Hot Girl’s Guide to Beer
Note: The legal drinking age in the United States is 21. Please drink responsibly. Strike Magazines does not condone underage drinking of any kind.
Let’s talk about beer. But first, let’s get something out of the way -- drinks are not inherently gendered; there is not one drink that is better than another for any given reason. There is nothing wrong with preferring cocktails or straight liquor or any other drink. There is nothing better than truly knowing your taste and loving that. Hell, that’s what this blog is about. I have had so many conversations with my female friends where people have expressed a desire to know more about beer or told me that they like some kinds of beers but don’t really know what else to try. If this sounds like you, or if you are just generally into beer, this blog is for you.
I want to break down a few different kinds of beers and why I think they would be appealing to a non-beer drinker’s palette. Not all of these are going to be your new favorite beer because we all have different tastes; however, hopefully you have a starting point that might help you navigate your beer journey.
Domestic Beers
Listen, these are going to be pretty unapproachable for a non-beer drinker. But they are going to be the cheapest at any bar or restaurant. These American beers are often lagers or pilsners. Lagers can be any color -- Pale, Amber, or Dark -- but are most commonly found as a pale ale. These beers are what you think of when you think of beer: Budweiser, Coors, Miller, etc. You have likely had them warm, out of the back of some guy’s car at a bonfire in high school (not that we condone underage drinking, but come on…). I will make an argument that you should try one of these beers simply because it is nice to be able to grab a cheap, casual beer.
Personally, I am a big fan of a Coors Banquet or a Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR). Coors Banquet and PBR are both very drinkable because they are not too intense in flavor. They “pair” nicely with burgers and fries and are a great, casual beer. Another thing to note is that these beers are reliable; since these beers are produced by large corporations, they do not vary batch-by-batch as a local brewery’s beer might. Overall, I would try these beers if you are looking for a reliable, readily available, and cheap beer.
Sours
Oh, Sours. These have to be my favorite type of beer. I think these will be the most approachable beer to someone who doesn’t like beer. You can find sours in just about any fruity flavor combination out there— even some that maybe shouldn’t exist. Your best bet for a great sour is from a local brewery. Because breweries do smaller batches than large companies, they can put out great sours made with seasonal and local produce. Also, breweries have professional brewers who have some time on their hands and know a lot about beer, so they play around with ingredients and flavors that a major company might not produce for a mass market.
Want to try a sour? One great sour that is widely available is Dogfish Head’s SeaQuench Ale. Dogfish Head describes this on their website as: “a session sour mash-up of a crisp Kölsch, a salty Gose and a tart Berliner Weiss brewed in sequence with black limes, sour lime juice and sea salt. The result? A citrusy-tart union that has captured the attention and hearts of beer, wine and margarita drinkers alike!” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Sweet and Dark
The days are getting shorter and the temperature is dropping. All you want to do is throw on your cable-knit sweater and read a book or cozy up around a fire. Dark beers might be for you. Dark beers seem pretty intimidating. I quite like beer and I still don’t have a complete handle on the various types of Dark beers. Guinness is probably the most famous dark beer. Often, dark beers can taste like a loaf of bread, and I won’t sit here and deny it; however, these beers can have a rich and nutty taste that is perfect for winter. Similarly, breweries will play around with adding different nuts and other flavor profiles to Porters and Stouts (types of dark beers) that make them really interesting and drinkable.
If you are looking to try a dark beer, I would really recommend going to your local brewery. Read the beer list and talk to the bartenders. I know it sounds scary, but this is their job and they know a lot about it!
Dry and Hoppy
India Pale Ales or IPAs. We all know about them because IPA lovers love to talk about how much they love IPAs. We get it. (I am an IPA lover). These beers have hops added to them during the brewing process which changes the flavor based on the flavor of the hops. Hops are structurally related to marijuana, they are like “cousins” of the plant world, which makes some hops and IPAs have more of that weed-like taste than others. If you are a fan of the earthy and herby smell and flavor that weed sometimes has, you might like an IPA. Or, if you are a fan of the dryness of Pinot Noir or Sauv Blanc and other dry wines, you could consider trying an IPA.
One really enjoyable and accessible IPA is Sweetwater Brewing’s 420 Extra Pale Ale. It is crisp and very earthy. There are not too many hops as sometimes beers have been double or triple hopped and that can make the beer have a really strong flavor that I don’t think is the most appealing to someone just learning to like beer.
Overall, this is just a snapshot of a few different kinds of beers and why I—as someone who has only learned to like beer in the last two years or so—like them. Please, don’t take my word as gospel, I just wanted to share some of the things I have learned, mostly from trying some beers I really didn’t like. My biggest piece of advice is to keep trying! Maybe you and your friends can make a day of trying a bunch of different beers and tasting each other’s so that you can try even more variety.
And who knows, maybe you’ll never be into beer, and that’s totally fine too. We all like what we like and there’s no harm in that. Hopefully, though, you feel a little more confident dipping your toes into the world of beer that has not traditionally felt comfortable or welcoming to you.
Strike Out.
Writer: Jane Dodge
Blog Editor: Sarah Singleton
Chattanooga
