Typically, I'd recommend wheats (don't judge wheats by Blue Moon) and hefeweizens to people who haven't developed a taste for beer. It also sounds like you might have a taste for darks but don't like the "burnt" taste (that's from the roasted malt).
Given that, you should definitely try out some brown ales and honey browns. They're more about the malt and tend to be pretty smooth and no bitter aftertaste. Perhaps something like Samuel Smith's nut brown, as its pretty esay to drink. Avoid Newcastle. They use clear bottles and it often tastes skunky.
If the browns don't work out, keep looking. There's a *huge* amount of variety in beers. Anyway, here's some other suggestions that are easy to find in the midwest and easy to like:
Boulevard's Wheat (out of Kansas City) New Belgium's Sunshine Wheat Widmer Brother's Hefeweisen
Sierra Nevada's Porter Young's Chocolate Stout
Another good thing to do is goto local brew pubs and get samplers of their homemade stuff. You can typically get 6 -12 little glasses and try everything they make.
P.S. Beware of much of the advice in this thread. There's a lot of people who don't know anything about beer.
Only thing I want to say, particularly to some of my critical brethren from across the pond, is that it's very naïve and outdated to say "American beer is horrible".
Most folks who actually know a thing or two about beer will tell you that many of the finest brews in the world are coming out of smaller craft brewing operations in America. It's not some kind of rare thing anymore... any US supermarket will have at least a handful of great American beers, and if you go to a store that specializes in fine beverages, there are too many good US produced beers to list here.
For example, Belgian Ales- I think my favorite would be Westvleteren 12 from Belgium... but, let's say Belgian Whites- I honestly believe I haven't had a Witbier from Europe that is as good as La Fin Du Monde from Canada or Allagash White from the US.
Great beer exists on both sides of the Atlantic, and it's very much a rapidly growing segment here in the US.
Belgian ales, stouts, scotch ales are what I'd recommend you experiment with.
Also, German beer is pretty damn good too. I went to a "german bar," about as much as it could be in Seattle, but everything they had on tap, none of which I could pronounce, was tasty and had lots of variety overall.
Find the most types of beers you can possibly find in any way, then buy them to drink. Beer if bad for your health, you know. Proceed with caution and eat your vegetables!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On May 18 2012 17:12 lightrise wrote: BudLight Lime enough said haha. Every guy I talk to that really doesn't like the taste of beer loves them. It doesn't make sense to only call them a "bitch beer" because its not. I actually enjoy drinking this beer and for the most part hate drinking most beers after trying tons of them. Everyone can be a beer connoisseur but I really think that people that drink beer a lot develop a palate for it and really don't enjoy drinking it that much. ALCOHOL IS NOT MEANT TO TASTE GOOD, so thinking that people will love the taste of beer is just wrong lol.
Beer is delightful once you drink it for a while. And yes, if you show up anywhere with a pack of budlight limes you're going to be called a bitch. Also:
somebody mentioned it on page two, and i havent found it anywhere except one place in vermont so far but im going to keep looking, but Trois Pistoles is an absolutely life changing beer.
I'd say before you try some of those microbrewery beers, try a brand name beer like budweiser. these beers don't have nearly as much taste and are much more simple than the beers you referred to. However, drinking some of these will get you more acquainted with beer, and will allow you to appreciate the flavors in a microbrew much more.
Oh, and don't try asian beers, especially korean ones. from the ones i've tasted, they're all pretty bad
Best thing to do is just get out there and try some. From what it sounds like, bitter isn't your thing (for now...if it took me a while to enjoy them but you probly will, too, in time).
With that in mind you should ease into brews like India Pale Ales (IPAs), APAs, Bitters, and pilsners/lagers for the most part. Most people find darker, maltier brews more likeable at first, then get into typically more bitter beers or sours.
Try these: Stouts - (Young's double chocolate, Left Hand milk stout, Sam Adams Imperial Stout) Porters - (Anchor Porter, London Fuller Porter) Belgian style brews - (Duvel, Unibroue {any}, Chimay {any}) Any American strong ale These are all easy to find and are also good representations of their style.
Also, online resources like RateBeer or Beer Advocate are nice to help with your quest to find a likeable beer. Cheers, and good luck!
On May 18 2012 17:12 lightrise wrote: BudLight Lime enough said haha. Every guy I talk to that really doesn't like the taste of beer loves them. It doesn't make sense to only call them a "bitch beer" because its not. I actually enjoy drinking this beer and for the most part hate drinking most beers after trying tons of them. Everyone can be a beer connoisseur but I really think that people that drink beer a lot develop a palate for it and really don't enjoy drinking it that much. ALCOHOL IS NOT MEANT TO TASTE GOOD, so thinking that people will love the taste of beer is just wrong lol.
Beer is delightful once you drink it for a while. And yes, if you show up anywhere with a pack of budlight limes you're going to be called a bitch. Also:
stop drinking beer for the taste and instead look at it as a cold, refreshing means to a pleasantly sedated end.
also all the beers you listed that you tried are pretty much terrible, labaat's is pretty much the only standard beer you listed that isn't awful.
if you liked the general idea of blue moon but found the execution lacking definitely try some hoegaarden, it is definitely a much better representative of the belgian white/wheat style of beer.
why dont you just tell your friends you dont like beer? who gives a shit what people think of you. despite what culture tells you drinking beer doesn't make you manly
It's hilarious how people are advocating not drinking a beverage for the taste. You might as well down a couple shots if you just want to get drunk.
Beer is also one of the worst alcohol you can drink, it's just filled with carbs and extremely unhealthy. You're better off with spirits or wine, from a health perspective.
Not to mention it taste horrible. Anytime my friends go out for a beer, I usually just order a gin and tonic or vodka tonic.