Beer Tasting for Dummies

Hold the Beer up to your face

The Basics Folks. Think about these things as you look:

• Consistency

• Head

• Color

Agitate the Beer and analyze

The beer isn’t your friend, it’s your adversary.

This step is crucial in making step 3 and 4 more effective. To be more specific you are:

• Unlocking aromas and slight hints of subtle flavors

• Testing head retention

• Loosening some of the carbonation

Smell it

Unlike a $5 cologne you have to get real close to get the full experience.

Most of your experience is going to come from the smell. Don’t skip.

• Take two quick sniffs

• Breath it in through your mouth this time. I promise you’ll receive a unique experience than from your nose.

• Do it again if you need to.

Taste it

The part you’ve been waiting for!

• Let the beer sit on your tongue for a period of time

• Note how it feels in your mouth

• Breath out during the tasting process, this will unveil a different aspect of the beer.

• In addition, try the beer after it warms slightly to pronounce it’s true flavors.

Head over to The Beer Advocate for more beer tips and tricks.