Comments on: A virtual tasting for beer-beginners

By: Cleopatra’s Fruit and Martian War Machine Coolant « Impy Malting

Cleopatra’s Fruit and Martian War Machine Coolant « Impy Malting — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:23:25 +0000

[...] from the GBBF and went straight to the Proper Job, after having read about it on Boak and Bailey. While not as sparkly as I had hoped it was lovely in its hoppy spice. I starting thinking about [...]

By: Boak

Boak — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:17:20 +0000

Some great suggestions here, keep them coming!

I wish I could take the credit for the idea, but that belongs to Delirium.

Ally — it’s true, it’s difficult not to recommend your favourites — When you’re used to beer, it’s easy to drink something like Bernardus 12 and think, “How could anyone not like this?”

By: Ally

Ally — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:01:43 +0000

What a terrific idea. I will have to think about this. I’ve tried to turn people on to good beer by asking them the kind of drinks they usually like– coffee, juice, tea, wine, etc. But I don’t always hit the mark. I definitely like strong, intense beer and maybe suggesting these is not the way to go initially.

By: Adeptus

Adeptus — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:40:40 +0000

Boak – Thanks for the welcome and the plug!

I’ve taken your suggestion, and it was much harder than I thought it would be. The problem is in picking a small selection that tries to reflect such a broad range, and not to keep picking your favourites! So, with that in mind I offer up a humble selection. Possibly tame, but I’d have to think longer about it!

By: Evan Rail

Evan Rail — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:42:01 +0000

In Prague we’re limited by what’s available: lots of Czech beers, few imports. Thus I often try to introduce people who are not crazy about beer to Primátor’s Weizenbier, which I’ve often mentioned, but which still deserves notice. It’s good, light and crisp, slightly maltier than many German versions, low on the banana scale, and it seems to please almost everyone who tries it.

Second, Herold’s Bohemian Black Lager, if I can find it. Deep and mysterious. Slightly spicy. Most Czechs don’t know that dark lagers can be this rich.

Third, a hoppy strong pale lager like Jubiler. I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t liked this one.

Fourth, a less obscure dry gueuze, something like Lindeman’s Cuvée René — for white wine drinkers who “don’t like beer.”

By: Boak

Boak — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:48:22 +0000

Leigh – SN is great by us too. I’ve also given that to people who don’t generally drink beer and it works well, something about the goopy, comforting texture, I think.

Beer Nut – you’re right, Proper Job probably is hard to get hold of outside the UK. It’s not exactly easy to find in London, which is a bit daft, considering St Austell are one of Britain’s biggest brewers. But I wanted to include a nice hoppy ale that works well in bottles.

Maybe Jaipur IPA, but I’ve only had it once and (whispers) can’t really remember all that much about it except that I liked it…

Pete Brown has just posted on introducing a Guinness lover to Sam Smith’s Oatmeal Stout – this is definitely a good conversion beer as well, although I don’t love it nearly as much as Fuller’s London Porter.

By: The Beer Nut

The Beer Nut — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:08:51 +0000

I think my list would probably look very much like yours, though it wouldn’t have Proper Job on it ‘cos I’ve never encountered it outside England, and I’d substitute a Westmalle Tripel for the Karmeliet.

No, scratch that: I’d have Duvel as my pale strong beer and throw in a Westmalle Dubbel at the end.

By: leigh

leigh — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:50:11 +0000

I like this idea. As someone who tries to educate people in Beer through Food, I try to stick to Beers that people can get hold of – even if it means using many of the fine internet suppliers out there. What’s the point in Beervangelising (like it!) if people can’t get thier hands on the ruddy stuff! Now, that may leave me open to criticism from other bloggers who may feel my choices are a touch pedestrian – but this hits the nail on the head. I can’t tell you how many lagerheads i have converted with one sip of good, old, boring Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (incidentally one of fave beers of all time). So good work, guys.

By: Boak

Boak — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:46:52 +0000

Welcome, Adeptus – it’d be interesting to read a version targeted at the German market! Why not write it and link it, and we can have a meme within a meme…

Nice blog, btw.

I’ve never organised a tasting before (sounds a lot harder than a pissup in a brewery) but I’ve thought about it a lot.

By: Adeptus

Adeptus — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:29:28 +0000

That’s a nice idea, and actually something I should consider for the German beer lovers who need some exposure to external influences (part of my new experiement). The problem for me would be sourcing a selection here!

A former brew-buddy and I used to do tasting sessions of homebrews for work colleagues, interspersed with commercial examples of the styles we were brewing. People seemed to enjoy trying them all at least, and I’d like to imagine that some even went and bought the beers they tasted again. It’s all good clean fun regardless.