We’ve seen those people… You know who you are. You just drink wine or vodka – your time is near.
You keep seeing people guzzling beer day in and day out and heaping praises on the experience. You want to cross over to the beer side. Sure, beer being the oldest ever fermented drink makes it oh so extra special but the taste of your first beer is something that will surprise many. While some think it is unpalatable others just are not into the taste yet the majority of people love it! Nevertheless, if you want to have fun and enjoy your first beer as it should be, keep reading and thank us later!

Treat your taste buds to beer

A good beer drinking experience is like tasting a scotch or even fine wine. In fact, fine beers just like wine are tested for their quality by the good taste they have (no that’s not circular logic). While getting the hang of tasting beer may take some time, after many tasting experiences, you are sure to find that you acquired a taste for it and gradually you will begin to understand the inherent nuances lurking in the brew.

Know what goes into your beer

As you would already be aware of, beer is brewed by fermenting various ingredients to different degrees. From barley and hops to grains such as rice, wheat, sorghum, oats, rye and just about anything  else for a complex flavor profile. Since this is your first beer, it will likely be made from a barley base. Sugar is added to alter the flavor. For instance, Australian lagers have cane sugar to thin out the texture, while fine candy sugar is added to Belgian beers so they take on a rum-like accent.

The main flavors types are sweet (malty beer), bitter (hoppy beer) and Stouts which range from heavy to light.  Nowadays, mostly fruity and sweet flavors are in fashion with sour beers trending but that’s for a different time.

Go easy on the beer

Starting with the sweet and mild malty flavors is a good choice. German style lagers have a crisper and fresh caramel or cookie flavor come a close second. If you like tart and lively flavors, wheat beers are for you. For stronger beer taste, try out the ales, stouts and reds. If you want to test the limits of your taste buds, the sour, funky and zingy flavor of lambic beers with their acidic taste are your go-to.
Full-bodied beers, like ales and stouts are a solid and strong option for your first beer experience (if you’re Irish!).

As a rule of thumb for a first timer, we suggest going from light to dark in general.

Beer Temperature

Consuming beer at the right temperature also matters. Light beer should be chilled while dark beers at wine cellar or room temperature.

The most important thing to remember is to enjoy your first beer with friends who love beer!