what beer do i like?

martinworswick · 07-05-2009, 09:55 AM

until i started homebrewing i had no idea there were so many different styles of beer, i look at various recipes and styles and i have no idea what some of them are and i don't yet have the knowledge to know if a recipe will be representative of the style.

so i was wondering if any of you would like to help putting together a list of styles and a recipe/link to a recipe that is pretty much right in the middle of that style?

apologies if there is a similar thread but i hav'nt come across it if there is

**Brewkowski** · 07-05-2009, 02:38 PM

My advise is to go on a mass shopping spree at your nearest liquor store that sells good brews. Due to the creative nature of brewing and the guideline for styles, there can be a varying degree between two beers of the same style, based on the recipe. I was trying to find a lighter flavored beer for my dad and I bought three different blond ales, and they were all different, but all within the style guidelines. So I would pick a style you think you might like whether it's stouts, pale ales, wheat beers, and buy a few bottles or sixer's of each. Then if you find one you really like try to find a clone recipe and see what makes that recipe tastes so good.
It's a tough hobby that requires a lot of research, fortunately research=drinking.

**Coastarine** · 07-05-2009, 02:42 PM

I recommend "Brewing Classic Styles" by Jamil Zainasheff. In the mean time though, here is a list of recipes by Jamil Jamil's Recipes

**Revvy** · 07-05-2009, 02:46 PM

Find a store that allows for doing mixed sixers of micro brew, it's a good way to try different styles and it's often a couple bucks or more cheaper than buying an entire sixer of one micro...for example I can get a six pack of bell's two hearted for about 12 bucks...but at the same beer store they have a cooler for 9.99 mix and match....and you never know what they will stick in there...so if I'm not in the mood for something in particular or feel like expanding my horizons and not risking an entire six of something I might not like.

So far I've only had a couple bottles of something that I could say I wouldn't have again.

But I've also discovered a bunch of new breweries that I might not have if their beer was in the 12-15 dollar a six.

And I've also gotten turned on by a few beers in styles I never thought I'd try...Like Vienna Lagers....I've never been a fan of the fizzy yellow type of lagers, but damn those brown, malty Vienna ones are fantastic.

If you have a Trader Joe's in your town they usually allow for mixed sixer filling as well. And those are 5.99, and the majority of the "TJ's" labeled beers are brewed by Gordon Biersch.

Usually if it is a beer I have never tried or even a new style then i will sit down with the beer and google and do some reading on the beer or the style.

Usually beer advocate will have the beer reviewed, and also a lot of the micro breweries have info on their website, sometimes the actual recipe or at least ingredient info.

Another good resource is the BJCP style guide, it gives a lot of info on the beer, the history of it, the numbers range for OG, FG, IBU's, etc. As well as a list of commercial representations of the beers. BJCP 2008 Style Guidelines - Index

Then if I am planning to brew something, I usually google to see if there are any clone recipes for the beer online.

Sometimes I will do a themed sixer, like all IPAs or Ambers or stouts, and get six different beers of the same style. It is a good way to see how different breweries tackle the same style...then if I mamnage to find info on the online, or even clone recipes I can see what ingredients are similar between recipes, and what is it that gives a certain version something special...i did that with vienna lagers, and learned a lot about the style,

Hope this helps.

elkdog · 07-05-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coastarine

I recommend "Brewing Classic Styles" by Jamil Zainasheff. In the mean time though, here is a list of recipes by Jamil Jamil's Recipes

This and the BJCP style guidelines are the best resources for you. And remember that they're just guidelines. A lot of my favorite beers don't neatly fall into any specific style.

martinworswick · 07-05-2009, 07:26 PM

thanks for all the replies guys,

i should have mentioned in my original post that the local liquor stores here in n.z. don't tend to carry a wide range of micro/ imported beers, its mainly the mass produced varieties. there are a couple of mail order places if you've got deep pockets.

i'll do some reading of the various posted links

cheers
maertin

**Yooper** · 07-05-2009, 07:46 PM

If you go up into the top "toolbar", you can click on recipes. All of our recipes are located by style.

If you look at the BJCP style guidelines, it'll tell you all about that style, and we have good recipes that exemplify that style. BJCP Style Guidelines

For example, it might say one style is "roasty, medium bodied", while one style is "light and fruity" and give commercial examples.

I like most styles of beer, and really like the variety to keep on hand. It's kind of like cheese in that respect. I mean, when you say "cheese", you may mean mozzarella. But there are so many kinds from gouda to cheddar, even moldy cheese (stilton, bleu cheese), so I may have in mind something totally different. That's how beer is to me. Not just "beer" but red ale, stout, American pale ale, etc. The only way to know what it is that you love is to try them all! If you can purchase them, you can make one, and then see if it's a style you want to make again. There really aren't any "bad" styles of beer- they're just different.

**ChshreCat** · 07-05-2009, 08:15 PM

Any chance of a homebrewing club around your area? That's a good way to get to sample various styles without having to risk an entire 5 gallon batch on something you don't know if you'll like or not.

martinworswick · 07-06-2009, 05:27 AM

there are no brewing clubs that i know of at the moment but i do know a couple of other guys who brew, between us we'll be trying different styles and comparing them, hopefully we can introduce more people to it as well if we start producing beer of a decent quality-beer drinkers over here tend to be very stuck in their ways with an unshakable allegiance to one of the big commercial offerings, bmc equivalent i suppose