Pictured above is called a BEER FLIGHT. A lot of you may already be aware of what a flight is. For those who don’t a BEER FLIGHT is a sampling of about four beers typically, of your choosing in 4 oz glasses. They are most common in taprooms and breweries, but a few bars might allow them. When getting a flight some just kind of dive right into it, finish it in mere minutes. That is all fine and dandy, but flights exist so you can take in each beer and study the characteristics. If you order a flight, typically the beertender will put them in the correct drinking order for you. No need to rearrange them.
Here are just a few thing to take in as you drink your beer. Aroma Take a whiff of the beer. Now there is a few ways you can do this, but for the sake of confusion I’ll just mention the short sniff. That’s where you will bring the glass to nose and take one to two short sniffs. What are you picking up? Coffee perhaps if it’s a stout? A hint of citrusy hops if it’s an IPA? Flavor Now the beer needs to hit all parts of the tongue in order to really pick up on all the flavors. Are you getting a banana flavor in your hefeweizen? What about that hint of caramel in your amber? Is it a sweet beer or a sour beer? You can even pick up some “off flavors” such a awful skunky taste due to light-struck (beer damaged by the UV rays) Aftertaste Take a moment to study the taste after you drink it. Do the hops linger? Are you picking up any flavors that weren’t there when you first took the drink? Mouthfeel Is it heavy or chewy? Light bodied or bold? What’s the carbonation like? Perceived bitterness Sweet? Sour? Bitter? Appearance Is the glass clean?? What color is the beer? Is it clear like a pilsner or cloudy like a hazy IPA? What about the head of beer? Another characteristic to consider is what is the temperature or your beer? Traditionally beer is served no colder than 44 degrees (F). If it feels warm, ask your beertender. You might be drinking a cask conditioned beer, if not, there might be a problem with their draft system. Beer flights are fun, especially for novice drinkers. It helps narrow down favorite beer styles without committing to full pours!
