My girlfriend. Help bring her to the good side of the Force

[bradjohnson101]

Here's the lowdown:

I have tried having her taste several different styles, but she still says it tastes like beer. I know she doesn't like hoppy beers. She will drink a few bottles of a Kolsch that I brewed, but that is about it. Are there any suggestions as to how to ease a non beer drinker/appreciator into a beer drinker. She is good about helping brew, but that is just to be nice. I would really like her to experience and appreciate the final product. How can I get a reluctant beer drinker on the "Good Path"?

 

[pkeeler]

Why don't you take her to some good beer bars and let her try some different styles. Then when you find something she likes, make it. There is more out there than APA and Kolsch.

 

[HomelessWook]

i would suggest really fruity wheat beers - lots of different varieties out there to choose from and they just taste like fruit for the most part.

 

[blizzard]

I find belgian style beers are easier to transition with. If that doesn't work you could always try sour beer. It would probably be different than any other beer she's had.

 

[Yooper]

Some people just don't like beer. I know that we find it hard to believe, but it's true!

I guess I can understand. I hate NASCAR. Someone who wanted me to change my ways and see the light (and I won't mention which member of my family took this upon themselves) only succeeded in making me hate it all the more by trying to show me the error of my ways.

Wine snobs are even worse. I love wine, but after listening to "wine experts" I want to give it up forever.

My advice, contrary to every one else's I'm sure, is to let her be. If she likes the kolsch, great! If she helps you brew, wonderful! Then she loves you and respects your hobby. So, stop trying to convert her to your way of thinking. Maybe, eventually, she'll want to try some different beers. But being "forced" to won't get you anywhere.

 

[wscott823]

Preach it Yooper!

 

[bradjohnson101]

YooperBrew: Advice received and appreciated. I am with you on the NASCAR thing. I am not trying to change her as much as have her (kinda) be as excited as I am about this great hobby, and partaking in the fruit of its efforts. I am starting to hear grumbles about all the "beer stuff" I read and the beer related discussions that seem to keep popping up into every discussion. So, if she appreciates the stuff, just think of the great relationship we would strengthen. Beer Brewing = Love.

 

[Yooper]

YooperBrew: Advice received and appreciated. I am with you on the NASCAR thing. I am not trying to change her as much as have her (kinda) be as excited as I am about this great hobby, and partaking in the fruit of its efforts. I am starting to hear grumbles about all the "beer stuff" I read and the beer related discussions that seem to keep popping up into every discussion. So, if she appreciates the stuff, just think of the great relationship we would strengthen. Beer Brewing = Love.

Maybe. I'm no relationship expert, but consider this. What if her passion was quilting? What if she LOVED quilting and making quilts more than any other hobby. Now, you like them ok, and can appreciate them as "nice", but you can really appreciate how much she loves it. Now, assume she decides that YOU should be as excited as she is about this great hobby (your words), and starts to talk constantly about quilting, and its history, and how important it is. Not only expecting you to hang the quilts, but to appreciate them as much as she does.

Now, I realize that isn't a great analogy, but I think everyone gets what I'm saying. The hobby IS wonderful, and brewing is my obsession. Bob drinks my beer with gusto (even starting to become a hophead, finally) but I certainly can't push him or encourage him to love brewing. He doesn't like all beer styles, but he drinks more of them than he used to. He won't touch a stout, an imperial anything, or an oaked beer. He doesn't brew, doesn't enjoy talking about brewing, and doesn't help with brewing. Because it's MY hobby. If he handed me a shovel (gardening is HIS hobby), I'd get pissed.

I'm all about supporting your life partner. But I'm pricklish about trying to get them excited about a hobby that they lovingly tolerate.

 

[earwig]

Clone Hacker Pschorr... put some raspberry syrup in the glass and squeeze some lemon in... also rub the lemon around the rim. If she doesn't like that there is no hope for her!

 

[Yooper]

Clone Hacker Pschorr... put some raspberry syrup in the glass and squeeze some lemon in... also rub the lemon around the rim. If she doesn't like that there is no hope for her!

LOL- that sounds terrible!

 

[robtotten]

I'd have her try a Belgian White. Hoegaarden is a great example of the style.

 

[bradjohnson101]

Your sage words of advice are appreciated and you are right. I see many posts regarding partners that are less than supportive. She is great with my brewing and I am appreciative. If she gets it, she gets it, at least she is supportive. You are right!
Thanks

 

[bosco_NJ]

does she drink/ like coffee? if so have her try a coffee stout or a chocolate stout. i've had pretty good success introducing those styles to women. maybe try a nice porter. not every woman likes light fruity beers.

 

[Zen_Brew]

Maybe. I'm no relationship expert, but consider this. What if her passion was quilting? What if she LOVED quilting and making quilts more than any other hobby. Now, you like them ok, and can appreciate them as "nice", but you can really appreciate how much she loves it. Now, assume she decides that YOU should be as excited as she is about this great hobby (your words), and starts to talk constantly about quilting, and its history, and how important it is. Not only expecting you to hang the quilts, but to appreciate them as much as she does.

Belgian Quilting Ale......Brilliant !

Seriously though, Yooper is dead nuts correct. You might try a nice Wit with some orange or other fruit, or maybe some mead or wine, but if it isn't her thing, than it isn't her thing. Just enjoy the fact that she cares enough to participate.

 

[Picobrew]

I gotta agree with what Yooper said above, but you should try to convert her for a little bit at least I'd second the idea of going to a brewery or something and getting a sampler of styles she can try. I think american wheats, belgian white, witbier, fruit beers, sours, are all good suggestions. If you can find a commercial beer she likes beforehand it will make it a lot easier, but it takes a bit of the magic out of it. I would also recommend a bavarian hefeweizen. It has very different flavor and aroma than other beers and has no hop presence. It is a very good entry level beer. Really intense dark beers like Stout and Porters (maybe even coffee ones) are another extreme and she might be into those, or something very malty like a Doppelbock or Scottish Ale.

 

[Bacchus]

Some people just don't like beer. I know that we find it hard to believe, but it's true!

I guess I can understand. I hate NASCAR. Someone who wanted me to change my ways and see the light (and I won't mention which member of my family took this upon themselves) only succeeded in making me hate it all the more by trying to show me the error of my ways.

Wine snobs are even worse. I love wine, but after listening to "wine experts" I want to give it up forever.

My advice, contrary to every one else's I'm sure, is to let her be. If she likes the kolsch, great! If she helps you brew, wonderful! Then she loves you and respects your hobby. So, stop trying to convert her to your way of thinking. Maybe, eventually, she'll want to try some different beers. But being "forced" to won't get you anywhere.

Yep....I'm that away about most hard liquors. I love beer and like some wines but I detest the majority of hard liquor I try. You could serve me 20 year old scotch that was aged in barrels that were made from the trees of Mount Olympus and it would still taste like pregnant porcupine piss to me and no one can change my opinion about that.

My wife will take a sip or two of my beer from my glass and offer a quick critique and I'm happy with that. I usually get her praise but she leaves the lion's share for me to enjoy.

 

[bam]

I must say, reading this thread is quite interesting. My wife is extremely supportive of my hobby. Asks me about how things are going as far the beers that are fermenting, or sitting in bottles conditioning and carbing. She even likes to ask me about the taste of the beers I've brewed. She shows genuine excitement with each step and even helps brew if she is here when I brew (she is a nurse working nights) and helps me bottle. HOWEVER, she steadfastly refuses to drink anything I make. I don't take it as an insult. She just doesn't drink beer. She doesn't drink anything with carbonation. When I say anything, I mean anything. Her drink of choice is sweet tea. Lemonade every now and then and if she is going to have an alcoholic drink it's usually a mixed vodka drink of some sort. She loves to comment about how good the beers smell, and loves smelling the wort as I'm brewing, and the smell of the hops. But I'll never see the day when she drinks it. Like I said, as supportive as she is with this hobby of mine, it doesn't even bother me at all. For each beer I brew that she doesn't drink, is just one more i can.

 

[scrambledegg81]

i must say, reading this thread is quite interesting. My wife is extremely supportive of my hobby. Asks me about how things are going as far the beers that are fermenting, or sitting in bottles conditioning and carbing. She even likes to ask me about the taste of the beers i've brewed. She shows genuine excitement with each step and even helps brew if she is here when i brew (she is a nurse working nights) and helps me bottle. However, she steadfastly refuses to drink anything i make. I don't take it as an insult. She just doesn't drink beer. She doesn't drink anything with carbonation. When i say anything, i mean anything. Her drink of choice is sweet tea. Lemonade every now and then and if she is going to have an alcoholic drink it's usually a mixed vodka drink of some sort. She loves to comment about how good the beers smell, and loves smelling the wort as i'm brewing, and the smell of the hops. But i'll never see the day when she drinks it. Like i said, as supportive as she is with this hobby of mine, it doesn't even bother me at all. For each beer i brew that she doesn't drink, is just one more i can.

keeper.



8910

 

[Ben25]

My wife hates almost all beer, the only think I could get her to actually drink was a Frambois. That being said, I keep a keg of cider on tap, and it keeps her happy...

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Let her drink what she wants fer cryin' out loud. Why does every homebrewer, especially new ones, try to convert their spouse/girlfriend?

 

[mosquitocontrol]

Because if you can get them to drink, the faster its gone and the more often you can brew!

 

[ahave]

If she doesn't like beer, then simply she doesn't like beer.

Does she like wine?
If she is complaining on the 'brewing stuff' pick up a wine kit and 'brew' that with her. Assuming she likes it, she will have a product that she appreciates and you can justify the 'brewing stuff'.

 

[Neonsilver]

If she doesn't like beer, then simply she doesn't like beer.

Does she like wine?
If she is complaining on the 'brewing stuff' pick up a wine kit and 'brew' that with her. Assuming she likes it, she will have a product that she appreciates and you can justify the 'brewing stuff'.

This is what I was going to suggest. If she's not a beer drinker than she's not going to turn overnight. Maybe one day in the future without you saying try this one she may ask if she can try it herself.

My gf started out not wanting anything to do with the process. She'd go sit in the other room and watch TV while I did it so I try to do it when she's not home. Turns out on Sunday she got home for the end of one and wanted to do the yeast herself. I'd like her to be my brewing partner but it's not going to happen, she doesn't like the smell of the hops. I take what I can get and she tries pretty much every beer I brew, I'd still call myself lucky.

 

[jezter6]

Start her on Lindemann's. It's super sweet and every chick I know just loves it.

Then work on Saisons, maybe flavored at first, then work to the dry kind.

Then maybe some wheat/wit beers.

I've turned a BMC drinker into loving homebrew with a simple Saison.

 

[kryolla]

My wife likes Blue Moon and for a wine kit likes Island Mist.

 

[businesstime]

My wife likes Stouts and, most recently, rasberry lambics. The lambics just taste like fruit juice with a little alcohol to me.

 

[mojotele]

Yooper's right. Leave her be and don't get all pushy. I doubt she finds the notion that she's broken because she doesn't like beer very flattering.

 

[smmcdermott]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I am with Yooper on this and like ahave's suggestion of making something else. I was going to suggest wine as well, but what about apfelwien or a hard cider? If she like that, make her that instead.

My GF is interested and tries all my beers but only likes a few. I am luck in that sense i guess.

 

[takedown]

I would have to disagree with most of the advice given on this thread. When I found out that my wife (gf at the time) didn’t like beer (Shocked!) I decided to take an unorthodox approach to the problem. Everyone wants to say “give her framboise, or a kolsch or a fruity hef and if she doesn’t like that rought go to the other extreme and try a coffee porter”. I’m sorry but this is the advice of the ignorant and inexperienced (no offence).

What you want to do (I personally know this works) is take the meanest IIPA you can find fill a baptistery with it and submerge you unwilling wife in it. At first it sounds extreme but look at the task at hand. I do have to warn you this rout might affect other aspects of her life, mine just sits in bed wrapped in the sheets and kind of shakes but at least she’ll drink an imperial now.

 

[Matthoc116]

I would have to disagree with most of the advice given on this thread. When I found out that my wife (gf at the time) didn’t like beer (Shocked!) I decided to take an unorthodox approach to the problem. Everyone wants to say “give her framboise, or a kolsch or a fruity hef and if she doesn’t like that rought go to the other extreme and try a coffee porter”. I’m sorry but this is the advice of the ignorant and inexperienced (no offence).

What you want to do (I personally know this works) is take the meanest IIPA you can find fill a baptistery with it and submerge you unwilling wife in it. At first it sounds extreme but look at the task at hand. I do have to warn you this rout might affect other aspects of her life, mine just sits in bed wrapped in the sheets and kind of shakes but at least she’ll drink an imperial now.

This approach sounds promising..."the beatings will continue until morale improves."

I'm in a similar situation to most here. The lady friend likes Blue Moon and not much else, and although I don't think she's ever tried it, I'm willing to bet money that if I gave her an IPA she'd ask me how I could enjoy the taste of such a thing. If you're dead set on getting her into beer, my approach has been to brew what I think I'll like, and let her try it. Usually, I'm left with 45-50 bottles minus one sip...not the worst problem in the world to have.