The Beer Taster's Notebook

Jonathan Thompson

The Ten Rules of Beer Tasting

  1. Glassware matters- Use a stemmed glass that tapers inward
  2. Temperature matters- The bigger the beer the higher the temperature. 3℃-13℃ is the range
  3. Size matters- Fill the glass no more than halfway
  4. Foam matters- Raise some head
  5. Time matters- Spend as much time on each aspect as needed
  6. Light matters- Keep the beer away from sunlight
  7. Smell matters- Aroma is the number one contributor to flavour, taste beer in an odour neutral environment
  8. Swirling matter- Swirl the beer, it’s not just for wine
  9. Finish matters- Spend as much time after swallowing as before
  10. Fun matters- It’s only beer