Discovering the fascinating world of beer goes beyond simply tasting a drink. Doing a beer tasting at home is immersing yourself in a universe of aromas, flavors, and nuances that awaken the senses and expand the enjoyment of this ancient drink. In this guide, we will explore step by step how to carry out a beer tasting from the comfort of your home, discovering techniques, tips, and the methodology to appreciate and distinguish the many varieties of this artisanal drink.
What does it take to do a beer tasting?
Follow these steps to achieve a full tasting experience. Take note:
1-. Know the amount of beers to taste
First of all, you need to know how many beers you are going to serve. Depending on the number of people, more or less bottles are recommended. For example, if there are two of you, beer experts recommend four 33 cl bottles, or 50 cl bottles if there are three of you. It is also true that after four beers, one loses the notion of taste, so four is an appropriate number to sample each flavor.
2-. Selection of beers
Once you know the proportion of beers you need, ask yourself what kind of flavors or beer-tasting experience you would like for the occasion. Maybe you want to try exotic flavors or stick to a more traditional flavor line. When making this decision, also take into account the guests and their tastes. And to make your final decision, find out about the flavors offered by each beer family: ale, lager, blonde, malty… If you’re not sure, check out our post on the different types of beer. It will help you learn more about this star product in Spain (not to mention the whole world!).
3-. How to prepare for the tasting?
Well, to start tasting beer you can take into account a series of instructions and recommendations, some more technical than others.
Getting your room and palate ready
Professional tasters recommend preparing the place for the tasting to avoid distractions and interference, as we must sharpen our senses. Try to prepare the tasting in a quiet, well-lit room at a pleasant temperature. To ensure that your palate is ready, it is advisable to avoid heavy meals, drinking coffee, or smoking before carrying out the tasting, at least one hour beforehand.
On the other hand, it is advisable not to wear too much perfume, as the smell directly influences the flavors. Prepare mineral water for each taster. This way you can go from one beer to another, refreshing your palate to notice the flavor of each beer. You can also offer breadsticks or a neutral snack.
As for beer glasses, you can use a clear glass or a rather narrow glass at the bottom, so that the aroma of the drink is captivating. Also, make sure that the beer is not too cold, otherwise, the flavors will not be noticeable.
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Phases of beer-tasting
Once you’re ready to start tasting the beers, follow these technical steps. You can use a pen and paper so you don’t forget anything and write down what you discover about each beer.
Professionals divide the tasting into two aspects to be analyzed: appearance and flavor. For appearance, the color, transparency, and foam of the beer are taken into account, and for flavor, the taste, aroma, and texture.
Observe the appearance of the beer
As we have just said, three factors are taken into account when examining its appearance:
Colour. We can find beers of pale, black, blond, golden, and red colors. The color is largely determined by the beer family to which it belongs. For example, Pilsen or Pale Ales are rather pale, and black beers can be Lager-type, like the German Bock or Schwarzbier.
Transparency. They differ because some are thicker and more cloudy and others are more watery and transparent.
Foam. This refers to the creaminess of the beer and whether it sticks to the walls of the glass or slides off quickly. For this reason, experts refer to foam as the consistency of the beer.
Analyze its flavor
Take a first sip to get a feel for the flavor, then take small sips to taste it.
Taste and flavor. To fully appreciate the flavor of the beer, you should taste it slowly, and notice how the drink passes through your mouth. Note whether it has a sour, bitter, or rather sweet taste.
Aroma. The aroma of beer is strongly influenced by its production. It will depend on the malt and grains used, the fermentation with different fruits, the hops, and the wood used during storage. To capture these details, take a couple of first sniffs.
Well, now you know how to prepare a beer tasting and what aspects are analyzed. The truth is that beer tastings can be carried out on different scales, depending on the level, that is, as an amateur or as a professional. So if you want to become a master taster, it is worth studying in depth the preparation of beer, its conservation and bottling, concepts that are studied in the Master in Beer that you will find at Escuela des Arts.
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