Looking to impress your friends and family by hosting the best beer tasting party? There’s really no one right way to set up a beer tasting party. Everyone does it differently. In this blog I'm going to share how I do it. You should change and adapt these guidelines based on your preferences and the guests you're having over. Here is what you'll need for a pretty killer beer tasting party:
Beer
It sounds pretty obvious. I mean, you are hosting a beer tasting party. But you need to pay attention to the beer you choose. Make sure you have a variety of beers to taste. Don’t just stick to IPA’s or lagers, mix it up. Make sure you have some light and crisp beers, dark and rich stouts or porters and some hoppy ales.
Food
You’re serving these people alcohol, therefore you need food. But don’t go too wild here, this party should be all about the beer. Have some small snacks readily available as you’re tasting. Then grab some typical pub fare for your main course, like sausages. If you really feel like going all out and putting together a world class spread, try using the beer theme. Cook each dish with beer. There are plenty of recipes for every course that involve beer as a key ingredient. Need some ideas? Check out my blog about cooking with beer.
Supplies
There are only a handful of supplies you need. Most importantly being the glasses. And when I say glasses I don’t mean a solo cup. But I also don’t mean you need to have the appropriate glassware for each style of beer you taste. Just a pint glass per person will do. But remember, just because everyone has a pint glass, doesn’t mean you should serve them pints of each beer. Stick to about 3-4 oz.
If you are going to try and get the specific type of glassware perfect for each style of beer you are serving, check out this blog for some suggestions.
You’ll also need beer tasting scorecards. These aren’t completely necessary, but I highly recommend them. They add that extra element of fun to the party. Everyone gets to share their opinion on the beer they’re tasting. It’ll lead to some fun debates over people’s favorite beer. Need a good beer tasting scorecard? Download the free one below.
Beer Temperature
Next, you have to make sure you’re serving the beers at the right temperature. You want to make sure it’s not too cold because that can mask some of the flavors. Check out this article from the American Homebrewers Association to learn the ideal temperature for each style of beer.
The Tasting
You’re all prepped and ready to go. Your friends are starting to show up and you’re getting ready to taste. But how? What is the best way to actually taste a beer so you can give your opinion? Check out this blog on how to taste beer. Not everyone has to stick to a specific way of tasting, it just depends on how serious you want to get.
Enjoy the tasting!
Cheers!
