Most of us learned in our younger days that one must drink a beer quickly, because there was nothing worse than a less than frozen American lager. Fortunately, that is not true for craft beer, but old habits die hard.
We can’t pound craft, because…well, the 7%+ hits quickly, and it’s also a bit brash. But most importantly, you don’t get the full tasting experience if you don’t sip and pause.
We read every single beer review that is written about our product. More often than not, the criticism is about not being able to taste something we tout as being part of the beer. For example, some have trouble tasting the cinnamon and vanilla in Black Matter. Our usual response is to wrap your hands around your glass for a minute. Literally. And then taste it again.
The beer that comes out of the tap is typically too cold. When beer is cold, your palate numbs and the complex flavors and aromas hide. Like you would with a good wine, give the beer a few minutes to warm and open up. This is when the nuanced flavors begin to shine.
I joke that a good beer is like the everlasting gobstopper from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, because the flavor changes so much as it sits on the bar. At first sniff, you begin tasting the beer before it even touches your lips. When you do get a taste, it is a ride full of different flavors that take the stage at different points. You just have to take a moment to reflect on what you’re sipping. Not chugging.
And for the love of god, please never drink a beer, any beer, out of the can or bottle. Eighty percent of taste is actually smelled. As far as I know, it’s pretty difficult to smell through a bottle.
