Gateway to Craft Beer

So http://drinkcraftbeer.com/ posed a very interesting question/poll yesterday:

"If you had to pick one beer as a gateway beer to craft beer, what would it be?" (paraphrased)

It’s an interesting question, because I don’t think there is one right answer.  There might be one WRONG answer—but I don’t think there is one RIGHT answer.  Why do I say there is one WRONG answer?  Well, you may know someone who immediately takes to Southern Tier Unearthly IPA, but I sure don’t.  Nothing against Southern Tier, mind you.  I am a hop head, and I am quite enjoying a Southern Tier Pumking as I type.  No, it’s just that the Unearthly, while a terrific beer, needs to be worked up to.  I imagine that truth be told any IPA is probably a failing move when trying to lure non-believers to the world of craft beer.  Sure, they may learn to love them—but definitely not the easiest gateway.  Another beer style that I would likely avoid is stouts/porters, which tend to be too bitter for many people’s palates.  Those, like IPAs, tend to be learned.

So, why do I think there is no one right answer?  Simply because everyone is different and has different tastes.  Heck, some people fight over whether Bud Light or Miller Lite is a better beer, and those people will fight to the death over it.  Anyway, I digress.  Let me digress a bit further—my personal gateway beer was Pilsner Urquell.  I was in college, and a bar I frequented had an Around the World beer club—and in Manhattan, KS, any break from the dregs of Meister Brau, Schaefer Light, and Weideman was welcome.  So, I tried the original pils—and I found flavor.  Yummy delicious Saaz hops.  And thus was born a beer geek.  (My move to IPAs was facilitated by Bell’s 2 Hearted, but that’s another story.)

Anyway, so my personal pilgrimage to the Promised Land was a lager.  And, I think for some people, a lager or series of lagers might be the way to go.  I have witnesses people drinking a Reissdorf  Kolsch and enjoying it.  Then moving to a Baltika 1 or a pilsner.   You might be able to get someone to taste a Spaten Optimator, just to convince him or her that dark beers aren’t all roasty.

If not the lager path, what then?  There are lots of options.  Perhaps you could take a “sweet” road.  Beers that could be gateway beers include, Southern Tier Crème Brulee, Lindeman’s Framboise, Stiegl Radler (yes, it’s cheating), or maybe, just maybe, a Monk’s Café.  This time of year, a Schlafly Pumpkin might be just the ticket to sway someone away from the dark side of American light lagers.

In Kansas City, I believe about half the craft beer drinkers, whether they will admit it or not, got a start drinking Boulevard Wheat.  Wheats are definitely another easy path to take, whether a simple American wheat like Boulevard’s variety, or a banana-y and clove-y hefeweizen, such as Weihenstephaner’s offering.  Of course, Belgian whites are also quite popular; I suggest Blanche de Bruxelles.  (The glass makes for a great talking point!  It’s at http://whiskeygoldmine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Blanche-de-Bruxelles.jpg in case you’ve not seen it.)

As a segue to the next major category, I would also suggest saisons/farmhouse ales as a starting point.  Tank 7 from Boulevard (yes, I’m showing the hometown brewery lots of love as a gateway to craft beer) has also served to convert many a soul.  Stillwater Debutante is another good choice, as is Ommegang Hennepin.

Perhaps the best way to convince someone to try different beers is a taster of Belgian ales.  Oh, sure, he or she will likely be hammered by the end, so…  well anyway, Triple Karmaliet, Chimay White, or a Delirium Tremens could help convince a person to expand his or her horizons.  Sure, a Leffe might be the simplest road.  Challenge someone with a Chimay Blue.  If you really want to set someone’s tongue a whirl, try a Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de Kaizer.

The point is, different palates are out there.   Surely one of these approaches will work to convert even the most discriminating palate to enjoy craft beer.  Salute!