Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Douglas
...I just like a good watery beer that you can drink lots of ...
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Lagers are generally less flavorful and seldom change without being declared as faulted. I, too, enjoy a light flavored lager depending on the matched meal or occasion. An IPA with citrus, hops and little malt can pair extremely well with finer foods such as smoked meats... the flavors complement each other and you taste more complexity with entire the meal. A lager in the same situation would be completely overpowered by the flavors of the meal to the point it seems you can taste nothing... just like water. Are you drinking to get just drunk or are you enjoying drink for flavor?
Ales on the other hand are a whole world of flavors to explore. If you're measuring ales against a lifetime of tasting lagers and expecting them to match in order to meet your standard then you should consider learning to describe ale flavors. A reputable craft brew tour and guide can help you get your bearings and learn flavors- there is crap out there and you probably should pour those out (I'm an ale fan and I've poured plenty out myself). With the popularity of the craft movement there are many craft beers available through retail that are terrible by all measures... and they still will sell despite their poor quality because there are so many people that want to try it themselves. Those brewers will think themselves a success until sales dry up as the marketplace determines they suck after tasting. You may have stumbled across such rubbish in your gift pack... don't let that dissuade you from trying more. There are
excellentcraft beers that have taken the beer world by storm.