There is no one right way to taste a beer. As you start to explore the world of beer tasting you will most likely come up with different elements you prefer to analyze.
Appearance
Start with how the beer looks. Write down some different characteristics about the beer. Analyze the color of both the head and the beer. Make sure to pay close attention to the consistency and clarity.
Smell
Next step is to smell the beer. You can start by gently swirling your beer in the glass. This will cause the aromas to really come out. Then, putting your nose up to the glass, breathe through your nose using a couple of quick sniffs, as apposed to a long draw of air.
Taste / mouthfeel
Here comes the fun part, tasting the beer. Take a sip but don’t swallow immediately. Let it sit in your mouth and warm up a little. Note the different tastes that come through - sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, acidity. Also analyze the mouthfeel. Pay attention to the body and carbonation.
Aftertaste
After you swallow the beer, try and pick out what tastes linger or come back. Pay attention to how long it lasts and how smooth or harsh it is.
Overall impression
This can be as simple as asking yourself, “do I want another sip?” Jot down your notes about what you liked / didn’t like about this beer.
There you have it, now you can taste beers like the experts do! Want some good suggestions about which beers to taste? Check out Boak & Bailey's beer blog.
And again, don't forget to download the free beer tasting scorecard below. It'll help you focus on each aspect of every beer you taste.
Now get out there and start tasting!
Cheers!
