Learning to taste beer is something you may have developed without instruction. It's only a matter of getting the most flavor out of the beer. Learning to taste beer can help you appreciate, and enjoy beer to its fullest. So it is worth doing. While evaluating the taste of a beer is most certainly an art, there are some simple steps you can take. The following techniques will help you take your love for beer to a method of evaluation.
After pouring the beer, take a good look at it before diving in. You are looking for three things, Color, Carbonation, and Turbidity (cloudiness).
Color– The color could be anywhere from a pilsner (light yellow) to a chocolate stouts (dark, dark drown). Color is determined by the blend of malted grains used in the beer.
Carbonation– The carbonation of the beer will be revealed in the head. How thick a head is poured, and how long does stay in together. Does it leave lace on the side of the glass?
Turbidity– The turbidity is simply the cloudiness of the beer. If it is unfiltered there will be "floaties" in it.
Before taking your first sniff, agitate the beer. Give it a good swirl. This will release some more of the aroma. When you smell the beer remember to take your time as after about 4 sniffs, your sense of smell will be dulled. Open your mouth while you take another sniff, and then inhale through your mouth.
This is definitely the most important and enjoyable part of tasting beer. Sip the beer, before swallowing let its flavor fully infuse your taste buds. Exhale as your tasting the beer. There are three things you are looking while sipping the beer.
Mouthfeel–This is the indication of the body of the beer. Does the beer feel heavy in your mouth, or light?
Flavor– This is why you let the beer sit in your mouth a little before swallowing. To taste all the flavor, it has to reach all the taste buds on your tongue: bitter, sour, sweet, and salt. Notice the bitterness from the hops and sweetness from the malt. Feel the balance of the flavor.
Finish– The finish is equivalent to the after-taste, the flavor that lingers post swallowing. It may linger for a long time, or may not leave much of an impression at all.
References:
Tasting Beer: http://www.alabev.com/taste.htm
How to Taste Beer: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/taste.php
