Craft Beer Tasting 101 – Unlocking the Secrets of Flavor

Whether it's your favorite craft IPA or an obscure Belgian Ale, you can learn to appreciate the full spectrum of flavor that beer has to offer. This guide will show you how.

Raise your glass to the light and admire the color and clarity of the beer in front of you. Swirl it around to pick up slight aromas, test carbonation and head retention.

Taste

Since the very first barrel, keg, bottle or can of beer was poured, there have been men and women packed into pubs and tucked into speakeasies, observing and critiquing drop after liquid gold drop. Learn about the fundamentals of tasting and why it matters to your palate and your enjoyment.

Start with assessing the appearance of the beer, including color, clarity and head retention. Gently swirl the beer, especially in warmer weather to release aromas, accentuate slight nuances and test carbonation.

Taste through a flight of 4 unique craft beers as we bid farewell to the hottest part of the year and prepare for cooler weather. Explore different flavor families like fruity effervescent wheat beers, refreshing sour styles, roasty/toasty dark brews and more! Learn how these flavors work together to create the overall taste that a brewer and you will crave. All while enjoying a selection of gourmet cheeses by our friends at Bier. Visit craft beer UK.

Aroma

Just like whiskey and wine, beer has unique aromas. Taking a moment to sniff your beer can reveal little details that make it special that you might not notice when chugging away at a standard lager or IPA.

After evaluating the beer’s appearance, gently swirl your beer in the glass (not too much, though) to release aromas and slight nuances, loosen & stimulate carbonation and test head retention. Using a clean glass is important for ensuring your beer will taste fresh and pure.

Then it’s time to take your tasting sip. Don’t chug, swallow or spit. Instead, savor your beer to experience its mouthfeel, which is how the beer feels in your mouth—heavy, light, spritzy, pillowy, etc. Depending on the beer, you may also be able to pick up some of its flavor characteristics like saltiness or umami, which is a savory taste that can be found in some dark beers. The more beers you try, the more your palate will expand.

Mouthfeel

While tasting is a personal thing that can’t be taught, there are some steps that can be taken to really savor your beer. Taking into account the aroma, flavor and mouthfeel is essential to getting the most out of your tasting experience.

Start by raising the glass to light (but not direct light which can dilute the color). Take a look at the beer’s clarity, head and consistency. Swirl the beer gently in the glass to pull out aroma, notice slight nuances and loosen/stimulate carbonation.

Remember that smelling and tasting can be a tiring process so it is important to have a glass of water on hand to cleanse your palate. Also, it is best to taste beer in a location without too many distractions as you will need to focus on the task at hand. It’s a good idea to bring some unsalted crackers or French bread to snack on in between beers as well.

Finish

Beer tasting is an art, and a fun one at that. The more you practice, the better you will become. The most important thing is to make sure your palate is clean and that the beer is poured correctly. It is also important to take the time to evaluate a beer's appearance, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel.

The first thing you should do when evaluating a beer is to look at its appearance. This includes color and clarity, as well as the presence of sediment. You should also note the head retention and carbonation of a beer.

It is also important to swirl a beer gently, especially in warmer weather. This will help to pull out aromas, reveal slight nuances, loosen and stimulate carbonation and test the beer’s head retention. It is also important to remember that a beer’s temperature will affect its flavor and aroma. Ideally, a beer should be served at about 45 to 50 degrees.