Beer newbie checking in...

I started drinking it two years ago, but I only drank Bud Light until six months ago. Since then I've been experimenting some.

I seem to like the stouts more than anything else. I've liked most stouts I have tried so far -my favorites are Schlafly's Oatmeal Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout, Guinness Draught, and Square One Imperial Stout.

I haven't had so much luck with the lagers and ales, but I am open-minded to trying more. The most frustrating thing I am experiencing is that I'm buying beers that tastes different than it claims. An example, I've been disappointed by the pumpkin ales I've tried, none of them tasted like pumpkin whatsoever. I'm not expecting beers to taste like soda, or Smirnoff Ice, but I want them to taste at least somewhat like the flavor(s) mentioned on the bottle. In other words, I need some recommendations! I not having any luck finding them on my own.

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter was the worst beer I've ever had (or happened to be a bad bottle of it). I was disturbed by the metallic taste. When I finished it, my mouth tasted like I either swallowed a bunch of rusty nails or I earned my red wings.

I was going to suggest Red Hook until you said you were a stout fan. You know what? I'll still suggest it...

I was in grad school when I discovered Red Hook. Like you, if I were going to drink beer, I had always preferred Bud Light. I got laughed out of the bar. (Then again, I was the only female in the grad program, so the boys felt like they had to teach me how not to be a priss.) Anyway, Red Hook is quite tasty. It's much more flavorful than Bud Light, but it isn't overpowering. The first sip is pretty hoppy, but you might learn to enjoy that hoppy taste (I did). But like I said, since you're a fan of stouts, you might not dig Red Hook that much; it's definitely much lighter than a stout.

In general, I think stouts are a good starting point if you're looking to expand your taste for beer. As long as you stay away from the hoppier ones, you can really appreciate the taste without being overwhelmed. As you go along, you can step it up and enjoy hoppier stouts (I'm thinking Russian Imperial stouts like Old Rasputin), and then branch out into hoppier brews overall.

I'll echo that Red Hook is pretty solid - there are a bunch of other breweries that I prefer, but the ESB is actually a good way to introduce yourself to hoppier ales.

Left Hand Milk Stout is one of the best beers being produced in large quantities in America today - absolutely fantastic brew.

You probably got a bad batch of the Breckenridge, although it's not the best Porter out there - if you want to try some porters, Grant's Perfect Porter is my favorite, but almost all will be solid. Flying Dog's Imperial Porter is sound as hell, but has double-digit alcohol content, so it's not for everyone.

Pumpkin ales really won't have a strong 'pumpkin' taste unless it's something niche like Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, which has actual pumpkin puree in the brew. Instead, it'll carry a sort of "Halloween in a glass" taste. If you're looking for beer with a more explicit flavor, try Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Pyramid Apricot Ale, or Rogue Chipotle (warning: the last one is WEIRD).

I LOVE Rogue Chipotle - but yes, it's definitely weird. I'd also add that Rogue's Chocolate Stout as a beer with an explicit flavor.

I love Pyramid's Apricot. Never have liked Redhook, though. Both are local breweries, though Redhook is now owned by A-B.

If you want to put a different spin on Guinness, order one of my favorite drinks: Guinness and cider (called a Black Velvet, but lots of bars get it mixed up with the whiskey if you order it by that name). Some bars make it with apple, but most I go to seem to make it with pear.

I tried Brooklyn Monster Ale recently, the brewery's barleywine style ale. Overall, it was fairly subpar. Barleywine style ales aren't my favorites, but this was fairly weak. I've had high-alcohol brews before (this is about 11.8%), but this one seemed to really accentuate the alcohol taste, which took away from the taste.

Overall, it was extremely disappointing. I would not recommend it, either to experienced beer drinkers or to the novice beer drinker.

For barleywines, Left Hand's is the only national-distribution one I've liked . . . one of our local breweries had a decent one, but most taste like bourbon with a thin beer base, which is the worst of both worlds to me (even though I love both bourbon and beer, clearly).

However, if you want 11% booze content (AND I DO), try Flying Dog's Imperial Porter (again, I'll reiterate this one). It's great booze from an otherwise overrated brewery. Do it, loaf. Do it.

I just found a place in town that has a tremendous beer selection, one of the better selections I've seen around. They have the Flying Dog Imperial Porter, so I'll have to pick it up.

To that end; I got a bottle of the limited edition Sam Adams Chocolate Bock. The Beer Advocate guys slam it, but I really liked it. It's the closest thing I've found to Rogue Chocolate Stout. Even though it's a bit pricy, it's definitely worth it.

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a beer snob. The new Michelob beers though are awesome and a value (well, except for the porter-it's missing a little body). I would have never tried them if it hadn't been for the liquor store doing a tasting a few weeks ago. I'm trying the Dunkel Weiss now for the first time and it is yummy. The cost-$6.49 for a 6 pack or 2/$12...a real bargain around here.

The Dr. Gates thread made me want to talk about beer. I've been seeing Clipper City beers on tap a lot here in the DC area. They're out of Baltimore...the Gold Ale is a good alternative to something like Stella, and would be a good beer for those who usually drink domestic macro brews and are looking to branch out into something new.

Their Heavy Seas line has a lot of good offerings. And they're all boozy (woo hoo!) I like the Small Craft Warning Uber Pils.

Where have you been, homie? There is a song you need to hear, if you haven't already.

I like Delirium Tremens, but I am boring when it comes to beer.

I've been lurking, just haven't had much to say. Send me a PM on here or a message on FB or something re: that jam.

I don't think I've ever tried Delirium Tremens before, I'm not a huge pale ale fan. This thread did inspire me a while ago to try Rogue Dead Guy which I had on a winter trip to the mountains...it gave me an excellent early afternoon buzz and for that I will always think of it fondly.

Delirium is some wicked stuff. I've had it a few times and could only manage one bottle due to the alcohol content (and I had been off my game for a while). It's good though, definitely a Belgian-style, has some sweetness to it.

Anyone tried the Sam Adams Imperial stuff ? I had one a few weeks ago (I think it was a wheat beer), and it was good, but I'm still not sure about close to $10 for a 4 pack.