There is no one-way to liking beer. To fully appreciate a glass of chilled beer, you must put all your senses to work. Right from its distinctive color, smell and aroma to its taste, feel and palpability – a lot goes into thoroughly enjoying your favorite beer.
Most beers are best poured down the center of a clean, room temperature glass. Most Belgian ales are bottled-conditioned (yeast in the bottle), so it is best to decant the beer (pour the beer, leaving the yeast sediment at the bottle’s bottom). The best way to drink beer is by pouring it into a glass instead of drinking it directly from the bottle. Let’s appreciate the brewer who spent hours of effort to create that beautiful head.
Appearance – As opposed to common belief, beer comes in a variety of different colors, depending on the time it took to roast the grains – Longer the duration, darker the beer. Beer color can range from pale yellow, golden, copper, and amber to red, brown, chocolate and almost black. Another noticeable feature about its appearance is the size of the bubbles, pay attention to that. Small, tight bubbles indicate natural carbonation, whereas large bubbles are often representative of artificial injection of carbon dioxide. Don’t let clear and bright beers fool you for good quality, many cloudy beers and incredible!
Aroma – Whether it is the floral aroma from the hops or the sweetness from malted grains, beer carries a distinctive smell and aroma, which is also how you can figure out if it has undergone improper brewing or preservation. For instance, oxidation smells like cardboard or metal while a skunky smell indicates over exposure to direct heat or light.
Taste – Beer does not necessarily carry a specific taste. It mostly varies among sweet, tart, sour, bitter and sometimes well balanced. You must use all your taste buds to really enjoy its original form. Try the different types of ales to pick your favorite. Feel the beer swirl over your tongue and around your mouth. A Pilsner will be very light and crisp while a Trappist Double will be very full and tongue coating.
Enjoy – Beer is best served with the right company and activity. Choose your beer based on what you’re indulging in. Playing tennis goes well with American Pale Ale or a Lager. Smoking a cigar is best with Russian Imperial Stout or other robust ales.
Meanwhile, food is an equally important companion. Food that is appropriately paired with the beer can enhance the taste of both.
Responsibility – It is great to sit back and enjoy a couple of beers, but it is equally essential to know when to stop. Be a responsible drinker. Cheers!
