How to drink beer ? or How to taste beer ? ...
...they seem to be strange questions to ask. You would have thought that these were instinctive acts, as a easy as falling off a log. But these questions are asked, as they regularly come up in search engine query statistics. I can only assume what these seekers are after is some kind of appraisal system for describing the myriad of complex tastes and flavours to be found in beer. In an effort to help with this quest I've created this beer tasting page.
Actually it's based on some work we did when we had the beer shop. We organised a few tastings and we found that offering sheets to record tasting notes on and helping out with tasting descriptions proved very useful, so here we are:
How to taste beer
The order in which to drink several beers : Begin with the one that you expect to have the least intense flavour and work up to the most intensely flavoured if you have several beers to try.
Before you drink the beer :
1. What does the beer look like? : Does it have a head? What colour is it?
What colour is the beer – black, amber, brown, red, pale?
Is it clear or cloudy? Does it match descriptions you may have of it?
2. Give it a swirl in the glass : This helps to release the aromas. A wine glass is ideal for tasting sessions.
3. Smell : Have a good deep sniff.
Finally
4. Sip : To get the full effect of the beers flavours you need to drink it. Bitterness is experienced towards the back of the tongue. Sweet flavours will be felt by the tip of the tongue, salty and sour tastes by the sides. Experience the "body" of the Beer. What is it's texture like - is it thin or syrupy? It may have a grainy texture. You will probably experience an initial taste from the beer, followed by a different set of taste sensations after you have swallowed.
5. Record your findings.
Click here to download a free copy of our Beer Tasting Record Sheet
Hamster bedding ®
In my reviews of beer I often use the term 'hamster bedding' to describe a taste that I really love. It is a taste (and sort of a smell as well) that you often find in golden ales.
I suppose that it's best described as a straw/wood shaving/flowery hop fused mixture of flavours.
Callard & Bowser-ness
Callard & Bowser made a wonderful toffee called Creamline, sadly now extinct. It was a rich, smooth creamy toffee of a quality like no other. I apply this description to smooth creamy toffee like beers.
Ear ick ®
When we were growing up, me and my sisters used to refer to ear wax as 'ear ick'. It is both a verb and a noun. To 'ick' your ear is the placing of your finger in it, and the whittling about of the said finger. If as a kid you place it in your mouth you discover how bitter it is!
Everlasting Stick
In my youth this was a strip of toffee that was the size of a 12" ruler, in red and white packaging. Although thin and with little ridges running length ways it took on industrial strength properties when you tried to bite a piece off. The taste had a vague musty 'quality'.
Fuggley ®
When I used to homebrew I was fond of using fuggles hops. I can't be certain that when I use the term Fuggley that it is actually Fuggles hops that have been used, I suspect often not, but for me I use the term to describe a robust floral hop taste or smell.
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