So you say you don't like beer. I said that once. Or twice. That's probably because when you think of "beer" you think of the watered down American stuff with absolutely no taste, or perhaps the brew is too bitter from the hops. Either way, there is a whole world of better beer out there just waiting to be discovered. A few years ago I jumped aboard the craft beer wagon and never looked back. My faves? Sour beers (yes, they actually taste sour) and yeasty Belgian-style beers. Anyway, the point is, there's a whole world of crazy, insane, interesting, rogue craft beer being brewed right this second. Knowing what to try is half the battle, so I've asked my good friend Ryan Sweeney, super amazing, genius beer sommelier and owner of Verdugo bar and The Surly Goat in Los Angeles to help me organize a list of gateway beers to help the neophyte consumer branch out. 

If you like Bud, Miller and Coors:  Macro American lagers that are made with cheaper adjuncts like corn and rice instead of malted barley.

Alternative: American craft lagers brewed from barley and handmade by people worried about taste. Try Scrimshaw Pilsner, Craftsman 1903, Victory Prima Pils, or Samuel Adams Noble Pilsner. German Helles lagers are also made with Barley instead of cheaper adjuncts like corn or rice. Although mass produced, these are historic beers that are still made under the German purity law (Reinheitsgebot) keeping them honest with higher quality ingredients needed to make a better tasting beer. Try Weihenstephaner Original, Hofbrau Original, or if you can find it, Augustiner Bräu Lagerbier Hell.

If you like Blue Moon and Shock Top: Coors/Miller makes Blue Moon in Canada, and Shock Top is made by Anheuser Busch in St.Louis. Traditional beer of this style is made from wheat, coriander, and orange peel, though the aforementioned are made from extract and artificial flavorings.

Alternative: Allagash White, Lost Coast Great White, and Hitachino White. These are made from real ingredients crafted with higher quality.

If you like New Castle: Brown ale is an over sweetened English Brown which is unbalanced and watered down in taste to suit a less sophisticated mass American palate. A good brown ale should have a more roasted flavor and be a bit more viscous in mouth feel (thickness of body of beer).

Alternative: Samuel Smith Nut Brown, Rouge Hazelnut Brown, Alesmith Nautical Brown.

Intro to Belgians: If you prefer wine over beer but are looking for a transition to the other side, these semi-exotic beers are good alternatives. They are traditionally served in a goblet (8.5oz) and will have higher a volume of alcohol (6.4%+) with fruity qualities more reminiscent of a white wine. Try Duvel Green, Saison Dupont, Chimay White, Delirium Tremens.