I've got some questions.....

[amateuraficionado]

I know I like Stouts and I also know that I like Marzens. I didn't relaize until a few minutes ago that the Sam Adams Winter Lager is a Bock, so it also seems I like Bocks because I think this is a very good beer.(Although I was not very impressed with the Sam Adams Chocolate Bock) But, I don't like DFH 90 min. IPA(I know... get the Iron Maiden and Cat o' Nine Tails) or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I think it's the fruity, I guess grapefruit taste I get that really turns me off. So my first question is, what is the predominant difference between what makes a Stout taste the way it does vs. an IPA? Also based on this info, what other beers might I want to try and which others might I want to avoid?

 

[Phlicker]

Stouts and porters get their predominant characteristics from the dark roasted "chocolate" malts used in the mash. Most IPAs and Pale Ales use pale or caramel malts, and the modern American incarnations are much more hop-forward and rely on the citrusy-grapefruit nose/taste you mention. The DFH 90 does develop into a nice, malty beer over time (about a year or so), but that's not really the intent with which it was brewed. You seem to be a malt person (yay! Justin has a friend!), so I would try any variety of stout or porter (there are many, just check them out here), and most German lagers should sit in your sweet spot. Scotch ales (Wee Heavy) or an English ESB might be a style to try as well. If you stay away from the IPA/Double IPA/APA realm you should be OK.

That being said, have you tried Nugget Nectar yet? :thumbs:

 

[tsmckenney]

Another thing I would add is to periodically revisit the styles you once didn't enjoy. Last year, I tried Surly's Furious (the heavyweight champ of all hop-heavy beers) and absolutely hated it. I thought that beer was the worst made. Today, you will not find me without it. I absolutely love that beer.

 

[denverdog]

The best way to learn about beer and styles is to drink. When I first started I chose a brewery and bought a bottle of all of the different styles it offered. I drank them and read about them to understand the style, brewing process, flavors, history, etc. Do that with a few different breweries and you will quickly learn not only about the differences between types of beers, but you will start to develop tastes and preferences.

 

[amateuraficionado]

Stouts and porters get their predominant characteristics from the dark roasted "chocolate" malts used in the mash. Most IPAs and Pale Ales use pale or caramel malts, and the modern American incarnations are much more hop-forward and rely on the citrusy-grapefruit nose/taste you mention. The DFH 90 does develop into a nice, malty beer over time (about a year or so), but that's not really the intent with which it was brewed. You seem to be a malt person (yay! Justin has a friend!), so I would try any variety of stout or porter (there are many, just check them out here), and most German lagers should sit in your sweet spot. Scotch ales (Wee Heavy) or an English ESB might be a style to try as well. If you stay away from the IPA/Double IPA/APA realm you should be OK.

That being said, have you tried Nugget Nectar yet? :thumbs:

Thanks Mike, that's exactly what I was looking for. It's funny you mentioned the Nugget Nectar.... I haven't tried it yet but I'd read about it a couple months back and it sounded like something I might be interested in. I'll have to give it a try.

Another thing I would add is to periodically revisit the styles you once didn't enjoy. Last year, I tried Surly's Furious (the heavyweight champ of all hop-heavy beers) and absolutely hated it. I thought that beer was the worst made. Today, you will not find me without it. I absolutely love that beer.

That makes a lot of sense and is actually something I do with cigars from time to time. I tried the Victory Storm King Imperial Stout over the summer. I guess it was probably the first real craft beer I had tried and needless to say it was a little overwhelming at the time. Now that I've done some experimenting, I'm looking to revisit this one very soon.

The best way to learn about beer and styles is to drink. When I first started I chose a brewery and bought a bottle of all of the different styles it offered. I drank them and read about them to understand the style, brewing process, flavors, history, etc. Do that with a few different breweries and you will quickly learn not only about the differences between types of beers, but you will start to develop tastes and preferences.

I did start doing this Jonas, but with four and six packs. At $10 a six pack for DFH 90 min. I learned that I had better start making better decisions. You're right, I think single bottles are they way to go from now on. :thumbs:

 

[JLAudio]

Another thing I would add is to periodically revisit the styles you once didn't enjoy. Last year, I tried Surly's Furious (the heavyweight champ of all hop-heavy beers) and absolutely hated it. I thought that beer was the worst made. Today, you will not find me without it. I absolutely love that beer.

Ohhh my! I absolutely LOVE this beer...love! :love:

 

[MAS_Puros]

That being said, have you tried Nugget Nectar yet? :thumbs:

Mmmm Nugget Nectar :love: :blush:

The best way to learn about beer and styles is to drink. When I first started I chose a brewery and bought a bottle of all of the different styles it offered. I drank them and read about them to understand the style, brewing process, flavors, history, etc. Do that with a few different breweries and you will quickly learn not only about the differences between types of beers, but you will start to develop tastes and preferences.

+1 on this

Some of my favorites that you might like if you are into the malty brews:

• Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
• Old #38 Stout
• Anchor Porter
• Baltic Thunder
• Black Bavarian
• CoCoNut Porter
• Meantime London Porter
• Meantime Coffee Porter
• Gouden Carolus Carolus D'Or - Cuvée Van De Keizer (my new favorite!)
• Ichabod Ale 2008
• Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
• Trappistes Rochefort 8
• Trappistes Rochefort 10
• Westmalle Trappist Dubbel
• Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
• Rogue Chocolate Stout
• Bell's Special Double Cream Stout
• Bell's Kalamazoo

I can go on and on with all these yummy malty beers.
:whistling: :thumbs:

 

[smellysell]

You seem to be a malt person (yay! Justin has a friend)

Hooray!

What Mick said about going back and revisiting styles you didn't like initially is very true, I'm even starting to come around on SOME hoppy beers.