How has your palette changed?

[Kealia]

I think it's fair to say that once you start drinking more beer your tastes change over time. I'm not talking about the simple shifts like the fact that 2 years ago I didn't like IPAs and now I do, I'm talking more about things you can pick up on now that maybe you couldn't before.

Can you tell which yeast strain a beer uses by taste alone? Are you able to perceive the difference between Pale Malt and 2-row? C40 versus C60?

For me, I've developed a sensitivity to diacytel and oxidation and have a very low threshold for them at this point. Last night I picked up a couple of beers from the store that I haven't had in a while (Moose Drool and Lagunitas Censored). I couldn't drink either of them. Both of them were just "off" to the point that I couldn't swallow more than the first sip. I've been out to bars with friends and sent beers back because of this when a friend took a sip and couldn't taste anything wrong so clearly it's just how my palette is developing.

Mind you, I never claim to have a great palette and often I can't tell what's in food/drink other than "I like it" or "I don't like it" but this area seems to have become something that I can pick up on. On the flipside I don't think I pick up on fusels very much. I know Beer-lord sent me a few beers over the past 6 months that he thought were fusel-bombs and I couldn't detect that at all.

Just musing today as I think back at how disappointed I was last night in having to pour not one, but two of my favorite beers down the sink.

[RickBeer]

Someday I'd like to be in a setting where someone has all of these things in front of me, and presents them one at a time to help me learn and see if I can tell the differences.

I'm very much in the "I like it" or "I don't like it" level of sophistication. Maybe someday...

[RedBEERd]

My Palate has been wrecked LONG before Green Flash came out with Palate Wrecker. It started about 6-7 years ago when a friend was trying different beers. They were 'hoppy' but nothing like today. Then I went to Racer 5 and thought, that was it but I've since found that Stone, Green Flash and others made beer that I wanted all the time.

Yes, my taste has changed but it also may ruin my future ability to enjoy other beers so I make sure that I drink a hefe now and then, enough porters and stouts to help and whatever else I think I may like that's NOT overly hopped.

[Kealia]

Someday I'd like to be in a setting where someone has all of these things in front of me, and presents them one at a time to help me learn and see if I can tell the differences.

I'm very much in the "I like it" or "I don't like it" level of sophistication. Maybe someday...

I agree, that would be great. A tasting of off flavors would be incredibly helpful to homebrewers and I would sign up for that in a heartbeat.

[John Sand]

I don't know if I'm more sensitive. Certainly more educated. I know what I want now, and what I taste. But I still get my wife to sample all my brews for off flavors. The benefit of marrying a princess!

[teutonic terror]

I've been brewing for almost 2 years now and as far as discerning different ingredients, nah, I still can't do that.
Unless it's hefe yeast, or something that far off the norm, I can't tell that either.
I guess that's why I have such a hard time with making clone beers. Not enough time or experience.

The only hops I can readily distinguish are the one I use myself on a regular basis.
And, as far a lot of the popular IPAs go, they are so hoppy, they taste like "mosh" to me, no clarity
of any one flavor at all.

I do know what I like though!

[FedoraDave]

I used to prefer balanced beers, maintaining that I didn't like stouts and didn't like IPAs.

I still prefer balanced beers, but I'm also leaning a lot more toward IPAs, and will often prefer one if I'm in the mood, or I think it's going to pair well with my food. I'm also appreciating the various grain subtleties in darker beers.

I guess what I'm saying is that my palate has changed to the extent that I'm tasting beer and not just drinking it.

[Funky Skunk Brewing]

I guess what I'm saying is that my palate has changed to the extent that I'm tasting beer and not just drinking it.

I like that statement, Dave. Wraps up my palate difference since beginning to brew from just "drinking" beer.

I use to not like stouts or porters. Now I have an appreciation for them and like to brew them as well. The different grains I can taste in them now, where as I use to stay away from them at all costs. Not my favourite beers right now, though I have learned to enjoy them from before.

[gwcr]

I'm still a pretty middle of the road guy when it comes to my favorites (balanced to slightly hoppy), but now I can enjoy just about any style. I completely agree with FD that I appreciate the different flavors of beer now. I tend to find myself treating the first few sips more like a tasting event, trying to recognize the hops. That gets a few strange looks from time to time, but that doesn't bother me. SWMBO calls me a beer snob every once in a while...

[Kealia]

Unless it's hefe yeast, or something that far off the norm...

Ooh, ooh...I can tell hef yeast, too!!

[haerbob3]

It has changed. I preferred balanced or sweeter beers. Then it was IPA's, for awhile Belgiums, now it is pretty much open. Tend to be preferring variety now. No one style being a favorite. So I came to appreciate all beer styles not just one. Still can't stand that stuff the big boys try and sell us as beer!!

[Kealia]

It has changed. I preferred balanced or sweeter beers. Then it was IPA's, for awhile Belgiums, now it is pretty much open. Tend to be preferring variety now. No one style being a favorite.

But can you pick out more details than you could previously?

[Inkleg]

A tasting of off flavors would be incredibly helpful to homebrewers and I would sign up for that in a heartbeat.

Ron have you seen BJCP falvor kits. It's not the cheapest thing, but if you get some friends or a brew club to join in and split the cost. Also it's cheaper if to are a BJCP.

[Kealia]

That's cool. But at the end of the long list of flavors listed, most if which are 'off flavors' - there's "hefeweizen". What the heck?!?!

[Inkleg]

You mean that's not an off flavor?