shift is the best nb beer i have had.

surly abrasive ale recently came out, one of my favorite DIPAs

it's decent, but far from one of the better tripel's I've had. IMO Boulevard's Long Strange Tripel is one of the best American Tripels

Ah, I forgot about the Ranger. Tried it once when it first got released a couple of years ago, and I agree it's their best. Wouldn't take it over typical IPA's, but it works.

Sure, Trippel is better than a kick in the nuts and I'd take it over the **** they serve at games or whatever, but let that **** get a few degrees below room temp where you can really taste the composition and you have to choke it down.

Right now, drinking a Green Flash Double Stout.

Green Flash Double Stout = awesome. I usually have some in my fridge.

I had one of these the other night and it was quite good. Just a hint of malt chocolateness, which is nice.

Staropramen.

Still have 2 of these in my fridge from FOREVER ago because it tastes just like bud Light

you need to taste them side by side because they are much different. one tastes like hops and the other tastes like corn or something idk but it's not hops

rate my playoff sixer

and for good measure i give you this as well

curious to get some advice from the beer aficionados- I really want to like "nicer" beers because I love food in general and would enjoy all the different types of beer there are to try, especially when traveling. Most beer just tastes so bitter to me, to the point where if Im drinking anything other than wheat beers or the cheap/weak big brands im pretty much forcing myself to get it down and not enjoying it all.

I really enjoy all kinds of wines, but can't seem to get into beer. I also really dislike coffee, so maybe Im just overly sensitive towards bitter things?

Any suggestions for beers to try to help expand my taste but aren't too bitter?

Hopalicious Beer from the Asylum Ale brewery in Madison, WI is a fully-hopped beer with a surprisingly mellow finish. A good transition beer. Most people who find hoppy beer too bitter though, tend to gravitate towards weiss (wheat) beer. These beers may be a good starting point for you. I just experiment with different beers to get a feel for what I like best, or what fits a certain mood or meal.

Thanks for the advice, Ill check it out.

On a related note, is liking things like IPAs really an entirely acquired taste, or do some people just start out liking them? Whenever I try one I have like a viscerally negative response, it almost makes me gag and tastes like poison to me. I can't imagine how I would ever acquire a taste for them.

I always have to get this at Christmas:

Some people don't like certain types of beers. I know people who like "good" beers but don't really like ipa's. There are tons of beers that aren't really all that bitter at all. There are even ipa's that are much weaker in alcohol and not really bitter so you can taste the hops better.

The unit for bitterness measurement is IBU here is a chart that shows how bitter different beers are
http://www.brewersfriend.com/2009/01...terness-range/

Some beers even have the IBU rating on the bottle or you can find it somewhere like beer advocate

This is awesome, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much!

I never had a point where I liked any beer but disliked IPAs. Once I started enjoying beer, I liked them.

Do you like dark beers? If you go to a brewery that has them, I'd recommend cask-conditioned, especially porters and stouts. They are smoother, you get more flavor and less bite.

Just wanted to say that the Hazed and Infused was really really good. I will be seeking this out in the near future.

Jubelale - Top notch as always, one of my favorite christmas brews.

Lagunitas Sucks - Not my favorite of theirs but still really good.

Matilda Belgian Ale - Usually don't buy belgian stuff but the minimalist label really spoke to my inner hipster. Was quite enjoyable. I think that one was Goose Island brewing from Chicago.

Dust Bowl Hops of Wrath - A good Ipa, probably would choose other things over this pretty much always though.

Deschutes Green Lakes - Exactly what I expected, a great tasting, highly drinkable beer that still packed a nice punch.

Also that scotch is ****ing fantastic, If I had more money I would buy it often.

i don't see anything hoppy as being a good transition beer, whether it be heavy with flavoring or bittering hops

i'd go for something that has flavors more in line with food. saisons and non-malty belgian style ales come to mind.

Agreed, got it once on sale not knowing what to expect and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Basically agree with this. Beer itself was a somewhat acquired taste for me, but IPAs never were. Fell in love with my first IPA whereas it took many instances drinking **** beer to be able to even down it. If you're looking to expand your beer tasting, but dislike hops I'd suggest wheat beers,maybe Belgian style beers that are less bitter.

My go-to favorite beers I regularly have purchased are:

Odell's 90 Schilling
Avery Reverend
Flying Dog 90 Minute IPA

Recently, been on a crave to try barrel aged beers and brewery limited barrels. Few of my favorite beers in recent memory:

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout
Good Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (prob my fav single taste beer of the past year)
Great Divide Barrel Aged Old Ruffian

I picked up several 4 packs of Surly Abrasive and am looking to trade one probably on the beertrading subreddit. I've never had Pliny or anything by DFH (90 min sounds about right). Any thoughts on those? I like huge hoppy IPAs and DIPAs.

DFH (60 minute or 90 minute) is about as far away as you can get from Abrasive. It's more malt forward, not the punch you in the face hop taste that Abrasive has. Very good, but different.

Abrasive and Pliny are more similar but imo Abrasive has a bigger hop punch in the taste and aroma (also Heady Topper) but isn't as balanced. The reason Pliny is my favorite DIPA is because its so perfectly balanced as a DIPA. Just the right hop character with a great malt backbone.

*All are great, world class beers and the difference really is minimal. I'd drink any of these all day.

Interesting re: DFH, always just assumed it was a clean hoppy IPA feel. I'll see if I can score some Pliny but I guess would only be a couple bottles. Abrasive was $18 for 4 16oz cans I believe.

One of my personal favorites is the Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti. It's an excellent beer, and easier to find than a lot of wood-aged beers.