Tasting New Beers
You’re about to order a plate lunch, and already know the answers to the questions before they’re even asked. Brown rice, because you want to be healthy. Mac salad, because…let’s be real, you ordered the brown rice.
Pouring beer incorrectly
Unfortunately, as many people know what’s on their plate, not many know what’s in their beer. And that’s unfortunate, because they miss out on the experience of appreciating the ingredients in that beer. If you like to read books, try this one: Tasting Beer, or simply continue reading.
Get down with the flavor
In order to get to know the flavor of your beer, you need to know what type of beer you’re drinking. If you’re at a UH game, perhaps it’s a Heineken (a pale lager). If you’re at Side Street Inn, maybe Rogue (probably an ale). If you’re at Yard House, well, we wouldn’t be able to guess what you’re drinking.
Preparation
Beer tasting is almost like coffee tasting or wine tasting—it shouldn’t be rushed.
First, you want to get rid of whatever food is in your mouth. You don’t want anything to corrupt the taste before drinking. A glass of clean water should do the trick. Some plain rice can also neutralize your palate.
It should also be noted that temperature can make or break the flavor. You don’t want to be drinking too cold beer. Low temperatures affect carbonation, bitterness, and dryness. This results in an inability to discover the truest flavor, body, and aroma of the drink.
Pouring is an art
When it comes to pouring beer into a glass, there is a right way to do it. Of course, if you prefer to drink from the bottle, don’t let anyone stop you. You do you. But if you want to pour it into a glass (we recommend it), learning the art of the pour is simpler than you might imagine.
Beer is not as fine as wine, but it is made to foam. So if you don’t pour it correctly, you’ll have a lot of foam. Here’s how to pour:
- Hold your glass at an angle
- Pour the beer gently inside
- When the glass is half full, rotate it upright and pour in more beer as you raise the bottle
- Bottle conditioned beer has some delicious yeast at the bottom so if your bottle is near empty, swirl it so that the yeast also gets into the glass
Finally calling in the senses
When it comes to tasting, there are three main senses at work: sight, smell, and taste.
After pouring the beer into your glass, take a look at it. What is the color? Is it dark or light? Are you able to see through it or not?
Stick your nose to the glass and soak in the aroma. This should give you an idea of how the beer will taste. As you soak in the aroma, what does the scent remind you of? Does it smell like pine trees? Fruits? Nuts?
After you smell it, take a small sip and let it linger awhile as it kisses your tongue. Let the beer introduce you to its features. Be patient. Is it light? Bubbly? Heavy? Perhaps sweet or bitter? Or maybe smoky? What about the texture—is it heavy or smooth? How long after a sip does the taste stay on your tongue?
Giving the verdict
Now that you tasted it, describe it! Be sure to include your thoughts on its appearance, aroma, body, and general impression. If you like it, great! If you don’t like it, that’s cool too. Crack open a new bottle and repeat!
Check this out:
Beer Tasting Kit
