While most of the world's beer drinkers stick with light lagers, more and more are switching from these low-flavor beers to more robust microbrews. The craft-beer segment continues to see sales increases year after year, while the rest of the market is stagnant or in decline. Yet it's hard for some to make the switch. "Bridge" beers can facilitate an easy, step-by-step transition to bolder beers.

Whether you're an aficionado trying to convert friends or a longtime lager drinker interested in exploring other options, here are some beers that I have found to be successful first steps.

Many who say they don't like beer actually object to beer's bitterness. Sweeter styles are a way to clear that hurdle. One option is Munich helles, which is similar enough to conventional lager in flavor and appearance that it won't intimidate, but still packs a big sensory punch. The malt-forward profile showcases sweet, grainy flavors with just enough spicy hops to keep it balanced. Weihenstephaner Original is an authentic Bavarian helles that is available year-round. Surly's summer seasonal Hell is an excellent locally brewed example.

A touch of wheat

American wheat beers are another way to dip a toe in the water without straying too far from familiar territory. They are light in color, flavor and body like a lager, but have bready wheat notes and a somewhat more assertive hop presence that places them a couple rungs higher on the flavor ladder. A fine example of the style is 312 Urban Wheat from Chicago's Goose Island. Its cloudy appearance pegs it as something different, while moderate bitterness and soft sweetness keep it as refreshingly easy to drink as a light beer.

Summit Extra Pale Ale was an epiphany beer for many Minnesota craft-beer converts. This beer's bitter bite lets you know that hops are there, but it's not so intense as to offend palates unaccustomed to the full-frontal assault of most American pale ales. Caramel-sweet malt adds flavors that are familiar and comforting. Many steadfast lager drinkers already drink Summit, perhaps without realizing that they are quaffing an award-winning craft beer.

Belgian saison offers a refreshingly unique blend of fruity and spicy flavors that sit surprisingly well with light beer drinkers. Saisons have a pillowy sweetness that is accentuated by lively citrus, stone-fruit, and black-pepper overtones. A dry finish and crisp hop bitterness keeps them light and drinkable. Lift Bridge's Farm Girl Saison puts saison character into a beer that drinks like a lager, making it a great transitional beer. For something more authentically Belgian but still light as a feather try Avril, a delicious table beer from Brasserie DuPont.

Another Belgian style that makes an unexpectedly good steppingstone is strong golden ale. I have found that committed lager drinkers love the cotton-candy sweetness and fruit-basket flavors brought by Belgian yeast. Spritzy effervescence and a crisp finish keep these beers deceptively light. But don't be fooled. At about 9 percent alcohol, each glass packs nearly twice the alcoholic punch of an average lager beer. Duvel from Belgium's Moortgat brewery is the benchmark for the style and is readily available. For a tasty domestic example, try Golden Monkey from Pennsylvania's Victory Brewing Co.

Michael Agnew is a certified cicerone (beer-world version of sommelier) and owner of A Perfect Pint. He conducts private and corporate beer tasting events in the Twin Cities, and can be reached at michael@aperfectpint.net.