Beer styles you've tried to like ... but just don't.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Do you have a style of beer that you just don't care for? While there may be plenty of great beers within the style, objectively-speaking, you just can't seem to bring yourself to enjoy them?

For me, it's gotta be American Pale Ales and, believe it or not, doppel bocks. It's all about the hop varieties in most American pales, I think. Doppelbocks ... they're just too cloying for me - I like molasses in desserts, not in liquid form.

There are, of course, exceptions to this but they are few and far between.

How 'bout you?

[Fran]

Oh my gosh - tried some Samaels oak aged ale last night by Avery - disgusting! Tasted more like a whiskey than a beer...threw some in the veggie dish I was making and made that taste pretty darn good though...

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Beers aged in hard alcohol barrels of any kind. And while I'm starting to develop a taste for IPAs through sampling, it's unlikely that I would order a full pint.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Wow ... I know you're not a big fan of hard liquor, so I can understand. I'd challenge you, though, to give a beer like Allagash Curieux a try ...it's a gorgeous beer with subtle oak notes from the barrel aging. I must confess, I'm a fan of high-end wiskeys, so I'm biased ... but this beer floored me.

[Rob DeNunzio]

Double that on the Allagash tip (the Musette is particularly stunning),but if I were to sell Eli on the used-barrel aged beers, I'd be pulling out some of the Russian River wild ales aged in castoff red and white wine casks - some of the best brett this side of the Seine. Of course, that depends on whether or not you like your beers as funky, wicked and weird as that... a theme I see emerging further down the thread... And yes, I know wine isn't hard alcohol. But still.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

I haven't tried the Musette - I picked up the Curieux and left the Musette behind last time I was on a beer-buying run. A mistake, Id' wager. Russian River is a brewer that has eluded me ... can't find any retailers in my region of the country that carry it. One of these days, I'll find it ... especially given I am a certified Brett-head.

Great post, Rob!

[Deuane]

No barrel aged beers....weak on IPA's.....What, What, What?! Oh well, more for me!!!!

I guess you wont be going to Night of the Barrels at EBF anytime soon!

[Corbin Choate]

I had a bad experience with Pyramid Brewing's Thunderhead IPA last weekend. I thought I would try it since it was just $1.69 per bottle. I'm sorry I did. It tasted like vinegar and bad pickles. I tried to like it a the beginning...just couldn't do it.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Sounds like you might have had a bad bottle there, Corbin. I don't know if you normally like IPAs or not, but Thunderhead is usually pretty non-offensive for the style.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

I'm also not huge fan of what are commonly classified as Amber or Red ales, in general ... they're just ... well ... boring more times than not. Again, there are several that I've enjoyes, especially since this is sort of an elusive category, but the majority have reminded me of a mediocre extract homebrew. Okay, but nothing to seek out.

[Corbin Choate]

It had to have been a bad bottle. I love IPAs...especially Dogfish Head 90 Minute.

[StarOnStage]

Mmmm 90 minute. And the ever elusive 120!

[The beer philosopher's wife]

I hate Gueuze! Just thinking about one makes me shutter! Everytime Shawn breaks one out I think, "Okay, I'll try it again." Just one sip and I shutter!