Top 5 Gateway Beers

So you're going to grab a beer with some friends, eh? The time comes to order and while all of your friends order a hard to pronounce craft beer, you are afraid to step out of your comfort zone and just ask for a light beer. It's a tough situation, I've seen it a thousand times. You don't want to feel inferior for ordering a beer you like, but you are afraid you wouldn't like what their having, or perhaps you don't even know what to order. Well, here are five gateway beers that will help you move from light beer drinker to bad ass beer connoisseur. Use these beers to escape those awkward situations and open up your world to more daring (and delicious) beers.


1.) Newcastle Brown Ale
- This English ale is very dark in color, but not too extreme in terms of taste. I know many people, including myself, who have named this beer as one of the first "dark" beers they tried. It's easy to drink and is a good way to learn about the wonderful world of brown ales.




2.) Leinenkugel's Red
- A fine Red lager that will easily help you learn to branch out from your "light" comfort zone. Red brews are often on the top of my favorite list and when learning about them this is a great beer to start with.




3.) Goose Island - Honker's Ale
- This brew is golden in color, which is nice for those light beer drinkers who can't get over the fact that beer can look different and still taste good. It is a version of an English Bitter and its smooth taste is certain to help those who are looking for just a bit more in their beer.



4.) BBC - Amber Ale
- When I first started drinking this it was called "Altbier" to reflect it's German background. However, the Louisville brewers have simplified it by now just calling it "Amber." The reason this is such a great gateway beer is because it doesn't get too crazy in terms of taste and it is only a little bit darker in terms of color. It is sure to open up your taste buds to something different.




5.) Sierra Nevada - Pale Ale
- This is where things get tricky. I'll go a head and admit that this beer will be the one that pushes your limits the most. The color won't scare anyone, but the first taste of hops might run off some "Bud" drinkers. This is a wonderful Pale Ale, and while the hops are definitley noticable, they're not too overwhelming. If you learn to like this beer you'll end up liking about 20 other kinds of pale ales.



I know I said top 5, but I'm giving one more recommendation.

I firmly believe that at least 90% of people who don't like darker, craftier beer don't like it because of a mental reason. It's not that they don't like the taste...it's mostly because they see the color of the beer, or smell the aroma and before they taste it, they believe they won't like it because it is "different." Well that's why you need to try this...the ultimate gateway beer:
Go to your favorite bar...sit down...order a pint of the black stuff...and drink it.

Don't think...just drink.

You've heard the comments....

"Man, that tastes like a milkshake."
"It's like a full meal in itself."
"You pretty much have to chew it."
"It tastes like burnt oil"

Well, those are all false. Guinness is a pretty wild beer the first time you have it...it's creamy...it's black...I get it. However, as you start drinking other craft brews you'll soon realize that Guinness is actually a bit weak. If you can learn to drink Guinness, you can overcome the mental block that is keeping you from enjoying the many wonders of craft beer!

Give these a try...expand your horizons...thank me later!