It's summer and the peak time to enjoy a cold brew with friends and family. Here are a few tips to properly enjoy a brew from the pros.  

 

According to Business Insider, there are three basic and easy tips that every beer drinker should consider in order to properly get the most out of the drinking experience.

Toast with beer
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The Glass

A lot of the beer glassware you see might seem like just marketing material, but that's not all those beer glasses are for. Much of what we taste is due to what we smell, and it's hard to catch a whiff of what's inside a bottle or can while you drink it. A nice wide top on a glass will help you get a big whiff of the beer before you drink it.

The classic pint glass, the stemmed tulip glass, or the snifter glass works best to capture the aroma, to see the quality of the beer and for pure fashion enjoyment.

The Pour

Once you've got your brew and your glassware, you want to pour it to create the perfect head on that beverage.

When pouring from a bottle hold your glass at a 45 degree angle until it's about half full. At that point, gently tilting it upright and pouring into the center should create the perfect inch of head (certain beers, like weizens and Belgian ales, usually get a bigger head, from two to four inches).

If you are pouring from a tap, hold the glass at a 45 degree angle about an inch away from the spigot. Open the tap fully and fill to about halfway, making sure the tap never touches the glass or the beer. At the halfway point, tilt the glass upright and continue letting beer flow into the center, moving the glass down to make sure there's a little space between the tap and the brew.

Pouring Beer
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3. The Taste

When analyzing a beer, you can't just swill it down and burp. Take a look at the beer itself. Notice the color, the head, the bubbles.

If it's in a glass that won't overflow like a snifter, swirl it lightly, like you would a nice whiskey. This pulls out the aroma.

Take a whiff. Do if first through your nose, then through your nose with your mouth open, and then through your mouth. The way your nose and mouth are connected mean that you'll catch slightly different variations depending on how you smell something.

Take a decent sized sip and hold it in your mouth for a moment. See how your tastebuds react, what flavors come to mind. Notice the consistency and mouthfeel of the beverage. Afterwards, see if you notice any new flavors as you breathe out.

If you follow these simple tips, you'll be able to fully enjoy the experience and savor every glass of beer not only this summer, but for years to come. In fact, you can practice on your skills and be ready to get the most out of our upcoming Brews and BBQ Party over Labor Day Weekend with Q98.5.

 

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