Perhaps you’ve seen TV shows or movies where someone is swirling a glass of wine around, taking a sniff, and then a proclamation is made about the “notes of oak and cherry.” Regarding beer tasting, there are some commonalities, but there are also some crucial differences.

If you’ve never started a brewery before, it’s essential to understand that tasting beer is one of the crucial processes of brewing.

The Preparation

Before a beer can be tasted, key preparation steps need to happen.

• First, the beer must be brewed appropriately and pasteurized.
• Next, it needs to be carbonated.
• Finally, it must be refrigerated until it reaches the ideal serving temperature, usually between 38-42 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Taste Beer Like a Pro in 7 Easy Steps

Breweries take beer tasting very seriously because it’s an essential part of brewing.

Here are seven easy steps that you can follow to taste beer like a pro:

1. Start with a clean slate

Before you start tasting, it’s essential to ensure that your palate is clean.

Sanitary construction is critical in brewing, so most commercial beers are low in contaminants.

You want your taste buds to be as un-interfered with as possible so you can taste the beer.

2. Pour

When you first receive your beer, you want to pour it into a clear glass to see the drink’s color and carbonation.

Tilt the glass at 45 degrees and pour the beer down the side to avoid foam.

However, a small amount of foam is not a bad thing as it indicates freshness. 

The pouring process is also essential. When pouring a bottle or can into a glass, title the cup at a 45-degree angle.

This will help minimize foam. Hold the glass close to the spout if pouring from a tap to reduce aeration. Now that the beer is finally in the glass, it’s time to start tasting!

3. Look and Observe the beer’s appearance

Professional beer tasters will always take a moment to assess the beer’s appearance before taking their first sip.

Look at the color, clarity, and carbonation level. Is it light or dark? Hazy or clear?

Does it have a lot of bubbles or just a few? These factors can give clues about what kind of flavors you can expect from the beer.

4. Swirl

After you have poured the drink, take a quick swirl to release any aromas that may be hidden.

As you continue to swirl, place your nose near the glass and inhale deeply through your nose.

You should be able to smell different notes, such as citrus, chocolate, caramel, etc. 

5. Smell the beer

Beer has a lot of aromatic compounds that contribute to its flavor, so it’s essential to give it a good sniff before you take your first sip.

See if you can pick out any distinct aromas. Hops? Malt? Fruit? Floral? Spicy? Caramel? 

6. Sip and Slurp

Take a small sip of the beer and hold it in your mouth before you start to slurp.

Slurping allows oxygen to enter the beer and will help emphasize certain flavors. Swish it around like mouthwash before you finally swallow. 

Take a small sip and let it linger in your mouth before swallowing. 

This will allow you to taste all the different beer flavors fully.

Again, see if you can pick out any specific flavors that stand out to you.

Do they match the aromas you picked up before? Are there any flavors that surprise you? 

Finish with a single swallow and then breathe fresh air through your nose while pursing your lips (this is called “retronasal olfaction,” and it allows additional aromatic molecules into your nose).

This final step will help round out your experience of the beer’s flavor and aroma. 

7. Reflect on what you’ve just tasted 

What did you like about it? What didn’t you like? Would you drink it again? 

The Four Steps of Tasting Beer

There are four steps in professional beer tasting: sight, smell, taste, and finish/aftertaste. 

1. Starting with sight, take note of the color, opacity/clarity, and foam retention.

2. Then move on to smell, be sure to take short sniffs first so you don’t overload your senses. Try to identify any aromas present.

3. Finally, take a small sip of beer and let it sit in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing so you can fully taste it.

4. After you have swallowed, pay attention to any aftertastes or flavors that linger in your mouth. These are called the finish or aftertaste.

The more often you taste beer using these guidelines, the better you’ll become at identifying different flavors and aromas.

Eventually, you’ll develop your unique understanding and appreciation for all the various types of beer out there. 

Some Tips for Beer Tasting 

• Examine the Dates: Always check the production and expiration dates when you pick up a beer. You want to make sure that the beer is fresh. Older beers may have lost some of their flavors.
• Check the Temperature: Beer should be served cold, between 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is too warm, some of the flavors will be muted. If it is too hard, you won’t be able to taste anything.
• Cellar with Caution: Do your research first if you are cellaring beer. Not all types of beer age well. In general, dark beers and high-alcohol beers age better than light-colored beers. Cellar systems offer remote access and control to eliminate mistakes while boosting efficiency, sanitation, and safety—ProCare – complete in-line carbonation and nitrogenation systems on the cutting edge of technology. 
• Drink different varieties of beer: It’s important to sample as many different kinds of beer as possible to expand your palate. It is essential to try as many kinds of beer as possible. This will help you identify the flavors you like and don’t like.
• Clean Glassware: Be sure to clean your glassware with soap and water before using it. Any residual oils can affect the taste of the beer.

Professional Beer Brewing Equipment

Experienced brewer needs proper brewing equipment to brew beer professionally, and you will need some quality equipment for the brewing process.

• A brewing kettle is where the wort (unfermented beer) is boiled with hops to add bitterness, flavor, and aroma.
• Mash tun– where the grains are mixed with water and heated to extract the sugars.
• Other necessary equipment includes a wort chiller, fermentation tank, and kegs.
• If you plan on bottling your beer, you will need a bucket, wand, and capper.

Commercial brewing equipment kits are available with all the necessary equipment for professional brewing.

Conclusion

Enjoying your brew day with tasting beer may seem simple, but there is a perfect solution to get the best out of it.

By following these steps the next time you sit down for a cold one, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a professional beer taster in no time.

CHECK OUT: This Mash Temperature Chart in order to understand what temperatures your mash should be for different results during brewing.