Alot of new brewers try to go high in alcohol, you'll soon learn that high alcohol doesn't mean a nicer beer. Go too high and you'll soon get that 'alcohol' taste which can very easily overpower some otherwise-lovely hops. Finding a good balance is key mate.
Maybe look up some recipes on the database and go from there. As far as 'what a first time should drink' remember at some point alot of us hated onions, capsicums, brocoli, mushrooms or whatever but we learnt to face the fact that "this is simply what it tastes like".
Perhaps you need to put those tastebuds through some Crash Course of Beer 101 and get them to start liking whatever bloody beer you make. that way it's a Win Win
good luck mate