Chars Wild Art Blog: Beer Tasting Party

Invitation

Semi-Annual Sherman Beer Tasting Party

First up we are not beer snobs, in fact the truth is my husband simply likes beer, friends and playing pool, so a couple times a year I throw a beer party just for fun (another inside joke is I personally hate beer, while the beer lovers are drinking beer my non beer friends and I are tasting tequila).
This party I decided to research a little about the process of beer tasting and share what I learned with you - if you feel it necessary to correct a term or technique the comments are open, but don't expect it to influence me in any way.

How To Taste Beer

It sounds much like wine tasting - you don't just chug-a-lug and declare it good or bad. I've learned if you follow these steps your experience could improve:

1. Look at the beer. Raise the beer in front of you, but don't hold your beer to direct light as this will dilute its true color. Describe its color, its head and its consistency.

2. Swirl your beer, gently in the glass. This will pull out aromas, slight nuances, loosen & stimulate carbonation and test head retention.

3. Smell the beer. 90-95% of what you experience is through your sense of smell. Breathe thru your nose with two quick sniffs, then with your mouth open, then thru your mouth only (nose and mouth are connected in the experience). Let olfaction guide you. Agitate again if need be, and ensure that you are in an area that has no overpowering aromas. Enjoy its bouquet. (sorry, this is why I don't like beer - I personally think it STINKS).

4. Taste. Now sip the beer. Resist swallowing immediately. Let it wander and explore your entire palate. Let your taste buds speak. Note the mouthfeel, the consistency of the liquid's body, and breathe out during the process of tasting. This process of exhaling is called "retro-olfaction" and will release retained stimulations at the mucus and mouthfeel level, but at a higher temperature. At times this will be the same as the olfactory process if not different and complimentary. Try to detect any sweetness, salty flavors, acids and general bitterness. Explain what they are, or what they are similar to.

A few of our guests suggested re-tasting the beer after it warms a bit. Really cold beer tends to mask some of the flavors. As a beer warms, its true flavors will pull through, become more pronounced.