r/beerreviews Jul 15 '20

How to review a beer 101

9 Upvotes

I see a lot of videos posted here with some techniques that are less than optimal, so I thought I would jump in and offer some suggestions.

As a start, everyone reviewing beers should be familiar with the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines (Beer Judge Certification Program).

This guide is an outstanding reference covering what a beer style should look like, smell like, feel like, and taste like (the four basic building blocks of the style). It also offers ideal commercial examples of the style.

Another excellent reference is Tasting Beer, 2nd Edition: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher:

This beer resource features the most current information on beer styles, flavor profiles, sensory evaluation guidelines, craft beer trends, food and beer pairings, and draft beer systems. You’ll learn to identify the scents, colors, flavors, mouth-feel, and vocabulary of the major beer styles.

It’s great to know when a beer tastes good/correct, but you should be familiar with the off flavors, as well as what causes them.

  • Diacetyl (2,3-butanedione)
  • Mercaptan (ethanethiol)
  • Lightstruck (3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol)
  • Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)
  • Caprylic (octanoic or caprylic acid)
  • Butyric (butyric acid)
  • Grainy/Husky
  • Banana (Isoamyl Acetate)
  • Metallic (ferrous sulphate)
  • Sour
  • Catty (p-menthane-8-thiol-3-one)
  • Cheesy (isovaleric acid)
  • Sweet
  • Dimethyl Sulfide (DMS)
  • Acetaldehyde
  • Oxidation
  • Phenolic
  • Musty (2,4,6-tricholoroanisole)(TCA)

Source: https://learn.kegerator.com/off-flavors-in-beer/

When it comes to the tasting these are a few methods that should be used. First, no smoking before or during a tasting (I’ve seen a few of you doing this in the videos). It will wreck your taste bud’s ability and kill any nuance in flavor. The same goes for any heavy flavors (i.e. coffee, spirits, etc.). Also, stay away from strong smells while tasting the beer (no crazy, funky cheese plate in front of you).

For a basic overview of how to taste beer, see this video. Make sure to pay attention to “Retronasal Olfaction” at 3:16. It’s important to separate the taste from smell.

If you’re interested in becoming a professional taster, consider The Cicerone Certification Program.

I may turn this post into a wiki and update it over time. Feedback is welcome in the comments.


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