There is nothing better in this world than beer. Women come and go. Dogs die. Hair falls out. But through it all, beer is there. And with all these bad things happening to you, it’d be a shame if you weren’t drinking something good.
Luckily, North Texas has become a hot spot for local breweries as well as award-winning, out-of-state imports. But that explosion can make drinking craft beer a daunting experience for beginners.
With the help of Michael Peticolas of Peticolas Brewing Company, we’ve put together a few tips that will keep you novices from drowning under all the suds.
1. Flights are your friend — to a point
Beer-centric places like Common Table, Craft and Growler and Meddlesome Moth offer flights of beer in which you get four or five samples. It’s the speed-dating version of beer drinking, and it can introduce you to a bunch of brews quickly.
However, if you’re just starting out, try ordering a themed variety like Capt. Keith’s flight at the Moth. Not only will it give you beers that the bar deems “worthy,” but you also won’t accidentally order four beers that work against one another and sour you on all of them. That said, a full pint really lets you enjoy facets of the beer that you might miss in a sample size.
2. It’s okay (and good) to ask for help
Do you think Dalton became the kick-ass bouncer he was in Road House without a little guidance from Wade Garrett? He did not. So find someone — friend, educated co-worker, bartender — who knows what’s good for you.
If they’re good mentors, they’ll offer a smooth transition as you graduate from “starter” craft beers to something more complex and challenging. If you do decide to ask a bartender for guidance, do it during the slow hours. There’s nothing worse for all parties than going to a packed bar and asking for a lesson from a swamped barkeep.
Brewery tours are also a good way to familiarize yourself with a brand of beer as well as learn about different styles in a relaxed atmosphere. Plus you can pick the brain of the brewers.
“Become friends with Meilgaard’s beer flavor wheel,” Peticolas adds. “It identifies unique flavors and aromas and definitely helped me become a better sensory analyst. I had difficulty pinpointing exactly what a flavor was, but with the wheel, you might see something you didn’t think of and be like ‘Oh, molasses! That’s what that is.’ It helps when telling bartenders what you like.”
3. Be comfortable in what you like, but don’t be satisfied
The whole point of any hobby or interest is that it brings you satisfaction. If you find a beer or a style that you like, then you should drink that beer or style. You don’t have to stick to the same routine every time — nor should you, because there are so many great beers out there — but it’s good to have a core of beers that you know you like that aren’t Miller Lite. Also, don’t let anyone shame you because you're not drinking "sophisticated" or "manly" beers. It's not a contest.
4. Figure out what you don’t like and why
Obviously it’s important to figure out which beers you enjoy, but it’s arguably more important to figure out which ones abuse your taste buds and why. If you find that heavily hopped beers aren’t your style, but you want to learn to love that Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, then you can start the journey gradually. Again, a bartender or trusted friend is good to have for this kind of stuff.
“If you don’t like a wheat, figure out if it’s because of the bubblegum flavor or what, and that way you can educate the people you’re asking for help,” Peticolas says. “Also, tasting a beer begins before it hits your mouth. The shade of the beer can tell you things, but just because it’s dark doesn’t mean it’s heavy. And the aroma of a beer gives you a ton of guidance about what to expect.”
5. Remember where you came from
There’s a dangerous breed of beer aficionados out there that seem to have forgotten that drinking is supposed to be a fun and social activity. Don’t be a snob about drinking good beer, and don’t criticize others for not drinking as well as you, whatever that means. It’s elitist for no good reason.
If you see a friend drinking “bad” beer, offer him one of your good ones, or buy the next round and introduce him to your favorite beer. If he doesn’t like it, let it go. The most you can do is try. And, for the love of god, never complain about free beer. You are not too good for a free Bud Light.
“Why would you look down on someone because of his taste in beer?" Peticolas says. “Educating him is only going to increase the craft beer market. Use his lack of knowledge as an opportunity to introduce him to a beer instead of talking down to him for not being on board. A lot of [craft beer-drinking] people started out drinking Miller Lite.”
In summary, beer drinking is supposed to be fun, and that should always be priority No. 1. It can be overwhelming, but nobody went from drinking Coors Light to Espresso Imperial Russian Stout overnight. It’s a journey, and you’ve got all the time in the world. Don’t take it too seriously, and don’t be afraid to explore.
And lest you feel as though you have to agree with the experts, Peticolas has one final piece of advice: “We all have different things we’re going to like. No one person is right about best beers.”
Flights are a good way of getting a little bit of a lot of beers to figure out what you like — and don't like.
