h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My dilemma: I'd like to be adventurous and try some new beers/ales/etc, but I don't want to waste a lot of money I don't have on bevvies I will end up hating ('specially since most of them only come in a 6-pack, then what do I do with the other five and a half bottles?). So it occurred to me that if I maybe gave you a brief list of some that I like and some that I don't, you might be able to give me some professional guidance on some others that might not be a waste of my time (and cash).

If you're not up for it that's fine, but I'm asking anyway.

And because I'm an undiscerning American, I call them all beer, regardless of what the state of Texas says they are

I Like:
Amber Bock
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat
Killian's Irish Red
Dos Equis Amber

The first two are almost always in my fridge.
I'm thinking I've tried a Shock Top and thought it wasn't too bad.
I tried something Irish awhile back that wasn't Killians or Guiness and enjoyed it. Don't remember what it was, but I think it was a pretty common Irish brand.

I Don't Like:
Budweiser
Bud Select
Bud Light
Boulevard Pale Ale
Michelob
Almost anything else that is pale yellow and tasteless.
Years ago I drank Miller Genuine Draft, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like it anymore.

I like something with some character to it, but not real heavy or bitter. Xantief brought something from Cali to the meet at Hyp's several years ago that I liked, Tire Bite Ale or something like that. Had a drawing of a crazy looking dog hanging on to a bicycle tire by his teeth on the label. Can't find it in Missouri.

Suggestions?

Well! How long have you got and shall we discuss my fee?

The first problem is that I don't know which beers you can get in MO and which you can't so it might be a bit hit and miss, but you can use it as a starting point.

I'll have a bit more time this evening and tomorrow to give you some suggestions, but right now I have to get ready for work.

One thing - do you have any speciality beer stores within easy reach? Or even a Wholepaycheque?

Well, it seems to me that what you like, brow, is pales and ambers, American pale wheat ales and bocks. That's actually a pretty wide ranging taste in beer Pales and ambers, while the most common ale style, are the most varied too. Wheat beers are a whole nother category of beer, and bocks are actually lagers.

If you're not too keen on anything hoppy or bitter I'd stay away from Sierra Nevada or Stone, mostly. You might want to have a crack at Sierra's spring seasonal - Glissade Golden Bock. I reckon Sierra Nevada must be available in just about every state.

When Sam Adams summer seasonal comes out I reckon you'll like that too - Sam Adams Summer Ale. It's a pale wheat, like the Boulevard.

I don't know which bocks might be available in MO but they won't be hard to find - just look for the word 'Bock' on the label Most of them will probably be German imports. Avoid Shiner Bock... unless you really want to try it.

A lot of beer stores and maybe Wholepaycheque too will let you build your own sixpack of mixed beers. Deffo a really good way to try out some new beers, or they might have a shelf for single bottles.

Bombers are a good way to try a new beer - you only buy one bottle... but it's 22oz of beer, and the price per oz is usually more expensive than sixpacks.

Boulevard makes several you might like:
Boulevard Amber
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/58605
Boss Tom's Golden Bock
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/56707
Irish Ale (a seasonal I think)
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/3279
Pale Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/2094

I envy you being that close to Boulevard - I love their Smokestack Series beers, especially the Dark Truth Stout, which I put on the menu at the Drafthouse but it's out of stock at our supplier half the time

Have you ever tried any Scotch or Scottish style ales, like Belhaven? I think you might like those - malty and sweet rather than bitter and hoppy. And you can get single bottles of those because the come in 16.9oz (550ml). Most English ales are the same - Sam Smith's Old Brewery Pale, Sam Smith's Nut Brown Ale, Old Speckled Hen, Wychwood Hobgoblin, Wells Bombardier, Wells Banana Bread, Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Banana Bread? Seriously? I've heard of chocolate beers but have been too chicken to try one. Schlafly's had a raspberry beer out a few years back and it was pretty good for the first bottle, after that the sweetness of it wore off and the remaining beer taste wasn't as nice.

Sorry, internet access and time haven't been well coordinated the last few weeks. I think I've just discovered though, that the internet filter is turned off at work on the weekends.

I tried the Boulevard Pale Ale a few years ago and didn't like it much. They also come out with a multi-pack once or twice a year with three or four different styles in. I tried one a couple years ago but don't remember which ones I liked.

There's a WholePaycheque in the area, but not terribly convenient to me. Of course, it's across the street from the World Market where I get my TyPhoo, so I pass it occasionally. I think there's a liquor store in St Charles (~20 mi., but right next to my cleaners) that has beers by the bottle. I'm thinking I tried a Monty Python-themed beer from there once. Holy Grail Ale or something.

Didn't know Boulevard had an amber
I wonder if they have brewery tours? Next time I'm in KC I can take the tour AND have lunch/dinner at Buca

When my beer budget improves I'll try a few of your suggestions and give you an update.

You get Ty-Phoo?

Sometimes. Actually World Market told me they were only stocking it for the holidays. I still have a box so I haven't been in lately to check.

When my sister was in Austin a few years ago she found it in a supermarket there somewhere, because she brought some back for me. I'll see if she remembers which one. Before that I was ordering it online from teadog.com. Seems like the price was just a little higher than what I pay when I find it in a store. Comes out to about $10 a box, I think. Shelf price around here is about $8 if I remember right.

There are a few places in Austin that sell Ty-Phoo, including World Market, but they're hard to get to when you don't drive (World Market in particular cos there's no bus that goes down that road), but there's always the interwebs

I buy loose tea though - Yorkshire Tea cos that's the easiest brand for me to get at the place where I do most of my food shopping. It's a bit pricey - around $7.50 for half a pound. They have Ty-Phoo and PG Tips bags there, but no loose.

There's just something about making a pot of tea