to this wheat beer but maybe just me.
A beautiful looking drink otherwise.
The mission is to get some stouts tomorrow to see how much they differ from Guinness

Theres no right or wrong answers when your trying a beer. Taste is completely subjective, the fact that your relating what your tasting back to stuff you've tasted in your daily life shows your thinking about it and means your probably going to be trying a very wide variety of beers in the near future. Even mistaking an odd hop flavour or a type of malt you havn't come across before for something else is alot less cringeworthy then the people who describe every beer they try as 'smooth' or 'refreshing' and think they know what their drinking.

Carawaystick

TheNinthGate wrote: »

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is very good.

As is ordinary bottled guinness. If you haven't drank a large bottle from the shelf before, it's worth getting one, so you know where you're at with other bottled stouts. They taste a lot more than draught stout.

Aldi have three irish beers, and weiss bier, which are also fairly tasty.

As you've probably worked out by now, it's a bit hit'n'miss, what you like and beer probably best getting some beer you know you'll like and some to experiment.

Ravelleman

I would buy one of each of O'Hara's varieties and a Pilsner Urquell to start things off.

O'Hara's stout, their IPA and Leann Follain are all excellent beers - some of my favourites. Their red ale is one of the better examples of the style, although I'm not particularly keen on 'Irish red ales'. Curim is something of a curiosity and is well worth a try - quite a fruity aroma but with a nice crisp finish that one might not normally expect from a wheat beer.

Pilsner Urquell is an established classic and although not a craft beer it's really hard to beat. If you want something from a micro then you could try Tom Crean.

JessePinkman

There is a new pilsner in Cork Sunbeam it's called and its spot on,Not too overpowering..not sure what his plans are with distribution though

Bigtoe107

8 Degrees Pilsner is better than Creans imo. I find Creans a bit hit and miss, some bottles are grand and some taste like stale heineken.

I agree with the O'Haras suggestion they are all very good beers and a good first step into craft beer drinking. OP have you tried any craft cider? Some of it is absolutely gorgeous and that's coming from a non cider drinker.

Kauto Star

Right, have picked up 2 from porterhouse (oyster and wrasslers), o haras leann follain and theakstons old peculiar.

Going to have a couple of them now....mouths watering at the prospect already

Kauto Star

Bigtoe107 wrote: »

8 Degrees Pilsner is better than Creans imo. I find Creans a bit hit and miss, some bottles are grand and some taste like stale heineken.

I agree with the O'Haras suggestion they are all very good beers and a good first step into craft beer drinking. OP have you tried any craft cider? Some of it is absolutely gorgeous and that's coming from a non cider drinker.

Didnt even think about craft cider! I dunno, I just seem to have a belief that craft beers may well be much better than the macro stuff but didn't really think this way for cider. Is mass produced cider made in a different way to craft cider or does it just have extra crap added to it or something? Could be worth trying too

Lovely Bloke

Yeah, craft ciders have this thing where they taste like apple, it's a weird concept these crafty types have happened upon!

JessePinkman

Bigtoe107 wrote: »

8 Degrees Pilsner is better than Creans imo

Jesus i find that the total opposite find the 8 degrees pilsner quite bitter,Creans is a great beer to introduce urself to craft beer,its very similar to the macro lagers on the market so a good beer to start your craft beer journey with.