Right, and think about what an imported beer has to go through just to get to your fridge…
Then compare that to the micro 150 miles away that was bottled on Wednesday.
Opal, you happen to live in one of the best beer states around for distribution of microbrews. Here are a few I would suggest you try to find and give a shot:
Rodenbach Redbach–sweet, sour cherry flavor
Lindemans anything–they make several fruit beers
Melbourne Brothers–same as above
and maybe Dogfish Head Festina Peche–a sour peach flavor
Good luck!
Oh, c’mon! A dog can manage that!
I would say that if you’re a beer drinker, there’s no better place to be than in America right now. People here are trying just about everything with beer. Some experiments are great, others not so much, but brewers and drinkers alike are having fun. There is access to so much great beer, it’s overwhelming. And, yes, I’ve drank beer across the whole of Europe, and I’ve had British beer, Czech beer, German beer, and Belgian beer all in their countries of origin. And all those countries make great beers, and all of them also make some pretty shitty beers (actually, off the top of my head, I can’t think of a truly bad Czech beer).
As for Goose Island, I think it’s one of the better breweries in the country (in my top 10 or 15), but their bottled product is variable. Their more extreme beers, like their Imperial IPA and Imperial Stout, are among the best in their class. Their flagship, Honker’s Ale, is best drunk on tap at the brewery. Even in local bars here it’s hit or miss. I’ve never had a beer that’s so all over the map in flavor as the Honker’s. Even the British like Goose Island. The beer guy for the Guardian called their IPA “perhaps the best beer in the world.” I would never go so far as to say that, but it is a tasty brew.
If you’re into fruity drinks, the obvious suggestion would be to try a lambic. Very few people don’t like lambics. Try Lindemann’s Kriek (Cherry) or Framboise (Raspberry) for starters. Also, New Glarus in Wisconsin makes a fantastic cherry beer called Belgian Red. If you could find it or are traveling through New Glarus (near Madison), it’s worth picking up.
I tend to also like sour flavors, so if you really like sour, give the unflavored lambics and Berliner weisse beers a shot. Also, Belgian/French farmhouse ales. I really love a cold glass of Hannsens Oude Gueuze (lambic) on a hot summer day, but it tastes like carbonated pickle/sauerkraut juice. If you’re in the 1% of people who find this description appealing, you’ll love this stuff. For a little more refined version of that, you could try 3 Fonteinen, Cantillon, or Cuvee Rene.
Personally, I don’t find beer an acquired taste, but I love the taste of malt, and I love bitter flavors. I’ve had a love affair with beer since tasting my father’s Old Style when I was 3 or 4. My poor dad couldn’t open a can of the stuff without me demanding a sip. Anyhow, if you don’t like normal beers, don’t like the dark beers, and don’t like the fruity beers, then beer simply isn’t for you. There’s no reason to have to develop a taste for beer. If you don’t like it, that’s perfectly fine. There’s plenty of other drinks to get into.
Fruity beers in the US are getting better.
Originally, I thought things were too fruity and artificial, and aiming for that lambic thing. Sam Adams had a raspberry (or raspberry wheat) that was terrible. I couldn’t finish half of one. Cloying and flabby.
But, a lot of beer makers now seem to be using the fruit for its acidity and not so much the flavor and sweetness.
Recently I’ve had two blueberry beers ( “Sea Dog” and “Bar Harbor”, IIRC) both from Maine. The Sea Dog was overly fruity and sweet. The BH was crisp and refreshing.
I’ve also recently had a lemon grass beer, “Tommyknocker” and a ginger beer. Barely noticeable ginger, except for that spark you kind of get from ginger.
Opal, I would second the suggestion of Lindemans Framboise, or really any of the Lindemans fruit lambics. They are quite sweet, and I know you have a sweet tooth,
The Young’s Double Chocolate might be another one you would enjoy, it really is pretty chocolate.
And if you really wanted to get crazy, buy them both and mix them together, a chocolate raspberry beer!
I posted last night after trying the Stagen Optimator. I’m not sure how odd this is, but I actually liked it better as it warmed up. The temperature seemed to match the texture a bit better or something. I’m really beer stupid, heck, I didn’t even know if I could buy it here after midnight on a Sunday. I recall hearing that good beer shouldn’t have to be cold.
In your experience, do you think that Stagen Optimator is better warmer? Or am I just a freak?
Not a freak at all. Spaten Optimator – or any bock or full-flavored beer – gets its flavor dulled if served ice-cold. It’s better served around 50-55 F.
I’ve tried to like wine. Wine is played up to be some kind of semi-orgasmic accompaniment to all things, but the crap sucks. I gave up and now I don’t want to like wine.
Beer, on the other hand, is nectar of the gods.
If you can find a good brewpub go in sometime when the bartender isn’t too busy. Someone who knows his beers and is willing to listen to you ramble on for a while (and can ask the right questions) will possibly be able to get close to something you might like.
It’ll help if you try out the recommendations here so you can say something like “I didn’t like Blue Moon, and that raspberry was too tart but I like the lack of hops”.
And sometimes they can serve in tiny sampler-size glasses so you don’t have to waste so much of the stuff you don’t like.
I’d like it if it wasn’t “without all the sweetness”. That’s what ruins it for me. I LIKE sweet. Hard cider is too not-sweet for me 
Says who, and for what reason?
I think I have tried this, as it sounds familiar. I know I had a raspberry beer (it was served in a wine glass, even) that my boyfriend really thought might have a chance with me. I recall my reaction being “ok, that isn’t as gross as most beer”.
Okay, so I zipped right through a bottle of Woodchuck* last night. That was very good. Moved on to the optimator, didn’t like it so much. I’ll try something else tonight (after another woodchuck).
*I wouldn’t call it beer though, but it taste a lot more like beer then Smirnoff drinks.
Finally! I can’t believe that I read through almost two pages of posts before someone said this. Come on guys and girls, I’m not sure if it’s the need to keep up your beer cred or whatever, but some of these suggestions for starters just don’t sound like starter beers. Of course considering that Joey P has a macro brewery nearby, I find it hard to believe that he hasn’t tried a domestic light beer. So, Joey P, what do you think of something like Bud Light, Coors Light, or Miller Lite?
Nothing yet. In fact, I was just thinking that after tasting all these beers, and only noticing a very slight difference between them, I need to try some ‘regular’ beers and see if I can even tell a difference. I think I have some Coors Light and Special Export at home.
I think you and I are in the same boat. I like alcohol only when it’s covered up with some intensely sweet flavors.
If they could make beer that tasted like an amaretto sour, I’d be all over it. 
amaretto…bleh. A Whiskey Sour however…
Has anyone suggested Pyramid’s Apricot Ale yet? I used to drink that back when I was more inclined toward fruity cocktails, when forced to choose a beer while out with friends.
Coors Light would be the easier of the two. It’s almost the poster child for a weak American domestic (Bud Light probably getting the honor).
When I was in my early 20’s I was in a situation similar to yours. I didn’t like any beers. Pounding down mixers all night was hard on my head and my wallet. I didn’t really care for the sugar buzz after a while either. I eventually started with Miller Genuine Draft Light. I can’t say that I really liked it, but if nothing else I felt better the next day than I would have drinking whiskey and Cokes. From there I went to Bud Light to make it easier to drink with friends (their beer of choice).
I still can’t say that I like the taste of any beer, but I do find a nice cold beer refreshing. I can drink about any light beer, but even something like Bud Select is a little too beery for me. I realize that these confessions will get me snubbed by the beer aficionados. It’s ok. What they drink tastes disgusting to me, so I don’t need to belong to their club.
I think tonight I’ll try Coors Light and Corona (I’ll grab a lime for it). I’ve still got a couple of others in my fridge and I’ll probably grab something else on my way home.