How to Give a Beer Tasting

Beer is a drink of enormous agricultural and commercial significance. Every drop of the millions of gallons made annually has one final objective-to be consumed. In passing the lips, crossing the tongue and descending the throat, beer is tasted whether or not a conscious comment of judgement is made.

The word "tasting", in relation to beer, refers to a deliberate, conscious and subjective act, the aim of which is to assess the qualities of the beers under review. A whole world of delightful experiences awaits the beer enthusiast as he or she explores the sophisticated taste of real beer. There is no better way to learn about beer or to discover the plethora of new tastes, while at the same time re-exploring old favorites. Expand you beer horizons and hold a beer tasting; it's entertaining and educational.

This simple guide offers suggestions and advice designed to answer the most frequent questions arising about the organization of a beer-tasting party. The guide deals with small tastings, the kind one would have at home, as well as tastings slated for larger groups.

 

 

How Many Guests To Have?

Generally speaking, the smaller the group, the more serious the tasting; the larger the group, the more the tasting will become a party. So if you are aiming for a more serious tone, invite fewer guests than you would normally for a party in the same room. For a serious tasting, no group is too small. An important consideration is that your guests should have enough space to move freely around the room, to and from the table on which the beer is displayed, if you are not having a formalized sit-down tasting.

 

How Do I Select the Beers?

We suggest a choice of eight to ten authentic styles of beer, and we have included a recommended selection for your initial tasting. To truly learn about beer, beers should be selected by brewing style, i.e., pilsner, porter, bock, rather than by country of origin. In many parts of the United States, Merchant du Vin's Authentic™ beers are available through supermarkets, as well as fine wine shops, delis and in some states, liquor stores. Consumer demand for authentic and natural beers produced without any additives or chemicals has resulted in more and more retail outlets for Merchant du Vin hand-crafted beers. If your favorite beverage store is low on stock or has not yet discovered the outstanding beers available to him through Merchant du Vin, we suggest that you ask them to investigate the world of Merchant du Vin brews.

 

Which Glasses Should I Use?

The chilled lager (45° F) and ale (55° F) should be poured into straight-sided clear glasses (wine glasses are satisfactory but pilsner-style beer glasses, are preferred), which allow the natural head of authentic beers to perform.

 

How Much Beer Do I Need?

Four ounces of each type allows the participant to examine the color and clarity, to expose a sufficient quantity of the beer to the various taste buds and still leave an adequate amount in the glass to formulate an overall impression based on a second swallow. Since most beers are available in 11.2 or 12 ounce bottles, a quick check would suggest one bottle of beer for every three people for each style of beer. With this information, you will discover that your beer tasting offers great fun at a reasonable price.

 

What Foods Should I Serve?

A selection of interesting cheeses, fresh breads and hors d'oeuvres are a perfect accompaniment to beer whose bitter finish and malty flavor combines well with every type of food more than any other alcoholic beverage. A cheese tasting featuring a variety of different styles of cheeses billed as an "Authentic Beer and Cheese Tasting" is a wonderful fund raiser.

 

Order of Tasting

Beers, like wines or cheeses, should be tasted from lightest in flavor to heaviest, with color as a secondary consideration. It is often interesting to compare lagers and ales of similar color and taste characteristics to distinguish the sensory results of top-fermentation and bottom-fermentation.