If you've tried beer in the past but didn't like it, it doesn't necessarily mean this drink isn't for you. Maybe you just have to learn to appreciate the taste. Fortunately, you can learn how to enjoy the taste of beer and have fun with new experiences at the same time!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Finding the Right Beer
Step 1. Try various styles of beer
If you are convinced that you do not like beer, perhaps you have simply tasted poor products. Be sure to try all the variety this drink has to offer, from high-end artisanal bottles to more common brands, such as Moretti and Peroni. As with all things, there may be a beer style that suits you.
- Don't be afraid to try beers you've never tasted before.
- Start by ordering a couple of new beers every time you go to a pub or restaurant.
Step 2. Try beers of different alcoholic strengths
If the first beer you tasted seems too strong to you, perhaps you will appreciate a lighter one more. Beers of this type have a tendency to be less fermented and therefore less bitter. If you have been disappointed with weak, watery tasting beers, try strains with more intense aroma, such as porter and stout.
- Stout beers contain more pungent hops and ferment longer than others, so they typically have a more intense taste.
- Light and light beers are sometimes more delicate. They are ideal for those who are just starting to appreciate this drink.
Step 3. Try all kinds of styles
Beers are classified according to the method of preparation, the duration of fermentation and the ingredients used to obtain their characteristic flavor. The more styles you try, the sooner you'll be able to find the one that's right for you.
- Try lagers, fresh and refreshing beers, easy to drink, with a light aftertaste of dried fruit or spices.
- Choose a sweet beer with a strong malt flavor and rich caramel and toffee notes.
- When it's hot, try Saison, which are generally quite sparkling beers that contain fruit, light and lively.
- Lambic beers ferment with wild yeasts, often sour and cider-like.
- Dark beers such as porters and stouts are full-bodied, have a strong, sometimes bitter flavor with an aftertaste similar to coffee or bitter cocoa.
Step 4. Give craft beers a chance
Beer is not only produced by the big famous multinationals. There are thousands of craft breweries around the world that produce a few bottles following original recipes. One of them may be the right one for your taste buds.
- Look for the finest craft beers in the best breweries in the area, or on the shelves of the alcohol department at the supermarket.
- If you live in a city where a craft brewery is based, pay a visit to the workshop and try some samples of their best recipes.
Step 5. Try beers from other countries
In addition to those known as local beers, there are many varieties that come from all parts of the world. It is not difficult to find American, Asian and even Australian beers. Often, in other states ingredients or techniques other than Italian and European are used that give the beers unique and unusual flavors.
- Some examples of the world's best-known industrial beers include Guinness (Ireland), Corona (Mexico), Heineken (Holland), Sapporo (Japan), Ayinger (Germany) and Stella Artois (Belgium).
- Almost all of the best-known foreign beers are imported all over the world and sold in bars, restaurants and supermarkets.
Part 2 of 3: Learn to appreciate the taste of beer
Step 1. Learn to identify complex aromas
A single sip of beer conveys a lot of information. Instead of immediately deciding whether you like a certain type of beer or not, try to notice all the nuances it has. Is bitterness correctly compensated for by sweetness or acidity? Are there light floral or dried fruit notes? Matching the flavor of beer to the individual flavors you like can help you enjoy it more.
- Smell the beer a few times and swirl it in your mouth for a couple of seconds before swallowing it.
- When tasting beer, try to overcome the initial bitterness and notice what aromas it reminds you of.
Step 2. Drink the beer at the right temperature
Not all beers have to be tasted at the same temperature. If the one you are drinking is too hot or cold, the flavor can become too intense, too light or just plain unpleasant. Listen to the suggestions on the label or ask the pub manager for advice on how to best consume a certain style of beer.
- Lighter beers such as lagers, blondes and pilsners should be served at around 1-7 ° C, while stouts, porters and strong, dark beers should be sipped at room temperature.
- Avoid drinking beer from an ice cream mug. In contact with the cold glass, the drink could freeze and prevent you from experiencing its full flavor.
- Some styles of beer should be consumed cold, but without ice. If you water down a beer, it won't have the same aroma and body.
Step 3. Use the right glass
The type of container in which the beer is stored can have an impact on the flavor equal to that of the production method. In some cases, the differences are small; for example, you might prefer the same bottled beer rather than canned. Likewise, draft beers served in the mug may taste fresher than bottled beers. Try all the ways to serve beer and you will find out which one is your favorite.
- A mug, can or mug is good for almost any beer. You should use tall pilsner glasses for beers with a lot of foam, as they help contain it and allow the aromas to come to the surface.
- The dark glass filters the light, which could make unpasteurized beer go bad faster; therefore, choose craft beers in dark bottles instead of clear or green ones, when you get the chance.
- When you open a beer, stop it or throw it away. Beer spoils quickly after opening and usually cannot be stored.
Step 4. Don't be in a hurry
People's tastes change with age. You may not be ready to enjoy a certain style of beer right now in your life, but it doesn't mean you never will be. Keep trying various beers from time to time, and most importantly, keep an open mind. You will probably eventually find a style you like.
- The next time someone offers you a beer, don't turn your nose up. If you stop tasting, you will never have a chance to find out what so many people love about this drink.
- Many people at first taste consider beer to be bitter. If this happens to you too, consider that over time, tasting it carefully, you may notice other more pleasant flavors.
Part 3 of 3: Making Beer Tasting More Enjoyable
Step 1. Pair beer with food
Even if you're not a fan of this drink, the food that accompanies it can make a lot of difference. You may find that a Saison is surprisingly tangy and refreshing when enjoyed in combination with a plate of grilled shrimp, or that a dark and bitter stout goes perfectly with a succulent cheeseburger. When mixed with the flavor of food, the taste and aftertaste of a beer can transform and take on new complexity.
- Just like wine, various beers pair best with different foods.
- Over time, you will understand which flavor combinations you find most delicious.
Step 2. Drink beer in an environment where you feel comfortable
Atmosphere has a lot to do with how much you appreciate a drink. Probably sharing a pitcher with six people in a crowded and chaotic restaurant will not give you the satisfaction of slowly savoring a pitcher with your best friend in the comfort of home. If you're in a place you don't like, that unpleasant sensation can affect the taste of the beer as well.
- Avoid places that have strong smells or other unwanted distractions that could negatively affect your experience.
- Organize a tasting at your home with an experienced friend. He will be able to give you tips and advice on how to taste the different styles of beer.
Step 3. Change your perception of beer
You will never appreciate it if you convince yourself that you don't like it. Make a commitment to stop thinking about beers in terms of white or black. Once you have softened your position, you will be able to appreciate the value of all the unique varieties of this drink.
- If you don't like a particular style or brand of beer, move on to the next one until you find the one that's right for you.
- Try not to think about it too much. It is just a drink.
Advice
- Don't judge a beer too harshly when you first taste it. It can take several sips to start understanding what makes it special.
- After all, remember that the best beer in the world is your favorite.
- There are so many beers that it is impossible to count them. Choose a different style every week, until you find one you like.
- Your taste buds will get used to the flavor more and more after each tasting and you will be able to tolerate the sour and bitter taste of even the strongest varieties.
- Use any trip and opportunity to try local and seasonal beers, such as summer, winter and Oktoberfest-brewed beers.
- One of the best ways to try many beers is to order a tasting. Usually the locals who supply it will let you try 4-5 beers, in small quantities to taste.
- Ask your waiter, bartender or pub owner for new suggestions based on the beers you like.
Warnings
- Always avoid driving after drinking. Call a taxi or have a friend drive you home.
- Only responsible adults who are over the age of majority should enjoy alcoholic beverages such as beer.
- When tasting various beers, be careful not to drink too much or you will end up getting drunk.
