Beer Tasting Tips to Find Your Favorite Craft Beer

Visiting a taphouse like The Growler Guys is a great way to experience a variety of beers in one visit.  No two selections are the same–even those within the same style will have differences depending on the types of hops and malts used, adjuncts in the recipe, and other creative decisions made by the brewer.  Enjoying craft beer means discovering the unique differences between each and figuring out which you love best.  Using our beer tasting tips will ensure you have a better experience when you’re out trying craft beers and help you find new favorites.

Five Quick Beer Tasting Tips

1. Order smaller quantities.  If your goal is to try several types of beer, don’t start off with a pint.  Most taphouses will either serve tasting flights or have smaller glasses available for a “half pour.” If you’re not sure what type of beer you want to enjoy with your dinner, start with a smaller quantity, and then choose your favorite for a full-size pint.
2. Take your time to savor it. Don’t be tempted to chug your craft beer.  These beverages are designed to be savored and enjoyed.  Examine its color and clarity.  Note its mouthfeel (how creamy, frothy, or carbonated the drink feels.).  Consider each of the flavors.  Craft beers can have tastes of fruits, coffee, chocolate, bread, toffee, or even bubble gum.  Some craft beers, like imperials, have a higher alcohol content (ABV), so drinking one too quickly can go straight to your head.
3. Try it chilled and at room temperature. There’s a myth that all beers taste best chilled and straight out of the refrigerator, but it’s just not true.  Many beers will taste different cold than after they warm to room temperature.  For example, many darker beers will taste more flavorful after they have warmed up a little.  You may just find that one selection that didn’t have much taste chilled is full of flavor once it has set out for a while.
4. Cleanse your palette between tastings.  Avoid jumping from one beer directly to another.  The taste of the second beverage will be impacted by the first.  Instead, drink some water in between so you can enjoy the new beer without residual tastes from the first.  Some people prefer carbonated water because they feel it cleanses the palette better.
5. Start with lighter-colored beer first.  If you’re tasting a wide array of beer styles, it’s usually better to try lighter-colored beers first.  Usually, a flight of beer will be arranged with the intent you will start on the left and work your way through the flight to the right.  Darker beers will have a fuller taste and will stay on your palette longer.

Visit The Growler Guys to experience new styles of beer.

Explore the growing variety of beers in one taproom, The Growler Guys.  Each location carries the best local varieties, from the palest ales to the darkest stouts, along with ciders and kombucha.  Our friendly staff is happy to walk you through the characteristics of every style to help you discover your personal favorites.  Take home the beers you love best in a growler to share with family and friends.  View our online tap list to learn about the available selections at a location near you.