Help me expand my palette

[gallonbrewer]

New to homebrewing and new to the world of good beer. Planning my second brew day and at the same time trying to learn what I really love.

3floyds Robert the Bruce (Scottish ale) has me floored. I love the malt in that beer and I've noticed the flavor difference between cold and warm temperatures. IPA's are always intrigue me but I can't say I'm an IPA guy.

So here we go, any help or advice with what breweries or specific beers to try that would help me in my adventure through awesome beer would be greatly appreciated. Secondly for my second brew day I want suggestions on a simple partial extract recipe that would be good in winter, my first batch was caribou slobber so I want something different but still warming and dark(er). Thanks everyone!!!

 

[dkennedy]

Where are you located?

Some generic thoughts:
- Guiness. Taste the 'twang', understand how they get it, and how you can get similar results at home.
- Any single-hopped commercial beer can teach you about individual hops (ex. Hopalicious from Ale Asylum is a great example of how versatile Cascade is).
- BMC. Seriously. As a taster, notice how an American Light Lager is crisp, clean, and amazingly delicate in flavor.

Depending on where you're at, may have some other ideas...the FFF reference has the brain going.

How about a stout, if you're not crazy about hops? My latest obsession is English Mild, but that was to have something sessionable on tap in the new bar

 

[gallonbrewer]

I'm about ten minutes from the 3F brewery, in northwest Indiana.

I'll take you up on the Guinness idea, never really thought about the "twang" although I've drank it on plenty of occasions.

I'll definitely try to find some brews with only one hop, I really like that idea for discovering taste.

Surprised to hear about BMC! It almost seams blasphemous to some users on this site to even consider it. They've got to be doing something right in some category to get those medals right?

I have been trying different beers, using the "pick 6" from the liquor store and of course 3F bombers, as much as I don't want to become a hater of BMC because everyone else is, I do notice the difference in what a beer can be.

Also, didn't mean to say I'm not a hops guy, just saying I don't fall in love with every IPA I drink. I love the hops and bitterness, but rarely do I find and IPA that I can drink more than one of without having a different style in between.

 

[Psylocide]

Drink it all... it's all good. I drink a ton of bmc and craft. Find a craft beer fest or local decent beer bar and try a bunch of stuff. Or do some research on what styles you might like. The bigger breweries have Beer Finder tools where you can see where they are sold in a 1 - 500 mile radius of you.

Just start drinking. Uh... responsibly and what not.

 

[sir_ybarra]

Just try everything you see that's what I do! I'm a stout guy but I try it all I like some IPA'S but I'll try it anything at least once.

 

[podz]

Just start drinking. Uh... responsibly and what not.

A responsible drinker ensures that he won't run out of booze.

 

[kev211]

As "irresponsible" as it sounds, I also recommend drinking everything (responsibly). I think by grabbing a stout her, an IPA there you'll really be able to grasp the characteristics and differences of each and be able to get a firm standing on what style of beer you like most. I was just talking with my father in law about how when I got into craft beer, strong ales like arrogant bastard floored me. It was my all time favorite beer. But as time went on my palate progressed and now I'm all about the hops. Ipa's and double and triples are my go to. So I think its in your best interest to just sample everything. No one can tell you what your palate prefers. That's up to you

 

[yeahfairly]

Drink a 12 pack of these and everything else will taste like "Good Beer"!

 

[Gavin C]

Check out Edwort's recipes

For an easy tasty brew check out Edwort's Haus Ale. Sipping one now. Nothing fancy but sublime nonetheless.

 

[Gavin C]

The beverage

 

[mrdail87]

I used to think I didn't like IPA's because my first couple were stupidly hopped, tasted like grass clippings to me.

But different hops have very different flavors and can be great when mixed and added in the right amounts.

Here are a few of my new favorite IPAs:
Sam Adams Rebel IPA
Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA
Sam Adams Double Agent IPL

 

[sir_ybarra]

Grab some sample packs from Brooklyn Brewery, Left Hand, Sierra Nevada, and places like that.

 

[gallonbrewer]

Thanks for all the replies! Which brings me to another question:beer serving temps.

First, I've read ales should be served warmer. Hard to do at a bar but at home how do you get this? I thought i read it should be around 55F, is that what you set your keezers to, or fridge? Are lagers supposed to be around your normal fridge temp?

Since I'm only brewing gallon batches right now I was thinking of finding a mini fridge to control fermentation and/or serving temps.

 

[Mexibilly]

10 minutes from 3F is a long way from Indy or Muncie, but there's Hopcat in Broadripple, among several others, and the Herot and Fickle Peach in Muncie. I would say visit a bar that serves a good selection and try them all.
On delivery day, Wednesday in east central Indiana, when possible I make it to one of the stores in Muncie that has a great selection and my main goal is to try things I've never tried before.
That's the only way to expand your palette, try more different beers...

 

[grrickar]

Go to a beer tasting. Pay one price and sample a ton of beers. Prepare thyself for the morning hangover thereafter...

Not sure where you are but a quick internet search should help you find one. There is a big one in Cincinnati coming up the first of next year.

Also, most bars with a decent beer selection will either let you sample some, or offer 'beer flights' where you can taste 4+ different ones for one price.

Try Avery Brewing 'The Reverend' and Ommengang's Three Philosophers. Get a sample pack of Great Lakes Brewing and try those if they are in your area, or Sweetwater's offerings if you are in the SE.

 

[ggriffi]

Have you been to Wiseguys super store yet? If not go there and they can be a big help.






Nope, I don't work there either

 

[beergolf]

Look at the BJCP guidelines and they have good examples of each style. Pick a style and try a few examples. This is a great way to get to know the different styles.

http://www.bjcp.org/styles04/