How to pick your first craft beer

Craft beer opens up a huge world of flavor. For a newcomer, starting with approachable and soft styles is the right call.

What craft beer is

Beer from small independent breweries that put flavor and quality first.

Where to start

The friendliest styles for a beginner:

• Pale Ale
• Wheat Beer
• craft Lager versions
• Amber Ale

What not to start with

If you're new, skip these for now:

• very bitter IPAs
• extremely sour sours
• heavy, high-ABV stouts

How to choose

Look at:

• freshness
• style
• ABV
• the flavor description on the label

Try gradually

Better to buy a few different cans and compare than to commit to one big one.

Bottom line

Your first craft beer should be friendly and easy to understand on the palate. From there, you can move on to more complex styles.