I’m often asked “what is your favourite beer?” A lot of people assume that because I’m broad and varied in my beer tastes that I must have one.  Lucky for me everyone has an opinion and approximately 47% of those opinions are wrong. 

There’s not many rules, anyone who tells you there’s a “right” beer to drink isn’t being honest. The right beer is the one you enjoy drinking. That’s it, that’s the rule. If you want lager on a hot day, that’s an excellent choice. If it’s a thick, syrupy imperial stout that tastes like liquid brownies, also excellent.  Don’t be held back by the “I-don’t-drink-lager” guy (I know that guy, he likes what he likes).

Generally (and this is an opinion, wherein I’m probably 47% wrong) beer comes in two main families, and the difference is yeast and fermentation temperature.

Lagers are made with bottom-fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures. They’re usually crisp, clean, and refreshing. Think Pilsners, Helles, and yes, those green bottle beers everyone pretends to hate but secretly drinks at barbecues.

Ales use top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures. This produces more complex flavour — fruity, spicy, juicy or whatever magic the brewer is weaving. Believe it or not, IPAs, stouts, porters, wheat beers, and most craft beers fall into this category.

That’s it. You can bluff your way through a conversation with that and impress people with your galaxy of a brain.

Let’s talk about IPAs. Seriously these are the lion’s share of the craft beer output (again an opinion). Somehow, these aggressively hoppy beers became the default choice for people who want to look like they know beer. Even more so with the hazy variants.

IPAs are fine. Some are even great. But they’re not a personality trait and drinking them doesn’t make you interesting. If you like them, fantastic. If they taste to you like tears of bitter grapefruit regret, then that’s ok, there are days when I don’t enjoy an IPA. But if it’s not IPA, you’ll find there are literally dozens of other beer styles waiting for you. (Remember: Two families, dozens of styles).

IPAs are fine. Some are even great. But they’re not a personality trait and drinking them doesn’t make you interesting.

So here’s how to taste a beer to see if you like it. You’ll know if you’re read anything I’ve written (thank you) that I’m kind of obsessed with look, head and aroma.

  1. Is it clear or cloudy? Light or dark? This tells you exactly nothing about how it’ll taste, but it’s a nice visual warmup.
  2. Take a sniff. Sometimes the aroma comes you on the pour, a gentle waft. What do you notice? Citrus? Caramel? Vague mustiness? Nothing? That’s all valid information.
  3. Take a proper sup, not a tiny one. Let it hit your whole tongue. Notice the initial flavour, what happens in the middle, and how it finishes.
  4. This is the most important step. If you really hate it, keep it to yourself. No one is interested that you poured it down the sink. You don’t have to buy it again. Beer is like music, there are so many choices, and the fact you didn’t like IPA X from Brewer Y does not mean that IPA Z from Brewer B isn’t much more your taste. You can’t like every beer, you can’t like every song.

Next, You’re at the bottle shop, or at a bar. There’s so much choice. Beers with names like “Hoptopus Maximus” or “Scruttocks Old Dirigible” or “Double Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Midnight Monkey Magic.”

Don’t panic.

Chances are if you’ve liked a beer from Brewer X you’re likely to enjoy another of their beers, doesn’t always work but I think this is the most likely a good choice.

If you’ve enjoyed craft lager before, try the lager.

In a bar? Accept the offer of a taster before you commit. What’s the worst that could happen?

I have some other rules that you’re free to ignore.

Patience.  What you will discover is that you should let your beer warm up a few minutes. I know, who has time for that? But th ebeer will change and bloom and fill out as it warms.

Glassware. I’ve written about glassware before, different glass shapes can emphasize different aspects of beer — aroma, head retention, appearance. A tulip glass concentrates aromatics. A pilsner glass shows off clarity and carbonation. A pint glass is fine for everything. 

That said, unless you’re doing a formal tasting, drink from whatever’s clean. The beer will taste 95% the same from any reasonable vessel. Enjoy your beer in your favourite glass. 

In conclusion, beer is a great leveller. It’s been bringing people together for thousands of years, long before anyone cared about IBUs or barrel-aging.

Drink what you enjoy. Ignore the naysayers and the gatekeepers. Try new things when you feel like it.