For the fans
How to drink beer?
Irritated by such a simple question some may loudly reply: 'with your mouth of course, Silly!' We can well however ne only perceives a part of the overall flavor with ones mouth: by delving into te aromas of the drink with a modicum of concentration you may experience new layers of flavor all together.
Here a motto comes to mind; we believe it roots in an old religious book penned down by the apostle Paul. We are not sure of the exact words but it comes down to the advise to examine everything and keep only that which is deemed good. The latter is obviously up to your own moral compass but in itself it is a reasonable piece of advise; even a famed misogynist gets it right sometimes.
The following guidelines are meant as some friendly advise to be taken no more serious than that. Feel free to find your own way in whisky.
Be well rested.
If one wants to approach a tasting session with some gravitas it is recommended to be well rested. The nose and palate are at their best in the morning so if you enjoy day drinking we strongly advise you first partake in a well balanced breakfast (remember it is the most important meal of the day!) Do make sure to wait a while after your meal so that any lingering favors can not affect the singular tasting of drink. The room in which the tasting takes place must be sufficiently ventilated, odor-free and well lit.
Select the proper (clean) glassware and make sure that the beers that are to be tasted are stored at the correct serving temperature . To help cleanse your palate in between drinks you can prepare water, white bread or neutral crackers and perhaps some pre-sliced green apple.
Think on the order of the line up.
Of course it is wise to physically note your findings and some simple writing utensils are plenty sufficient for this, but pre-fab test forms can nowadays be obtained and printed through the internet. We understand enthusiasm in beer tasting but advise a maximum of two or three beers per session.
Although the alcohol percentage in beer is usually lower than in wine, whiskey or other spirits, it is still something to consider as it will get more and more difficult to concentrate and to perceive different subtile aromas and flavors and let alone distinguish them from each other.
Prepare a line up in order of the flavor build up, You may wish to start with a lager, then enjoy an amber and finish with an imperial stout; this is just an example.
The tasting.
Pour a beer into a glass, fit for the particular type of beer.. First up are your eyes. Consider the color. Is it clear or cloudy? What color does the foam have and is it coarse or fine; is it stable or does it collapse immediately? Then start smelling: first look for a global classification such as sweet or sour, and then look for more specific elements.
This method can also be used during the tasting, whereby with each new, small sip one is always looking for different and more specific flavors. Do not spit out your beer; beer is not wine! Certain flavors are only first perceived in the back of the throat and thus the drink must be fully swallowed. Once the initial flavors have dissipated pay som attention to the development of the flavors in the aftertaste of the beer. When one researches further and gains more understanding taste deviations, desired and unwanted, can also be observed.
With some practice and advancing insight, drinking beer becomes an interesting experience. In the meantime, don't forget to simply enjoy a nice glass of beer.
We fully understand that our instructions may seem a bit confusing and you might just have a preference for some face to face education on the subject of beer. Then we highly recommend you book one of our beer tasting sessions Join us as we dive into the world of beer with us and emerge refreshed and full of knowledge.
Cheers.