Below are five simple beer tasting tips you should never disregard. Read on to learn about each.
Preparation
Tasting beer should be fun. Actually, it can be as enjoyable as sharing a drink with your friends or attending a beach party with your college mates. However, if you plan on tasting different beer brands, ensure you have water nearby to rinse out your mouth and to stay hydrated. Additionally, you would want to have a kitchen sink or “dump buckets” close by where you can pour out the unpleasant gulps.
Do not allow the label to influence you
The appearance of the bottle is important; however, try to disengage your mind from the visual appeal. It is the contents that matter.
Manage your craving
Control your desire to drink it straight away. Keep in mind, any beer tasting is normally preceded by a visual and smelling stage. Don’t be too excited to swallow. Spend a few seconds to evaluate the color, the smell, the tang, and turbidity of the beer.
Savor every beer at its optimal drinking temperature
There is a rule that you should take darker beers at a warmer temperature than lighter ones. Always taste every beer at its optimal drinking temperature. Normally, some manufacturers will have guidelines in place on how you can best enjoy their products.
Choose the right drinking glass
Some glasses are more appropriate than others for drinking beer. They say glasses designed with a narrower mouth are better at retaining the beer foam and concentrating the aromas.
Tasting lingo
To properly experience and enjoy your beer, it’s helpful to know the various tasting terminologies. Here are some of the most frequently used terms and phrases.
- Balanced – Type of beer that incorporates all of the major components in a way that no single component overpowers another.
- Chalky – Used to describe a beer that tastes powdery, and/or dusty.
- Bouquet – The aromas and smells perceived in a beer.
- Big – A “big” beer with a lot of flavors.
- Mouth feel – The feel of a beer when you put it in your mouth.
- Finish – Flavors left in your mouth after swallowing.
- Round – Round beer refers to a balanced beer.
- Opulent – A rich, balanced beer that has good texture and mouth feel.
- Thin – Beer lacking in body, flavor, and complexity.
Conclusion
All said and done, remember that, the key to great beer is enjoyment. Find a good company and get the conversation started as you sample the different beer brands. It’s all good fun.
