So, you want to enter the world of craft beer. Your friends are all drinking craft beer and you no longer want to be that person who only orders PBR, Bud, or Miller Lite. Well, it can be a daunting task, but you can become a craft beer lover in no time. You can become a craft beer drinker by following these 3 simple steps.
Step 1
Do not be intimidated. There are thousands of craft beers being produced by craft beer brewers all of the time. There are hundreds of types of beer in many different styles. Do not let this intimidate you. Craft beer is meant to be fun for the brewer and the consumer. No one is going to judge you. We all entered craft beer at one point in time not knowing a Belgian IPA from a witbier.
Step 2
Go with the soft beers. Do not try to go for the gusto with your first experience with craft beer. What we consider as soft beers are common lagers and golden ales. These beers consist of pilsners, Helles, Kölsch, and some wheat beers. Many of these beers are low in alcohol and are designed to be approachable. They are light and have soft fruity flavors. These beers will not wreck your palate and is a great gateway to drinking craft beer.
Step 3
Start out at a brewery or brew pub. The great thing about going to a brewery or brewpub is that there are a variety of different beers and a variety of different size pours that are available. You can get a pour as small as 5oz to as large as 12oz. Many of these 5oz pours are available in flights do that you can try several of their beers in one sitting. The other great thing about starting your craft beer journey at a brewery or brewpub is that the staff is very knowledgeable about the beer and will be able to guide you to the beers that you may want to try as a newbie.