[MrNate]

Ok, not sure of the best place to ask this, but here goes: I have been volunteered to host a beer tasting next month. For a group of women. Any suggestions on what to serve? Do I try to go the "gateway beer" route or do you think it'd be OK to throw in a HopDevil or DFH-n?

Also, I have no clue what to expect in terms of alcohol tolerance. Not trying to be sexist, but I just have no clue how to estimate what a reasonable amount of beer would be.

Any suggestions as to what to serve, and how many rounds is reasonable?

[denny]

My wife is a tiny thing who drinks pretty much only my 70+ IBU, 8+% ABV beers.  When I brought home a 10%, 100+ IBU IIPA and warned her about it, her response was pretty much "so what?".  Now, she's not a heavy drinker, but she likes the flavorful, bitter beers.  And many of the women beer drinkers I know around here are like that.  So I wouldn't make any gender based decisions.  Just get a variety of good beers and you should have something that will cover everyone.

[Hokerer]

Just get a variety of good beers and you should have something that will cover everyone.

and lean toward having too much vs not enough.  As long as they're "good beers", that means more for you afterwards

[bluesman]

As long as they're "good beers", that means more for you afterwards

+1

[MrNate]

Denny, I do see your point. On the other hand, this is New Jersey, not the craft beer capital of America. Yes, it's a regional and gender-biased opinion, but from what I've seen of the group of women my wife hangs out with it tends to hold true. So I apologize for the misogyny, but if my opinion happened to be correct would you still recommend the same thing?

[akr71]

Just get a variety of good beers and you should have something that will cover everyone.

+1  Try to demonstrate that there are many styles of beer - malty to hoppy and all kinds in between and that there is bound to be a style out there for everyone.  I would do the same for the alcohol strength - some light, some stronger.

[denny]

So I apologize for the misogyny, but if my opinion happened to be correct would you still recommend the same thing?

No apology necessary....I've heard enough about situations opposite to mine that I understand, and you obviously know the group you're serving for.  In that case, maybe temper my suggestion.  But I still say don't "pander"....you don't necessarily need to have a heavy selection of IIPA, but neither would I make it all light fruity stuff, either.  You might be surprised (as might the tasters themselves) what they like if they have a chance to try.  So, maybe some AM. IPA and a couple British beers, along with stuff like Lindeman's.

[MrNate]

How many rounds do you think is reasonable? 6? How many ounces do you pour for a tasting? How many are usually in a flight?

[tom]

A couple ounces is more than enough for a taste.
There are many different types of beers than most people know about.
I would have an American Light lager and a Guiness stout. Ask them which one has more calories - they are about the same. The dark is strong theory out the window.
Many friends who like wine like the Belgian Strong Ales.
Then a malty vs hoppy, etc.
Have fun.

[riverrat]

Definitely smaller portions (about 2 ounces is more than sufficient for a quick sample) with more options, and the opportunity to go back to the ones they enjoyed most afterwards.  There will be ones that they absolutely will not drink, and there will be ones that pleasantly surprise them and you. 

Try to keep some time between samples (chatting with friends and snacking on food work well) so they have a chance to self-moderate their level of intake to what they are comfortable with.

My wife typically won't go near any of the beer I make (severe aversion to hops, flavor, darker color, etc...), but she tried a winter ale and actually didn't mind it.  Blew my mind.

[bluesman]

Maybe you could take a quick survey. Ask them what they drink now and would they be willing to broaden their horizons.

[MrNate]

I have some Miller 64 I was going to serve at the end alongside some seltzer... See if anyone could tell the difference.

What do you think about this lineup?

Hacker-Pschorr Edelhelle
Pilsner Urquell
Hogaarden
Fuller's ESB
Sierra Nevada PA or Anchor Steam
DFH 90
Guinness Stout
Paulaner Salvator

MAYBE:
Duvel (because I've never tried it and this is a good excuse)
Orval or some other trappist or abbey
Samichlaus

..I'm thinking about the last 3 because I think that pushing the envelope of what people expect "beer" to be is a quick way of broadening appreciation.

[denny]

I think Duvel might be a good choice.  It's not very "Belgiany".

[MrNate]

Is Duvel hoppy? How would you describe it? Wait, that's dumb. I'll just pick some up and find out.

I can't ask about preferences because I won't know exactly who's coming until a week before, which is why I'm evaluating the general pool and making some broad-brush assumptions.

[bluesman]

I think Duvel might be a good choice.  It's not very "Belgiany".

+1

and it will make them very happy.