Many people love beer. If you've tried it and didn't like it, that doesn't mean you can't be a beer connoisseur. You may just need to taste it often so your taste buds get used to it. With so many options to choose from, you can learn to enjoy the taste of beer while having fun trying different types of beers!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Finding the Beer You Love
Step 1. Taste different types of beer
Most people say they don't like beer because they've only tried poor quality beers. Try a variety of beers, from high-quality local microbreweries to mass-produced global products like Bintang and San Miguel. Like everything else, there's probably one type of beer out there that you like.
- Don't be afraid to taste a beer you've never tried.
- Start ordering a new beer or two every time you go to a bar or restaurant.
Step 2. Try beers with different flavor intensities
If you find one of the beers too strong, try a lighter flavour. Beers with lighter flavors usually don't ferment for too long, so they tend to be less bitter. On the other hand, if you're not satisfied with a bland, runny beer, try something with a stronger flavor like dark beer, porter and stout.
- Stout beer contains more aromatic jumps and is fermented longer for a stronger taste.
- White beer is considered much lighter. This type of beer is ideal for people who are just starting to try beer.
Step 3. Try a beer made in different ways
Beer is classified according to the way it is made, the time of fermentation, and the ingredients used to give it its distinctive taste. The more types of beer you try, the better chance you have of finding a beer taste that suits your taste buds.
- Try the lager which is a cold and refreshing beer. This beer is easy to drink and leaves a slight nutty and spicy taste in the mouth.
- Enjoy a sweet malt beer that offers a rich caramel and toffee taste.
- In hot weather, try Saison, a carbonated ale made with fruit for a light, “crispy” taste.
- Lambic beer is fermented with wild yeast and often tastes sour and almost cider.
- Dark beers like porters and stouts are heavy beers and have a strong, bitter taste, but not like coffee.
Step 4. Try a craft beer
It's not just big and famous companies that produce beer. There are countless small breweries that brew small amounts of beer using their own recipes. You may find your favorite beer in between.
- Look for draft beers at trendy bars or you can browse the liquor section of large supermarkets.
- If there's a small brewery in your town, visit their brewery and sample some of the best they have to offer.
Step 5. Try a beer from another country
Apart from “domestic” beers, you can find a wide variety of beers from different countries around the world. Apart from European beers, you can find beers from other Asian countries, American and even Australian beers without any hassle. These beers often use different ingredients or are made in different techniques resulting in unexpected unique flavors.
- Some of the popular beers around the world include Guinness (Ireland), Corona (Mexico), Heineken (Netherlands), Sapporo (Japan), Ayinger (Germany) and San Miguel (Philippines).
- Most of the famous foreign beers are traded worldwide and you can find them just about anywhere, such as bars, restaurants and large supermarkets.
Part 2 of 3: Learn to Love Beer
Step 1. Learn to detect complex flavors
There is a lot of flavor in a sip of beer. Instead of immediately deciding whether you like a particular type of beer, try to identify all the different flavors in the beer. Is the bitterness well balanced by the sweetness or is it the same? Do you find a faint nutty or floral taste? If you can relate the overall taste of the beer to a particular flavor you like, this can help you enjoy it further.
- Feel the aroma of the beer and swirl it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing it.
- When you're tasting beer, try to go beyond the bitterness and see what flavor it brings out.
Step 2. Drink the beer at the right temperature
Not all beers have to be enjoyed at the same temperature. If the beer you drink is too hot or too cold, it can become too tangy, bland or generally unpleasant. Follow the advice listed on the label or ask the bartender about the best way to enjoy a particular type of beer.
- Whites such as lager, blonde and pilsener should be served at about 0.5 to 7 °C, while stout, porter, and stronger dark beers are best served at room temperature.
- Avoid drinking beer with a frozen glass. Beer can freeze on contact with the glass, ruining the taste.
- Chill the beer, do not add ice cubes. After the ice melts, the beer becomes watery and the taste becomes less strong and less "heavy" anymore.
Step 3. Use a suitable container
The material of the container used to store beer can affect the taste just as much as the method of production. This difference is sometimes small. For example, you may prefer the same beer in a bottle to a can. Likewise, draft beer served in a glass is more likely to have a fresher taste than bottled beer. Try all the serving ways to see which one you like best.
- Mugs, pints or cans are fine for most beers. Use a tall pilsener glass to serve foamy beer as it helps prevent foam from overflowing and allows bubbles of different flavors to slowly rise to the surface.
- The chocolate glass filters out light which can cause the beer to sour faster. So, wherever possible choose beer in brown and green bottles, not transparent bottles.
- When drinking beer, drink it all or throw the rest away. The taste of beer changes quickly once the pack is opened and the rest usually doesn't taste good anymore.
Step 4. Be patient
A person's tastes change with age. Maybe your taste buds aren't ready for beer right now, but that doesn't mean it will always be that way. Keep trying different types of beer from time to time and, most importantly, keep an open mind. Chances are, you'll find a beer you really like.
Next time, if someone offers you a beer, don't refuse. If you decide you'll never try beer again, you'll never understand why so many people love it so much
Part 3 of 3: Enjoying Beer More Enjoyable
Step 1. Enjoy beer with food
Even if you're not a true beer fan, enjoying beer with food can make a difference. You may find that Saison is surprisingly crunchy and refreshing when enjoyed with a plate of grilled seafood, or that bittersweet stout is the perfect accompaniment to a juicy cheeseburger. The taste of food can change the composition of the beer and give rise to new complex flavors.
- As with wine, different types of beer are usually recommended to be enjoyed with different meals.
- Over time, you'll find out which combination you like best.
Step 2. Drink beer in pleasant conditions
Ambience can also be an important factor that can affect your enjoyment of beer. You may not have the same pleasure sharing a beer with a crowd in a cheesy, noisy bar as if you enjoyed a large pint of beer with close friends in the comfort of a home. If the atmosphere around you is not pleasant, it will affect the enjoyment of the beer you drink.
- Avoid places with strong odors or other distractions that could have a negative effect on your experience.
- Invite an experienced friend over for a beer tasting together. He can provide recommendations and tips for enjoying beer to the fullest.
Step 3. Change your perception of beer
If you keep telling yourself that you don't like beer, you'll never appreciate it. Stop looking at beer in extreme ways. Once you have a more open mind, you will begin to learn to appreciate the uniqueness of each drink with its own advantages.
- If you don't like one type of beer, try another until you find the right flavor.
- Dont think to much. It's just a drink.
Tips
- Don't judge a beer too harshly the first time you taste it. Maybe you just need to try it a few times before you start to appreciate the quality.
- Ask the waiter, bartender or salesperson for recommendations based on the type of beer you prefer.
- One of the best ways to try different types of beer is to order a sample tray. In general, you will get 3-5 types of beer which will allow you to taste the different flavors properly.
- Remember that, at the end of the day, the best beer in the world is the one you like the most.
- Enjoy the opportunity to sample seasonal beers, such as beers made for specific seasons.
- There were so many beers that it was impossible to count them all. Taste a different beer every week until you find a type you like.
- The more types of beer you taste, the more your tongue will get used to it, making it easier for you to tolerate the sour and bitter tastes in a strong beer.
Warning
- Do not drive a vehicle after drinking alcohol. Take a taxi or ask a friend to drive you home.
- Really try some beers, be careful not to drink too much or you will get drunk.
- Alcoholic beverages such as beer should only be enjoyed by responsible adults.
