How does one choose a quality beer that tastes good?

I went to the grocery store tonight and looked at all the different beers they had to choose from. I'm not talking about the general beers that most know of. I am referring to the high quality beers from all different parts of the world. It was very difficult for me to decide on one beer out of all the different ones. It's sort of like choosing a fine wine I suppose. What are the main differences between gourmet beers to look for? I like the less thick, lighter, sweeter beers, not the heavy stout bitter ones. Does anyone have any reccommendations on how to choose a good beer? Tonight I took a gamble and went with Heavy Seas' "Winter Storm" ale. It's a bit strong for my tastes, but it has a nice kick. Any help would be appreciated.

How does one choose a quality beer that tastes good?
I used to spend an hour picking out a beer, I completely understand where you are coming from.





What I used to do:


1. Stand in the aisle look like an idiot


2. Finally just ask myself what type of beer I was in the mood for.


3. Pick beer from above category at random.





What I do know:


1. Stand in the beer aisle look like an idiot.


2. Whip out my blackberry and cruise over to http://beeradvocate.com


3. Read reviews and look at ratings.





PS. I used to love going to the Winking Lizard when I lived in Cleveland. They just got a mention on http://www.whysoserious.com/ the Dark Knight/Joker web page. And I personally have tried to limit my trips to ratebeer.com as of late. I've done several side by side comparisons between BA and RB.. I've found that RB has become too snobby as of late.
Reply:beeradvocate.com is a good website to look at. Also try ratebeer.com, people from all over the world come to this site to rate beers, you can find any beer on there and many different descriptions of the beer. It will also have a rating, anywhere from 1 percentile to 100 percentile. The funny thing is, the most well known beers (Budweiser, Miller, Coors) have the worst rating. People actually call them "Drain Pours", as in pour it down the drain and don't drink it.
Reply:Check out





http://www.beeradvocate.com





You could get lost there for days.





Here's what others had to say about your beer:


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/898...





You can also read up on different styles, etc.
Reply:save up your pennies, and go to a bar that serves LOTS of good beers, such as the winking lizard chain in Ohio ( columbus and cleveland at least) and read the menu of beers ( they have like 100) and try the ones that SOUND good.. every one has diferent tastes, I like india pale ales and a few darker beers ( bass, killeans)
Reply:Start at this website...... looks good, and will probably take you other places. Good Luck.





http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...
Reply:Just like buying fine wine, you need to taste test.


Find a good vintner, someone who knows there wines; beers and spirits.


Read the labels, buy a few bottles of differing types and see what you like.





For you I would suggest some blondes. Try some Belgium or German beers. I prefer bitters. But I am told Leffe is a good Belgium blonde. Certainly readily available in the UK.





Go to a beer festival or two and talk and taste.
Reply:Trial and error is the fun of it! I try a new 6 pack every few weeks.


My hub likes Grolsch and Elephant and I like Sam Adams Winter Lager lately.


Have fun!
Reply:I subscribe to Beer Advocate and recommend it however...





The best way to choose a quality beer that tastes good is to learn more about beer and drink more beer. Find a brewery or brew pub, preferably one that offers tours. Take the tour, listen to the information they give you and ask questions. After the tour taste a variety of their beers and ask more questions. Also, tours tend to be very inexpensive ($3-$5) or free.





Then, find another brewery or brew pub and do it again*. And again. Practice makes perfect.





Attend a local beer festival. http://www.beerfestivals.org/ Sample everything and ask the brewery reps questions.





Finally, find a good liquor store with a knowledgeable staff that likes beer.





*I have found this is very easy in Milwaukee, WI and Denver/Fort Collins, CO. Your mileage may vary.
Reply:It sounds like you would probably enjoy a hefenweizen. Its a little sweeter with a himt of lemon or orange. You would probably want to stay away from lagers, porters, IPAs, stouts, etc. I sometimes enjoy hefenweizens (I'm not really into sweet beers), but I stay away from German Hefenweizens because they tend to taste like bologna. If you like sweet, you can also go for a Belgium beer, which is sweet but still has a strong beer flavor. You can also go for a belgium Lambic. Usually these beers are very sour, but often have sugar added. Try Lindemans Lambic which is sweet, sour, crisp, and fruity. It is still a beer. not a wine cooler.