The basics of what you need to know about beer tasting and crafting

The craft beer industry is huge. Here are some tips on tasting, so that you can find out which beer style is best for you. There are also some pointers on how to craft it at home.

Beer tasting: some tips

• Appearance: observing the color, viscosity, and head of each beverage is part of the overall experience.
• Aroma: have a good sniff. Is it hoppy or sweet? Smell plays a large part in what we perceive as taste.
• Flavor: when you take a sip, slurp in some air along with it, to heighten the flavor. What hits your palate? Is it fruity and sweet? A good brew will have more than one flavor. If you’re a beginner, you’ll do well to identify 3 to 4 different flavors.
• Mouthfeel: swish it around your mouth. How does it feel?
• Finish: swallow the taster and be aware of the aftertaste.

Beer crafting

There are four basic steps: prepare your equipment and ingredients, brew, ferment, and bottle. Here are some points to consider if you’re embarking on the journey of crafting.

• Buy a decent crafting kit, or you can gather the individual items if you prefer not to purchase a kit.
• Sanitize and sterilize. Being meticulous about cleanliness is of paramount importance from beginning to end.
• Choose buckets or carboys. Food-grade plastic buckets are practical to start with.

Use high quality/fresh ingredients and know how to store them. Invest in airtight plastic containers.

References

Northern Brewer. (2019, November 12). How to Make Beer. Retrieved from here.