Learning about beer and food can be a ton of fun. Any beer pairing dinner will feature lively interactions carefully put together to show off the best in the beer, and if you’re paying attention, you may pick up on a few general principles and a few hints and tips. But what if you want... View Article
With more than 6,000 breweries in the United States and more coming every day, the craft beer shelves are groaning under the weight of hundreds of tempting—if confusing—choices. Beer labels barely describe the beer, let alone say anything about its quality. Staring at the crowded shelves, our eyes go crossed, and we randomly reach for... View Article
If there’s one thing that frustrates everybody trying to become a serious taster, it’s the difficulty of turning vivid sensory experiences into accurate and specific language. I’m asked about this all the time and reply, “Welcome to the club. You are not alone.” It’s best delivered with a hug. It seems so trivial. Even a... View Article
A favorite travel ritual is the arrival of that beautiful rainbow of tiny glasses of beer stacked on the sampler board of a newly visited brewpub. The shimmering gold, malty amber, caramelly red and roasty black shades spark the appetite—and the imagination. A recent order at a local brewery taproom was met with five nearly... View Article
Black beers can be highly polarizing. They can be a slow mover in a brewery’s lineup, but some breweries manage to have a hit with them anyway. Many people who happily lap up espresso would never put a similarly inky beer to their lips, while others swoon over their chocolaty, coffee notes. Many wrongly attribute... View Article
One of the most fascinating and enjoyable ways to taste is through a beer flight: a conducted tour of beers that may reflect a specific theme, a brewery’s lineup or even the uncorking of ancient treasures. No matter the theme, lining up a number of beers with an informed purpose is a great way to... View Article
A crystal-clear beer glowing in afternoon light can be a showstopper, but for certain styles, haziness holds its own joys. Like most things in beer, haze is a lot more complicated than it appears. A beer’s clarity depends on many factors: ingredients, process, yeast, fermentation, the traditional practices that define a style, as well as the... View Article
It is common to slice the beer world into two irreconcilable sectors. Lagers are the yin: cooling, clean and constrained; ales are the bold, brash, ebullient yang. When it comes to pairing with food, some have even made an analogy between white or red wines and lagers or ales. The mind seeks simplicity, so a... View Article
For all its history, beer has lived with the curse and blessing of acidity. In most places today, sour beers are a minor specialty, but when they’re balanced and aromatic, they can be among the best and most complex experiences any beverage can offer. When out of control or in the wrong context, acidity, and... View Article
