Drinking a beer, for many individuals, is simply a means to an end. It helps the individual reach a point of no return, where their thoughts distort the difference between fantasy and reality, often with interesting consequences. However, for others, beer consumption is more of an art form. The sheer chemistry that goes into creating the perfect beer is fascinating, and the taste of every sip is downright breathtaking. For the latter, drinking a pint is more than just gulping down the beverage at earth shattering speeds, but more pleasurable, in which three of the five senses are all required to better take in the creation and heighten the enjoyment.
Inspect the Beer
When you first receive the beer (or pour it yourself), hold it up to the light. Inspect it and take note not only of its color, but also of its clarity. Is it hazy? Is it clear? Much can be ascertained simply by looking at it. Hazy beers have little to no filtering behind them, and some fermentation particles may still be afloat. Many of these steps may be better off performed at home, unless you don’t mind being the center of attention at your local bar or watering hole.
Swirl the Beer
After investigating the beer, give it a swirl and inspect it from above. This is similar to what wine connoisseurs perform in taking note of the beverage. Swirling it helps to release the aromatics of the beer. This helps you better enjoy and understand its complexity. Enjoying a beer is not just all in taste alone, but also about smell. A wonderful smell adds to the overall flavor of the drink, the same way the smell of coffee enhances the flavor.
Smell the Beer
Carefully, without sticking your nose directly into the head of the beer, take in a smell with your nose close to the brim of the glass. Here you are able to take in the aromatics of the beverage. This helps prepare your palette for what is soon to come. After some experience, you are able to break down many of the complex aromas and flavors of the beer, before ever taking in a sip.
Sip the Beer
Take in a small sip of the beer and let it sit in your mouth. This gives ample exposure to all the taste buds. As the liquid floats in your mouth, each flavor note becomes more apparent, allowing you to identify, with the help of the smell, the different complexities that went into the beverage. After the first sip, feel free to consume at your normal pace, but now you’ll be able to completely enjoy the beer, and everything that went into it.
Greyson Ferguson - Greyson Ferguson is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in Film and Television. Outside of working ...
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