You need to try all the various styles - pilsners, lagers, ales, stouts, but you sound like someone who might really enjoy ale... and the Boston area has tons of ale makers. Harpoon is on tap all over town, they make relatively mild ales, a good place to start. Their IPA is about as hoppy as many local breweries' standard ales.
If you find this type to your liking, your next step will be to ride the T up to Medford or Malden, and find a Kappy's where they sell Ipswich Ale in the 64 ounce jug. Get yourself a growler of the Original ale (red label) and enjoy it with a friend (or kill it off by yourself and get pretty toasty). Want to go further? the IPA (yellow label) is pretty hardcore - first time you have it, it's like having a bale of hops dropped on your head, but once your taste buds get used to it, you will discover a very fruity, floral sort of taste in there. Dark Ale (green label) is also heavily hoppy with lots of toasted malt thrown in.
Also, if you can find it, Smuttynose out of Portsmouth, NH is damn good if you turn out to be an ale afficionado.
