The Beer Borg

For a lot of new homebrewers making their own beer is really the first time that they have ever really thought about the actual taste of beer. When I started I had very little idea where the different flavors were coming from. What is a hoppy taste? What is a malty taste? Why do some beer have the  flavor and smell of pine needles while others were fruity, flowery or citrusy tasting? It really was an eye opener to me when I discovered that different hops, malts and yeasts could impact the flavor of a beer so much and that by changing one of those three things ever so slightly it could have a drastic impact on how the beer ultimately turned out.

To see how those 3 things can impart different tastes, take a look at the hops, grains and yeast profiles that are here on the Beer Borg. It really is worth taking some time to understand how those things impact beer. Here I want to focus on how to taste since taste is really more then opening your mouth tasting the beer.

A lot of things need to be considered when you have that beer in front of you and your about to take that first sip! Knowing what to look for and using proper method can really make understanding what your drinking much clearer. Below are some tips that I have learned from various resources such as my local home brew club, Better Beer Scores and other beer drinkers. Following these five tips below will help you get a better idea about your own beer as well as understanding what you like or don’t like in a beer and thus help you understand how to change that.

1. Aroma – The aroma, sometimes referred to as “nose” can be one of the best attributes of a beer. Before taking a taste, bring the glass up close for a sniff, take in the various scents of the beer’s aroma. What do you smell?
2. Appearance – Appearance is more then just color, you also want to look at the clarity of the beer. Is is cloudy or clear? Is it supposed to be that way? What about the texture, both of the beer and the head? How’s the carbonation, high or low? Last but not least how is the retention of head? Does it remain or dissipate quickly?
3. Flavor – Taste the beer! Take a good sip and let the beer flow across your tongue. While the beer is still in your mouth take a slight breath in through your nose, as this will help you to experience the wide range of flavors. Malty sweet, bitter hops, hops flavors of fruit notes and other notes that make up the profile of  the beer. The after taste that remains, once you swallow the beer is the beer’s finish. Does it linger or disappear quickly? Is there a bitter or sweet after taste?
4. Mouthfeel – This is the beer’s texture, how it feels in the mouth. The body, alcoholic warmth, carbonation and creaminess along with texture make up the components of mouthfeel.
5. Subjectiveness – What is your total impression of the beer? Is it overpowering or bland? Does it match up with the style of beer that it represents? Is it easy to drink (i.e. drinkable)? What do you like or not like about the beer?

Remembering these tips can make a big difference in your perception of beer and in turn change the way you look at brewing your own.