General

[quote=luapxal344]@Applause U r the bomb. There's so many choices. Do you like Ciders too? One thing I'm scared to admit other people is that I really really enjoy drinking Ciders because "Omg u r weak". I've tried them all. Strongbow, Stella Artois Cidre, Redds, Johnny Appleseed, Orchard etc. And there's still more brands I haven't tried at Total Wine. I'm adding everything you mentioned on to my list. ^_^[/quote]

It's a travesty that cider isn't held in the same consideration as beer, because cider is delightful. Cider has a mediocre reputation in the United States; across the ocean, cider is an acceptable, often preferable alternative to beer. Though, I can't blame the US. Most Americans now regard cider--if they regard it at all--to be in the same category as wine coolers or those enigmatic clear malt beverages: chemically suspect, effeminate alternatives to beer. America's mass-market ciders are comically weak and inexplicably carbonated. Most aren't made from cider apples, but from the concentrated juice of eating apples, which is kind of like crafting wine from seedless table grapes.

Thankfully, while American cider practice has long been dormant, the refreshment lives on elsewhere. Particularly in France and England, artisanal households produce ciders that few beers can match for lightness and complexity. Cider makers have not yet been contaminated with whatever fever has pushed vintners toward garishly imbalanced flavor profiles and unreasonable alcohol levels. Unlike mead, that other resurgent libation of antiquity, cider pairs beautifully with food. And because cider is an agricultural product, it can lay claim to the currently fashionable quality of "somewhereness." Made from apples such as the Kingston Black, the Harry Masters Jersey, and the Dabinett and often fermented by naturally occurring flora, traditional English ciders are complex and typically dry. Like wine, good cider is a balance of tannin, acid, and the myriad of flavors that result from fermentation. (Traditional cider tastes no more like apples than wine tastes like grapes.) Some of these ciders might exhibit smoky flavors reminiscent of bacon, subtle grassiness, bright citrusy notes, or a barnyard aroma that is delightful in small doses. Carbonation is optional, and when used, accents the flavor rather than concealing them.

In all, I love cider, but it's hard to get the good stuff where I live (Illinois). If I really want to drink something from the homeland, I usually order from 2 Towns Ciderhouse or Eve's Cidery.

The Barrel Select from 2 Towns Ciderhouse is more of a cider/spirit hybrid. The nose is an immersion into apple sauce, light oak, rum raisin, and soft brandy notes. The mild scent of the oak cuts the sweet apple without any bleeding while the slightest bit of brandy accents the fruitiness of the raisin. The body is very light, with moderate carbonation and ends with a smooth, dry finish with the lingering taste of raisin at the end.

If you want more of an intense apple flavor, then Darling Creek from Eve's Cidery is enjoyable. This one is more about displaying the purity of the apple and the complexity of it's components enhancing it. Instant burst of apple with a hint of apricot, honeysuckle, toasted coconut, and dark citrus notes. Nice balance of acid and tannin, apple being the dominant flavor while the rest is there to support it. Semi-dry finish with apple being the remaining flavor in your mouth.

[quote=lettucing]@applause: what's a good beer for someone who doesn't like beer?[/quote]

What types or specific beers have you tried so far, and did you like or detest them?
What kind of foods do you enjoy?
Is your life stressful, or is it fairly laid back?

If you can answer those three questions, I can maybe help you find something you'll enjoy.

Tastes like booty holes in booty holes of booties

I'm a lot more willing to drink beer when I'm already drunk.
I kind of like PBR, Rolling Rock, Goose Island, Guinness extra stout, and a couple other microbrews I've tried.

I love beer.
One I hate though, is Guinness.

[quote=dorks]i dislike beer and alcohol in general. can't handle it and it's kinda bitter
i mean half a bottle can get me drunk n t y[/quote]

This. I don't like the bitter taste. I like small amount of wine sometimes like with a huge steak.

i dislike beer and alcohol in general. can't handle it and it's kinda bitter
i mean half a bottle can get me drunk n t y

I like the light, watery brand name beers. Not a big fan of the primo stuff.

I LOVE BEER. It taste so good lol. Anything really with some food.
It's been awhile though.

I prefer cream liqueurs.
I don't mind beer though, as long as it's not too dark.
Favorites are Sapporo and Red Stripe.

Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout changed my life

@dabootydisciple: N-no...

I don't know. Maybe it is because of the novelty flavors. Can't be worse than Blue Moon though.

@applause: what's a good beer for someone who doesn't like beer?

@Applause U r the bomb. There's so many choices. Do you like Ciders too? One thing I'm scared to admit other people is that I really really enjoy drinking Ciders because "Omg u r weak". I've tried them all. Strongbow, Stella Artois Cidre, Redds, Johnny Appleseed, Orchard etc. And there's still more brands I haven't tried at Total Wine. I'm adding everything you mentioned on to my list. ^_^

I always get so excited about beer because there is so much to enjoy beyond the sensory pleasure of drinking it. Of course, it all starts and ends with flavor, but I've extended my interest to include the packaging and labeling of beer, the individuals who make it, festivals devoted to beer, brewing history, and crafts and collections based on beer. I study the stuff, collect its artwork, celebrate its traditions, and categorize its styles.

It's hard for me to understand why people don't like it. There are so many textures, carbonation characteristics, serving temperatures, hop varieties, body styles, grain variations (and, within that, different roasts), and yeast effects available, which combine to generate an exponentially large number of beer tasting experiences. It's not believable that a person doesn't like beer, as a blanket statement. In all likelihood, they just haven't had a wide exposure to different beers, and never came across one by chance they they enjoyed.

Whenever someone tells me they don't like beer, what I tend to "really" hear is that they haven't had a beer they enjoyed, and that's perfectly fine. I ask them what kind of beers they've tried. Most of them reply with some mass-produced American pilsner like Bud, Coors, or Miller. Others get a bit more exotic, throwing in stuff like Sam Adams or Redds. At this point, I ask them if they've ever tried stuff like Hacker-Pschorr, Suntory, Paulaner, Brouwerij De Musketiers, any Belgian beers, any British/Scottish/Irish ales, any of the Schneider beers, etc. I change up the beers I suggest, but I'm trying to get a read on the taster's overall experience while at the same time, letting them know that there's a huge universe of beer out there to try.

[quote=cswalker]I love beer Coopers Dark, specifically is one of my favorites right now.
Any recommendation for something similar or even better?[/quote]

If you can get your hands on it, Left Hand Brewing Co's Milk Stout is wonderful. Failing that, any kind of oatmeal stout is going to be along those same lines. Sweetish, with a nice full creamy body and a balancing bitterness in the form of coffee and dark chocolate flavors.

If you can't find that, try a few nut brown ales. Some will be more aggressively hopped, but if you find the right one you're gonna get that nice maltiness with less of a strong roasted profile and more of a nutty, rounded approach, as the name implies.

You could also look around for Scottish ale, which is considerably more clean - almost a lager, really - and has absolutely no hop characteristics to it. A suggestion of peat makes its way into wee heavies, but generally brewers decide against it. They're really made to showcase what you can do with malt complexity, though as with any style the standouts are far less numerous than the mediocre and uninspired. Regardless, it's a lovely style that's rather unique from a technical standpoint.

Mild ale is hard to come by in America unless you brew it yourself (which by the way I would highly recommend undertaking.) so unless you're from across the street, there's not a lot I can recommend that's right on point.

[quote=cswalker]I love beer Coopers Dark, specifically is one of my favorites right now.
Any recommendation for something similar or even better?[/quote]

The best beer I've ever tasted during my 20 years on Earth has to be Dos Equis, no doubt about it.

Corona is a strong #2.

depends, i like certain beers and can't stand the taste of others.

[quote=kawaiipony]Get some Hoegaarden, good stuff. I also recently purchased a 5 dollar bottle of Weihenstephaner from total wine and that was amazing too [/quote]

I too like wheat beers / white ales.

Get some Hoegaarden, good stuff. I also recently purchased a 5 dollar bottle of Weihenstephaner from total wine and that was amazing too

[quote=sirkibblex2]plsnu[/quote]

pilsner?

I love beer Coopers Dark, specifically is one of my favorites right now.
Any recommendation for something similar or even better?

I don't mind beer. I like drinking crazy beers.

Shock Top had chocolate beer in their winter lineup this year and it tasted like coffee. It was amazing.

Love beer. My favorite is the Lagunitas IPA.

yepp i used ta hate it bt now its bareable

love th feelin.. ur body is in like a warm ocean wave

Ew no

^ same
i've tried it before but it tastes salty and stuff

Not legal ageyet