Brewers taste beer every day to check each batch. You do not need special training to taste the same way: just a clean glass, a small pour and a few seconds of attention. A tasting flight is the perfect way to practise.
1. Look
Hold the glass up to the light. Notice the colour, from pale straw to deep black, and whether the beer is clear or hazy. Look at the foam too: how thick it is and how long it lasts.
2. Smell
Give the glass a gentle swirl and take a few short sniffs. Most of what we call flavour is really aroma. Try to name what you notice: bread, caramel or coffee from the malt; citrus, pine, flowers or tropical fruit from the hops; fruit or spice from the yeast.
3. Sip
Take a small sip and let it cover your tongue before you swallow. Notice the sweetness, bitterness and any sourness, and how the body feels: light and crisp, or full and creamy. Then notice the finish: does it stay dry, bitter or sweet?
4. Think and compare
- Taste lighter beers before darker or stronger ones.
- Have a sip of water or a plain cracker between beers.
- Write down one or two words for each beer, so you remember what you liked.
- Ask the bar staff about the hops and malts in the beers you enjoyed most.
Tasting is about noticing, not about drinking more. Small pours, water between beers and a safe ride home make for a better visit. Tastings are for guests aged 21 and over.