If I wanted to start drinking beer, where should I start?

[Populist_Prole]

5. Try some good quality lagers first, or the better Pilsenser styles

Don't yet try the more intensely flavored darks ( stouts porters ) just yet. Let them become an acquired taste. Stay away from any of the literally watered-down "low-cal" or light ( or 'Lite' ) beer so that you become accustomed to what real beer tastes like. Now you may well end up liking a lighter ( not "light" ) but at least you'll have become familiar with a reasonable benchmark first.

Now it's funny as my mind has become blank as I try to recall on demand, so what I mention won't do justice to the many choices available, but these can be had in most any big food store.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Yuengling Lager

Sierra Nevada Amber Ale ( not actually a lager but one of the best and readily available of it's type )

All these beers would be considered too "thick" or intensely flavored by those who drink only the mass market stuff like Bud, Miller and such, but the latter, especially the 'Lite' versions are known as good beer for people that don't like beer: Not exactly a ringing endorsement in my book.

Read more suggestions, and post what you think after you've tried some. I'd really like to know a first timer's impression.