Beer Tasting Party Tips

October is the month for the traditional Oktoberfest. Why not hold your own mini-style fall classic, and invite some of your family and friends to a beer tasting party? Fun and inexpensive, a beer tasting party can be a great way to spend a crisp fall afternoon with friends. To keep your party as a true tasting event, keep the guest list to about 8-10 people; too many guests will probably turn the beer tasting party into a regular party.

You can plan on having about one bottle of beer for every 3 guests. For each sampling, you only need to pour about three ounces of a beer in a glass. Try and have about 10-12 different beers for tasting. Different types and styles of beer make for the best sampling. You can have selections that are pale, dark, hoppy, malt etc.

Beer tasting is different than traditional wine tasting in that the beer needs to be swallowed in order to distinguish its full flavor. But like wine tasting, in tasting beer you use your eyes, nose, and taste buds.

Wide goblets will work well with heavier tasting beer because the aroma of the beer can reach your nose before you taste the beer. Tall slender glasses work well for the formation of the beer's head. Whichever type of glass you use, make sure it is clean and clear of any soap residue. When you pour the beer, let the beer head form, and then smell the flavors of the beer before the head disappears.

Swallow a few sips of the beer but first swill the beer around in your mouth, letting your tongue appreciate the texture and flavor.

Start with the lightest flavor beer and move to the heaviest tasting beers last. Have the beers with the highest alcohol content last, to ensure your guests will fully appreciate the lighter beers first.

Each guest at your beer tasting party should have several items:

Clean glass for beer

Glass of water to sip in-between tasting

Pen and paper for note taking

A menu of the beers served

If you have any beer guides and reviews, have them displayed where your guests can see them.

If possible have everyone sitting at a large table together. To enhance the setting, have some soft music in the background. You can give a brief description or background of each beer before tasting. After everyone has sipped and tasted their beer, discuss and take notes.

A buffet style of snacks will make your beer tasting party more enjoyable as well. Good choices to complement the beer are cheeses, crackers (not too salty), cold meats, bread, and pates. Some fruit and even popcorn are good to munch on as well between tasting to help cleanse the palate.

A good tip before serving the beer is to remove the bottles about ½ hour to an hour before you ill be serving the. If the beer is too cold, flavors will not be appreciated and enjoyed fully.

Lastly, have some arrangements for designated drivers to take your guests home, or another safe plan for your guests. Do not let anyone drive home alone.