[hubie]

older people (40+)

HEY!!!!  40+ isn't "older"!

Absolutely.  And get off my lawn!

I did a California Common once that went over real well.  I brought that and a blonde ale over to a company summer picnic, which also had Coronas and another BMC-type beer, and I was pleased to find that my beers were much preferred over the others.

[ibru]

Kolsch and Vienna Lager have been the two most popular of the beers I have on tap with the lite beer people. I am surprised at how some people who I thought were lite beer drinkers for life eventually come around to liking more flavorful beers.

I haven't found any connection with age and liking good beer. There are from my observation as many youngsters as there are people around my age (59) who are lite beer drinkers. I would guess the average age of people at the brew pubs that I frequent to be around 45. Would be an interesting study though.

Bruce

[tcanova]

I've really given up trying with my family.  There are a couple of my cousins who will try my beers but most are not interested. 

I know with my grandmother who is 89, she remembers her daddy making homemade beer, I guess a carry over from prohibition, and she thinks what I make is too strong and compares it to what he used to make.

I just let them drink the BMC and I keep the good stuff for myself. 

[tonyp]

A cream ale is the lightest I've tried to make so far and it went over well. I think this summer i might make a blonde ale or a farmhouse.

[drjones]

Sometimes older people (40+) and non-beer-drinkers will dislike hop bitterness, but not know what that means, and assume that "light" in color means "light" in bitterness.

Ignoring the 40+ thing (I'm 49), I think this raises a good point.  What do people mean when they say "light"?  Most casual lager drinkers probably don't know themselves, but it seems it may be any of the following, probably in descending order of relevance:  color, bitterness, maltiness, calories, alcohol.  One of the things I love most about brewing is the range of possible expression and potential for creativity.  Want a straw-yellow, hopped-up, session beer - no problem.  How about a black, 15 IBU lager - why not!   
It makes me think back on my years in Cologne, ca. 1990.  Koelsch was king, of course, but as a beer novice I always found it a bit insipid (but nothing beat hanging out in an outdoor cafe drinking from those tall delicate glasses on a summer afternoon!).  Dusseldorf was nearby, but every time I'd order an Alt, I was disappointed by how bland it seemed for a "dark" beer.  I know a bit better now, but it helps me realize how confusing it can be to the "non-specialist."
Thanks for all the great recommendations.  I think I'll have to do a Koelsch soon for old times' sake and give that poor old Alt a second chance.  I suspect the neighbors will enjoy them both, and if they're lucky, I'll share the saison.

[thatgeekguy]

The last couple of extract kits with steeping grains I did were from the MoreBeer 'budget' series, a blonde and a porter. As a homebrewers and craft beer drinker, I was actually surprised at how well they came out for the price point. They have also been well received by BMC drinking neighbors and friends.

Though I've started doing all-grain now, it's good to know there are some inexpensive and quick extract brews I can throw together quickly if needed.

[drjones]

Though I've started doing all-grain now, it's good to know there are some inexpensive and quick extract brews I can throw together quickly if needed.

There's nothing better than doing a quickie kit beer after a couple of dozen all grain batches.  Feels like a holiday!

[kylekohlmorgen]

My neighbor used to be a hardcore Bud lite drinker, but he loves my Berliner Weisse. Sometimes, people surprise you.

Fruited sours are how I'm reeling in my wife. First Lindeman's, then a locally brewed Peach Berliner, now she digs my cherry Flanders.

At our wedding, I received a LOT of compliments from her family on my beer (a rich, chewy, coffee, chocolately, brown ale). I think the combination of familiar non-beer aromas/flavors, low bitterness, and moderate gravity was such a departure from what they know as beer that it allowed them to put their guard down and just enjoy the drink.

The celebration probably didn't hurt. Sometimes its all about reaching the right person at the right time.

[corkybstewart]

I haven't found any connection with age and liking good beer. There are from my observation as many youngsters as there are people around my age (59) who are lite beer drinkers. I would guess the average age of people at the brew pubs that I frequent to be around 45. Would be an interesting study though.

Bruce

Since pretty much all my friends are my age (40s and 50s) I can say that age isn't a factor at all.  My daughter's friends all drink good beer, my son's friend all drink BMC.
To the OP I say brew what you like and if the others don't like it they can bring their own.  At our annual Oktoberfest my rauchbier and the hefeweizen are always the most popular, even with BMC drinkers.  People who are unwilling to try homebrew always bring their own so I don't worry about them.

[kylekohlmorgen]

...To the OP I say brew what you like and if the others don't like it they can bring their own...

Its always nice to cater to your guests if you're the host, though.

I also think it's one hell of a feat for your beer to be someone's "Gateway Beer".

Its great to dial in a beer for my palate or to nail the style guideline, but its much more satisfying to receive a compliment like "I would pay money for this beer" from a BMC-loyal guest (esp. an in-law) than a BJCP judge. IMO.

[skyler]

older people (40+)

HEY!!!!  40+ isn't "older"!

Kolsch for my BMC friends.

I didn't mean to imply that people over 40 are OLD, just oldER than my wife (26) and me (29) and most of our friends.

And I don't in any way mean to say that people older than me don't know beer. Of course people over 40 are just as capable of knowing good beer (in many cases more capable, especially if they have had the opportunity to travel). I wasn't making that generalization, I was just discussing the people in my extended family and acquaintance circle over 40 and it came out wrong.

By the time I drank beer (college), there was a ton of craft beer of plenty of varieties at every bar in the town where I lived (Davis, CA). If I were 10-15 years older, there would have just been BMC, and maybe Bass Ale, Guinness, Heineken bottles, or Sam Adams or SNPA or maybe a domestic Hefeweizen in a good bar. It took being a real beer lover to get to know about great beer then and do develop that palate. I was lucky. My cousin (~45) still doesn't know that a stout is an ale.

[Joe Sr.]

I find that my tripels tend to be popular with people who don't usually drink a lot of craft beer.  For parties, I'll typically make a tripel and maybe a wheat beer of some sort.  I find that non-craft drinkers seem more likely to try it if it looks similar to BMC.

I also keep some Miller Lite on hand for those hard core folks.  I've been known to have one now and then after working outside all day.  If their IFC they go down like water.

[nateo]

I find that my tripels tend to be popular with people who don't usually drink a lot of craft beer.  For parties, I'll typically make a tripel and maybe a wheat beer of some sort.  I find that non-craft drinkers seem more likely to try it if it looks similar to BMC.

I was just thinking the same thing. Some Belgian styles are prized for being highly "digestible" (drinkable?). A well-made tripel should be pretty light, IMO. Many domestic commercial examples are too thick for me. I use a lot of sugar in mine, usually 25-30%.

[corkybstewart]

...To the OP I say brew what you like and if the others don't like it they can bring their own...

Its always nice to cater to your guests if you're the host, though.

But it really isn't possible to cater to everybody's tastes. 

Everybody we know understands the kind of beer that will be served at our house and reacts accordingly.  Some bring their Coors or Bud Lite, no problem for me and it's what they like.  They still have the option of trying any of the other beers, but they can also stay in their personal comfort zone if that's what suits them.  My boss brought a 12 pack(at least) of Budweiser to my house every time he came over, his wife loved my homebrew, everybody was happy.

[Slowbrew]

The last person who asked me for a lite beer got "Pour a half glass of something and there's a faucet over there.  Make it as lite as you have to."  They tried a Blonde at full strength and have never asked for lite beer at house again.

I've also  been know to tell people the light switch is by the door.

I make kolsch, blonde, farmhouse ales, American wheat and usually have at one on tap at anytime.  they find something they like.  Except that one guy who brings his own 12 pack of Coors Lite to every party.

Paul