Suggestions wanted! (Trying to convert someone!)

[Katefan00]

OK gang. There is someone I have been trying to convert to a beer lover for about 3 years now. I know in my case it was just a matter of finding a beer I actually liked -- it was all downhill from there. After that I developed a taste for it and now I'll try anything I can get my hands on, and enjoy some brew in just about every style I've tried.

I make her try everything I do (even though she doesn't want to! ha HA!) -- and over the past two weeks we've had a BREAKTHROUGH! She tried a Stella Artois and said she liked it. Then this past Saturday I made her try a sip of my Stoudt's Double Mai Bock and she liked that one too. Normally I get a "eh" look and the glass gets handed back to me like it's full of maggots. (Even the semi-fruity North Coast Pranqster she didn't like. I really thought I had her with that one, but no.)

So, with those two beers as a guide, what's next? What would you offer next to try to bait the hook? :D

Best,
Kate.

[wortchillergoal]

Alot of women in my area like the SA Cherry Wheat. They also seem to like an Apricot Ale a local mirco here makes. You might try finding an apricot available in your area.

Pheraps try an Imperial Stout noted for it's sweetness.

[steveh]

What else does this friend like to drink? Any wines or other liquors?

Since Stella is pretty innocuous, a step up will have to be slow. Maybe a Wittekerk Wit beer from Belgium. It's pretty readily available nationwide, light in body, yet complex in flavor - without being too overpowering.

Another plan of strategy might be to work with the Fuller's line; start with their London Pride, work up to their I.P.A., then maybe the E.S.B., to the Porter, 1845, then maybe one of the Vintage ales. But work slow.

S.

[chazwicke]

Get her over to Cap. City and have her try a sampler. I'll bet she'll like the Kolsch. The Stoudt's Maibock is a pretty big beer for a starter. I've got a free weekend coming up on the 20th and I'm thinking of heading up to Stoudt's or there abouts. The Black Angus (Part of Stoudt's complex) is a good restraunt and of course the beers are available. Usually something on cask as well. Stoudt's just put in a new bottling line for 12 oz.ers.

[BluesHarp]

A Hefe Weizen may be a possibility, they are fairly light, but have a distinctive spicy "banana" flavor...I heard someone say once after trying one: "ooh, it's like a banana daiquiri in a bottle!"

They are definitely unique in their flavor...unlike any other style.

[Katefan00]

Steveh, for mixed drinks she tends to lean toward margaritas -- she likes sweet drinks. She does like wines, both red and white -- in whites she tends toward dry/sweet.

So, the pattern here is sweet. She tried a Rogue's Honey Cream and didn't care for it much (not sweet, the name is deceptive to the uninitiated). I had thought to try some lambics, but just haven't had a chance to yet since I don't buy them much myself.

Wit beers are a good idea -- I'd thought maybe to try a Hoegaarden, or possibly since she liked the Stella maybe something like Warsteiner.

K.

[fretlessman71]

Even though this is essentially a Coors product, the Blue Moon Belgian White isn't bad at all IMHO. Worth a shot, maybe?

[Beaver]

How about a lambic or a sweet stout?

[Katefan00]

I think a stout would be too much even though it may be a sweet variety -- I've had her try some of my darker beers and she hasn't much liked them. But a lambic I think would be a logical thing to try for sure. Any suggestions? I'm completely clueless when it comes to lambics.

[fretlessman71]

Same here. I don't eat lamb. ;)

[chazwicke]

No oysters and now no lamb!!!??? Fret, Fret, Fret I just don't know about you boy!.

A good tart wine - like Lambic to start someone on might be Rodenbach Grand Cru. While only a shadow of it's former goodness it is still a nice beer. Frank Boon, Cantillon and Oude Beersel are also very nice and tart and superb. I like Krieks and Gueuzes. If you want one that is sweet (too sweet in my book) try Lindemans. I love the tart lambics. Not a fan of the Lindemans.

[fretlessman71]

I know, I know... red meat and I parted company almost a decade ago. I miss it; you'll have to take this issue up with my lower intestine if you want anything done about it....

[chazwicke]

Well I feel for you. I could be a vegetarian till I passed the first house where they were grilling in the back yard. I feel the same way about food that I do about beer. Quality, quality, quality. Life is to short to drink bad beer or eat crap food. But my waistline certainly has paid the price. Oh well.

[Katefan00]

Looks like my friend and I will be going to Belga Cafe tomorrow for dinner. Maybe I can hook her with a lambic then, ha HA!

Here's their list of lambics.

Geuze Cuvee
Liefmans Kriek
Liefmans Framboise
Lindemans peche
Lindemans cassis

Perhaps I'll suggest one of the Lindemans.

[chazwicke]

I've been waiting for a second review of that place. Let us know how it is.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Well I feel for you. I could be a vegetarian till I passed the first house where they were grilling in the back yard. I feel the same way about food that I do about beer. Quality, quality, quality. Life is to short to drink bad beer or eat crap food. But my waistline certainly has paid the price. Oh well. The smell of a grill and a BBQ is nearly intolerably good for me. But consuming most of the stuff that goes on one of those sends me to the bathroom for about 6 hours at a stretch laying on the floor praying that God take me now. Boca Burgers for me, for ever.... :(

[chazwicke]

Some of the Veggie stuff tastes alright. I'm not against it. I'm open to trying most things at least once.

[fretlessman71]

GardenBurger makes Riblets that are UNBELIEVABLE. You might not even be able to tell the difference! (Well there aren't any bones, but other than that.... :) )

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
GardenBurger makes Riblets that are UNBELIEVABLE. You might not even be able to tell the difference! (Well there aren't any bones, but other than that.... )

No bones in the McDonald's McRib either! :D

S.

[Katefan00]

Yikes. After watching Supersize Me, I am so queasy just thinking about fast food.

Actually the thing that grossed me out the most was a section on the outtakes of the DVD version where he stuck several McDonald's sandwiches, fries etc. in glass jars and let them sit for a few weeks to see how they would break down. He also put homemade burgers and fries in similar jars for comparison.

The regular stuff began to mold after about a week. The Big Mac began to mold at 4 weeks.

Most disturbing: At 10 weeks, the McD's fries were spotless. Looked like he had put them in there yesterday. :(

[chazwicke]

Yeesh! I try to never eat fast food. It is hard with a 17 year old son though. He loves Taco Bell. Yuck!

[steveh]

Originally posted by Katefan00
Yikes. After watching Supersize Me, I am so queasy just thinking about fast food.

Heh, heh, heh - I dropped my FF intake a few years ago, too easy around my place of employment to slip into the bad habit every day.

On the other hand, the wife of a co-worker works for McD's corporate (internal communications - not R&D) and was able to get some of the McRib's pre-delivery and prep at a restaurant. We grilled 'em up (sorry Fret) when we were camping and doggone if they didn't actually taste like pork!

Back to the subject at hand - if your friend tries the Gueuze and enjoys it, she is truly an interesting individual!

S.

[Katefan00]

Originally posted by steveh
Back to the subject at hand - if your friend tries the Gueuze and enjoys it, she is truly an interesting individual!

Oh man. That sounds like a challenge. I may have to get it just to see what the heck you mean!

K.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Katefan00
Oh man. That sounds like a challenge. I may have to get it just to see what the heck you mean!

No, not really a challenge other than the usual montra of giving all beers a chance (yes, even Oyster Stout - and no, not BMC 'cause no one has proven to me that's beer).

I freely admit to not liking Gueuze, and Lambics only a little more. Gueuze is very different and very full of character - more so than Stella (a Belgian lager) can profess, so be careful how much you're paying for a bottle before you find out you don't like a sour blend of old and young, unflavored lambic!

S.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Katefan00
Here's their list of lambics.

Geuze Cuvee
Liefmans Kriek
Liefmans Framboise
Lindemans peche
Lindemans cassis

Perhaps I'll suggest one of the Lindemans.

Not a bad list there! And nothing wrong with Lindeman's - they do swing to the sweet side with their fruit lambics, but their Cuvee Renee is a fine beer, too. Don't often see Liefman's on most menus. Enjoy!

And one thing that bugs me when people ask about a beer for women, is the answers usually lean to the super-sweet, lighter styles or low abv% brews. Seems a bit insulting. Plenty of porter, stout and barleywine lovin' women out there! :)

Cheers!

[Katefan00]

Originally posted by newportstorm
And one thing that bugs me when people ask about a beer for women, is the answers usually lean to the super-sweet, lighter styles or low abv% brews. Seems a bit insulting. Plenty of porter, stout and barleywine lovin' women out there! :)

Too right, although I take it in stride. I'm a prime example. The best is the looks I get when I sit down at a pub -- especially a brewpub -- to enjoy a sampler. It's amusing more than anything else. I love a good stout and porter is one of my absolute favorite styles of beer. I haven't had too much of barleywine brews but isn't Unibroue's Raftman one? I enjoyed that, too! Ha!

K.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by steveh
We grilled 'em up (sorry Fret)... Hey, don't let ME stop you from enjoying yourself! I can be serenely jealous from a great distance and dig into this really nice piece of Eggplant Parmigana here. There's PLENTY of food for me to eat... and thank goodness there's no meat in beer!

Save for those awful-sounding oyster stouts.... :(

[chazwicke]

Gueuze is good!

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Save for those awful-sounding oyster stouts....

LOL! The DFH Oyster Stout was more roasty than oystery. :D

S.

[chazwicke]

I wonder if they are serving it at the brewpub? I might have to pick some up for Turkey Day.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Katefan00
Looks like my friend and I will be going to Belga Cafe tomorrow for dinner. Maybe I can hook her with a lambic then, ha HA!

Here's their list of lambics.

Geuze Cuvee
Liefmans Kriek
Liefmans Framboise
Lindemans peche
Lindemans cassis

Perhaps I'll suggest one of the Lindemans.

So... what ever became of the evening?

S.

[Katefan00]

Well, we did indeed go last night and had a blast. (If anybody is reading this from the DC Metro area, I'll post a more detailed message about the cafe itself in the Mid-Atlantic board.)

I got there a bit late and to my surprise, she was already sitting there with a Stella Artois! *FAINT* I think partially influenced by some of our other friends, who were also there and drinking the same.

So I ordered a few other beers on the menu and made her try them (Duvel, Orval) -- met with indifference mostly. BUT.... later in the dinner I ordered a Lindeman's Cassis (black currant), which I thought would be a good mix of tart and sweet. She practically drank it for me. "I could get in trouble with this" was her comment. Success! Now I just have to figure out how to move her from lambics back to "normal" beers. ;)

K.

[chazwicke]

Sounds like you were rewarded for your efforts. Good job! I have a feeling just exposing her to all the variations available in beer that sooner or later she'll come around.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
Alot of women in my area like the SA Cherry Wheat. They also seem to like an Apricot Ale a local mirco here makes. You might try finding an apricot available in your area.

Pyramind Brewing out of Washington makes a very good Apricot IMHO