To close out 2014 my Beer 101 column at the Sherbrooke Liquor website took a look at how to transition non-craft beer friends into the vast world of craft beer. The first couple installments (here and here) looked at the first initial steps away from pale lager, including moderate craft beer with similar profiles and then at some of the darker beer options.

I intentionally left the issue of hoppy beer and other more extreme options until the last piece (which you can read here). In my experience in beer tastings and workshops, I find the experience of hop bitterness is the hardest for many new to beer to appreciate. That pungent, puckering character of hops can take some time to develop a palate. Yet, I believe it is possible, as long as you work them into those flavours slowly.

My suggestion is to start with a fairly balanced beer, one that allows the newbie to experience where they will get a sense of where in their mouth they will pick up the bitterness, and what hops smells like. One of my go-tos for this, in addition to just generally being a superb beer, is Fuller’s ESB. A world (or at least an ocean) removed from American IPAs, it still gives enough bitter character that you can help them isolate hops.

From there many options exist. A solid American Pale Ale is a good next step. Alley Kat’s Full Moon Pale Ale/IPA (read here to explain that) is a reliable local option. After that, they are ready for the world of IPAs. Central City’s Red Racer, with its assertive citrus hop yet overall balance, is a good starter. From there, as long as they are open to it, keep trying different interpretations of the style. Before you know it they will be exploring the world of bitter beer on their own as they fast approach their own personal lupulin shift.

Sour, oak-aged and spiced beer, in a way are quite a bit easier in comparison to bitter. Often just go with something they already like. If they like pumpkin pie, likely pumpkin beer will appeal to them, for example. I find red wine drinkers are quite open to Flanders Red, such as Duchess du Bourgogne. Oak-aged beer are a bit more challenging, but if they appreciate a good scotch, likely you will find an open-mind.

Transitioning friends to craft beer isn’t hard. It just takes time, patience and paying a bit of a attention to where they sit at the moment. Like any transition you need to do it one step at a time. Don’t push it.

The good news is that as you share the transition with them, you will get to drink a wide variety of quality craft beer. Not bad for doing a friend a favour.