We’ve added a new feature to Hapa’s Brewing: Tuesday Tastings. Every Tuesday we will be reviewing a different beer. While this is a great excuse to drink new beers during the week under the guise of “research and development,” it is also a means to explore the world of beer, try new things, and share our experiences.
So how does one review a beer? Before we dive into Tuesday Tastings, let’s cover the basics:
Appearance – What does the beer look like? Is it dark like the future prospects of the Cincinnati Bengals? Does the beer retain a foamy head? What is its level of carbonation?
Smell – Stick your nose into your glass and ignore the quizzical looks from others. Does the beer smell sweet, chocolaty, smokey, nutty, bready? Can you detect the hop aromas: piney, leafy, herbal, citrusy? Is the smell of alcohol present?
Taste – Forget your college days of guzzling beer as quickly as possible and take a deep slow taste from your glass. Let the beer wash over your tongue and repeat as necessary. Are the sweet malt flavors well balanced against the bitterness of the hops? Do the beer’s flavors align with its smell? Flavors may include notes of chocolate, toasted bread, grapefruit, apricot, etc.
Mouthfeel – Feel the beer on your tongue. Does it feel light or heavy, thin or thick? It is heavily carbonated or flat.
Drinkability – This is not the Budweiser version of “drinkability;” namely can you drink 15 cans in one sitting. This is your overall grade of the beer. Did you enjoy it and would you reach for another one?
Keep these criteria in mind the next time you sit down with a cold one and stay tuned for beer reviews every Tuesday!