Beer appreciation thread

[Dionysus]

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.