Beer recommendation for someone trying to develop a taste for beer (moving away from cider)

siblers

Hi

I'm not much of a drinker but when I drink, it's cider. I'm trying to move away from cider as its too much sugar over the course of a night and I drink it like water when I do drink which isn't ideal

I've never really developed a taste for beer (never liked the taste) but would like to give it another go. Any suggestions for something light/sweet/flavoured? Preferably wheat free if possible. Don't really care if its IPA, larger, beer etc

Thanks

BeerNut

Where do you tend to buy your beer/cider? Pub, supermarket, off licence chain?

L1011

Well, what's available where you regularly drink? There isn't much use recommending something you can never get.

For home drinking, Lidl/Supervalu/Tesco/others (and some pubs) sell Rye River Lil' Banging / McGargles Darraghs Session IPA (these are the same product, they are mid a branding replacement) which is a fairly light but flavourful 3.8% IPA.

There are sweeter lagers, from memory Estrella which is quite available in shops these days is one but its been a while.

siblers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048425#Comment_119048425

I'll be heading out Saturday so will get a couple of bottles from the local off licence first. They look to have a huge selection of beers

Black Sheep

Based on your asking for something light / sweet flavoured I would be tempted to just try a few different lagers as a jumping off point. Get them really, really cold, and attempt to drink them "like water" as you do with you cider.

I'm a big fan of hoppier beers but if you've been drinking sweet ciders I just see the flavour profiles as too different. If you did like dry ciders could could try a very dry IPA and see what you thought, but if you want to train yourself on beers then lagers drank cold might be the most accessible option?

Royale with Cheese

I started on cider when I was younger and when I switched to beer it was the fairly bland stuff like Miller at first, as said above drink it as cold as possible. I pretty much only drink Guinness in the pub these days and for bottled beer at home I'd go for one of the Munich Helles lagers like Spaten. Spaten could be an option as it's quite light tasting but it's strong enough at 5.2% too, if you drink these like water you will end up absolutely smashed. I still don't like hoppy beers like IPA and I'm pushing 40 at this stage, don't think I ever will.

BeerNut

White Hag's Little Fawn is a great go-to session IPA, nicely tropical tasting, and tends to be anywhere that has a decent beer selection. The Porterhouse has a Chocolate Truffle Stout around at the moment which is fun. Both are cans rather than bottles -- most beers are these days.

munchkin_utd

+1 for Spaten.

I am out foreign. I have lost count of the amount of "non beer drinkers" who land out for a visit and look for cider (thinking its an international drink because they also have it in England) which isnt available , baulk at the price of spirits, and then hesitently try some Helles style beer and are stunned that its actually drinkable.

In Ireland Spaten is often at a reasonable enough price and because its part of the Stella/ Budweiser group widely available. If they have that in a shop they'll often have franziskaner weissbier (wheat beer, cloudy, actually somewhat fruity and quite sweet) from the same brewery, and if they have that then you may see Paulaner weissbier too which is available thanks to a tie up with Heineken group. All those should be pretty accessable to a cider drinker.

Another one thats widely available is Staropramen from Prague. Its not a helles but still fairly balanced. Also from Czech is Pilsner Urquell....... and that is a damn hoppy/ bitter beer and one to avoid (if thats what you are not into).

siblers

Thanks for all the replies lads, much appreciated. Will have a look out for what ye recommended so far

Atlantic Dawn

Corona with the usual slice of lime might be a good choice too.

siblers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119052340#Comment_119052340

That and Heineken were only the ever 2 beers I'd have some bit of a taste for. I'd tolerate them more than enjoy it though

The Continental Op

May I suggest you get whatever you like each week or whenever you buy beer and then buy one can of something unknown or out of your comfort zone. Maybe buy a couple of different ones but don't go mad.

Drink as usual but set aside a time for trying out your new beer. Google it and see what its all about then drink it to see if you like it and also to judge it against the criteria that you have found online.

I'm part of a beer club that has tasted something in the region of 250 different brews in the last 3 years. Some I'd drink all day others I'd drink and think of as good or bad examples of what they are supposed to be. You don't have to drink many and give them an appraisal to start to develop your own particular style favourites. Knowing that little bit more can help inform buying beer you enjoy drinking. I can happily drink a beer that I'm not that keen on but its still a good experience as part of learning more about beer. Turns out I'm quite boring and go for a dry hopped IPA almost every time.

iamstop

Former 'only cider' drinker here.

Wasn't until a visit to Belgium that I developed at taste for any beers. Started with the wheat beers and moved on to the darks and a few others. Got into them more and more. Now I love the hoppy beers.

My suggestion for you is t try to find a juicy IPA and then a hazy IPA. Last time I was in Dublin I didn't see any (pre-covid) but they are all the rage here in Canada.

WHAT IS A JUICY IPA?

When we’re talking about beer, the term "Juicy" refers to the aroma and taste of the beer being reminiscent of fruit juice, typically citrus or stone fruit. These flavors and aromas can be affected by things like yeast esters, but a juicy IPA is all about the juicy hops!

WHAT IS A HAZY IPA?

Hazy IPAs, also known as New England IPA (NEIPA), East Coast IPA, or unfiltered IPA are a specific type of juicy IPA. They tend to be less bitter than traditional IPAs with tropical and citrusy flavors, and often land higher on the ABV (Alcohol by Volume) scale. They also tend to have a creamier mouthfeel and are a bit sweeter.

L1011

Oh, they're bloody everywhere here now too!

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119053786#Comment_119053786

Don't get me started!

Never occurred to me that juicy and hazy were different categories.

hynesie08

Little fawn by white hag, Ambush by trouble brewing and Rambler by Porterhouse are 3 of the easiest drinking beers I know, Should be available in most supermarkets.

Sours might be a nice in between drink, and i've seen a few cider drinkers get a taste for them, the puca series by white hag being a go to one.

Someone mentioned corona, Honestly if you get a taste for it you can guarantee that no matter where you go in the world, it'll be available and it'll taste the same.

BeerNut

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119055567#Comment_119055567

"Categories" implies that there are some predetermined rules or definintions being followed, whereas "juicy" and "hazy" are just words breweries print on cans, which may or may not have something to do with the contents.

9320

Hoogaarden - Belgian Wit might be an option for the OP - sometimes fruited versions are available.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119055833#Comment_119055833

My only real problem is when they don't put these words on the cans but put juicy/hazy stuff in the cans😫

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119056728#Comment_119056728

Never noticed that. We do research (or at least look up a few detials online) of all the beers we try in our beer club but I don't think we've ever had a juicy/hazy IPA where it hasn't been promenatly flagged on the can. For example you could hardly mistake this one as being both juicy and hazy.

That said while the can or bottle may tell you its juicy or hazy the names don't always give it away.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119056579#Comment_119056579

Hoegaarden can be a bit 'soapy' for newcomers. If going down the Belgian wit route, Blue moon is much more palatable for newbies. White Rabbit by Kinnegar is similar, though not strictly a Belgian Wit, iirc.

I'm a big fan of Citra pale ales, as they're nowhere near as bitter as most IPAs and don't leave you feeling thirsty after some (like you've drank too much cranberry juice or something). Same with the Hazy beers, usually they're that bit more fruity and refreshing.

Weights and measures by Galway bay is dynamite.

As is Hazy Jane and Rascals Yankee.

I think Lidl had a small orange can that was tangerine flavoured or something like that. It's lovely and they also do an American Pale Ale that goes down well with my non-beer mates.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119056883#Comment_119056883

It's actually really common now. Ever have a Whiplash beer? Also, they keep coming up with new terms to describe hazy IPAs - like Mountain IPA or Cold IPA. It's getting ridiculous.

I now avoid any new IPA that isn't specifically labelled as West Coast or old school or similar.

I don't accept that I should have to look up a beer online, to have a basic idea of its style.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058245474/beer-recommendation-for-someone-trying-to-develop-a-taste-for-beer-moving-away-from-cider

desperados may be an option for you...

El Gato De Negocios

Franziskaner or Patronus Weissbier from lidl are lovely. I'm a Guinness drinker normally but find these two very easy to drink and I get minimal hangovers from them. Around €2 for a 500ml bottle, well worth trying. Same goes for the likes of Paulaner or Hoegaarden but they are a little more expensive. I can't deal with shyte like bud, Miller, Heineken etc but love the weissbiers.

PalLimerick

Rockshore easy to drink.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119060007#Comment_119060007

By any reasonable metric, Desperados isn't really beer. It's more of an alcopop!

Although considering what sweetened, flavoured messes are considered beer nowadays, perhaps I should go easier on Desperados.!

siblers

Got a bottle of White Deer - Stag IPA. Not bad at all, there's a slight fruity taste to it without it being sweet. Pleasantly surprised by it

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119061541#Comment_119061541

There's hope for you yet. That one is marketed as being gluten free so it might not have all the punch of a traditional IPA - don't know not tried it?

If you stick with IPA's there are 100's to choose from. Try some of the more extreme IPA's to see if you like them Pliny the Elder would be one that comes to mind https://www.russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-elder/ If you probably have a taste for beer.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119061645#Comment_119061645

All 9 white deer beers are gluten free.

It doesn't appear to affect the mouthfeel or flavour, at all. You wouldn't know they are gf unless you were told. The wonders of modern technology!

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119060298#Comment_119060298

Correction desperados is beer from the Heineken stable... google it... i do not like it but its beer...

siblers

Had a pint of Moretti, really tasty and smooth . Easily the nicest beer I've had

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119063108#Comment_119063108

This is arguable. Just because Heineken produce it doesn't make it beer.

Similarly, I would not consider shandy/radler beer, either. They have beer in them but they aren't actually beer.

I'm not claiming that Desperados isn't beer because I don't like it, I'm claiming that because I consider it to be a beer based drink rather than a beer.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119065358#Comment_119065358

That's just an an opinion... I don't like flavoured beers either...

Desperados is a tequila-flavored pale lager beer with 5.9% alcohol by volume originally created and produced by the French brewing company Fischer Brewery, now produced by Zlatý Bažant Brewery...

the beer revolu

We will never have an agreed definition on what beer actually is.

It's all just opinions. I'll stick by mine, thanks.

Out of interest, do you consider radler to be beer?

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119065641#Comment_119065641

Its not to do with opinion its to do with how its made... your opinion is irrevelant... i never tasted radler but i think its basically shandy...

the beer revolu

You didn't answer my question.

Is radler (shandy) beer, and if not, why not?

If it isn't essentially opinion, please provide a widely agreed, legal definition for beer.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119065754#Comment_119065754

I have no interest in answering... google and you find out...

the beer revolu

So you just want to be right and have no interest in delving into the meaning of what we are talking about?

You are a poor and rude debater. Good day to you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119064833#Comment_119064833

Fair play, Moretti is lovely. And a bit more nuanced than most of the beers being offered up here, to be honest. It can seem kinda malty for some folks, I'd normally expect someone new to beers to gravitate towards Peroni which is crisper, cleaner and much less malty. They're both pretty strong too, both above 4.5% if memory serves.

Sidenote: It's a pet hate of mine when I hear bar staff offering either Peroni or Moretti when someone asks for the other. Like, they're two completely different beers with very little taste overlap. Just because they're both Italian, there's an assumption that one is a perfect substitute for the other. Drives me barmy, like imagine if someone came into a pub and ordered a pint of Five Lamps and the bar staff said "Nah, sorry......we do have Kilkenny on tap though?"

siblers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074569#Comment_119074569

I'm going to give Peroni a whirl next to see how I get on!

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119062089#Comment_119062089

The 9 White Deer range is a real boon for the OH who can't eat gluten. I'd buy the Black Lightning for myself (and not just because of the cool label!)