Beer has changed a lot since the days when your choices were Budweiser, Miller, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Coors. Now when you walk into a bar you are greeted with an array of Tap Handles advertising a number of beers that focus on taste and quality over quantity.
When drinking beer, your idea of a good beer can be based on personal taste. There are Belgian or Anglo American ale’s, Lagers, Wheat Beer’s, Stouts and Porters. Then there are all the sub categories: Saison, Barley wine, Imperial Stout, German Hefeweizen, Doppelbock and the list goes on. What are all these choices and how do you know what to drink?
The best way is to sample different beers. To do this you can get together with friends who can bring different beers to share and compare. You can also go to a beer tasting, which some of the local wine and liquor stores hold. Finally, go to a beer festival like StarkBier Fest on March 23. Go to www.listermannbrewing.com/starkbier-fest-2013 for more information.
The things to do when tasting the beer are the same no matter what beer you are trying. First, what does it look like? Is it light or dark, thick or watery? Does it have a head? Now, swirl the beer carefully. Did the head stay or go away when you did this? You should also find it easier to smell the beer after this step.
Now smell the beer just like people tasting wine. What do you smell? Now, finally taste it. Don’t just swallow, but let it sit in your mouth for a moment. You are looking for the “mouthfeel” here which is the consistency of the liquid. Is it syrupy or smooth? Try to put this experience into words.
Follow these steps and you will start understand what type of beer you like to drink.
Top ten beers according to www.ratebeer.com
Bells Black Note Stout, Bells Brewery
Rochefort Trappistes 10, Brasserie Rochefort
AleSmith Speedway Stout, AleSmith Brewing Company
Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout), Founders Brewing Company
Bells Expedition Stout, Bells Brewery
AleSmith Speedway Stout (Barrel Aged), AleSmith Brewing Company
Bells Hopslam, Bells Brewery
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, Great Divide Brewing Company
Three Floydes Dreadnaught Imperial IPA, Three Floyds Brewing Company
Founders Breakfast Stout, Founders Brewing Company
