Well, we have heard of wine appreciation, but Beer Appreciation? With the rich history of brewing beers throughout so many countries, of course there have to be a way of appreciating the process and tastes that goes along into the pint that we all craves. Do take some time to read and understand more about the beer you drink and appreciate it more...
Know how to purchase beer. The best
way you can buy a beer is “on tap” at a local bar. This is the freshest beer
you can get. Otherwise, you should buy beer that comes in a bottle, preferably
in a dark bottle. Sunlight causes beer to have that “skunked” smell and flavor;
dark bottles help to prevent this. Finally, be willing to spend some money on
beer. Just like with any liquor, you get what you pay for when buying beer. The
cheaper the beer, the worse the product.
Pour your beer into a glass before
drinking it. This allows you to fully enjoy the flavor and the aroma of the
beer (if your beer smells bad, you're drinking the wrong beer). Tilt your glass
diagonally towards you at a 45-degree angle and pour your beer down the side.
Do this slowly so that the beer gently flows into the glass. When your glass is
filled about half way, tilt the glass back in a normal upright position. Pour
the rest of your beer into the center of the glass, again pour slowly to avoid
too much “head.”
Smell your beer as you tilt the
glass to your lips. This is actually the first step to tasting your beer.
Getting that aroma to your sense of smell will help you better appreciate the
taste of your beer while drinking it.
Allow the beer to touch the tip of
your tongue first and then roll back into your throat. When you do this, you
taste both the sweetness and bitterness of the beer. Drinking your beer in this
manner ensures that you get the full taste before swallowing.
Always swallow beer. Unlike wine or
other beverages, your throat is actually necessary for tasting beer. If you
were to swish the beer around in your mouth and then spit it out, you would not
experience the full flavor of the beer.
