I can't taste nuances

I am with you OP. I can't describe every ounce of a beer, but I sure know what tastes great, what tastes OK and what tastes bad.

I read some of the reviews where people describe 20 different flavors during the course of 12 ounces and it almost reads like satire. I don't doubt some people can, but I really doubt some people taste what they are describing.

 

I liken tasting beer to viewing modern art. I love beer, and I love modern art, and in my opinion, neither get the respect from the overall public that they deserve. I believe people would appreciate both "art forms" more if they just relaxed and let themselves enjoy what they were tasting/looking at. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what a beer tastes like, or what a modern art piece is trying to evoke. I know brewers and I know artists, and while they are indeed influenced by something particular, if someone gets something different out of their creation, they couldn't be happier as long as it's a positive and/or thought provoking experience. Individual perspective influences beer making and modern art. Therefore, individual perspectives can't be ignored when it comes to the taster's/viewer's reaction. In my opinion, it's all as celebration of individuality. If you can't taste the coconut, maybe you taste something else. Regardless of whether it's an ingredient or not, you taste it. That can't be denied. And that is one of the beauties of both beer and modern art. They create totally different impressions in different people, but those impressions can't be denied. Whether people are tasting beer or looking at a Pollock painting, my advice is the same: Just clear your mind and react to your gut impressions. Sometimes you'll be aligned with the brewer or artist, but as far as I'm concerned, that's kind of based on coincidence or common backgrounds, and even nature.

 

But can you taste rare?

I all seriousness, it just takes some time and effort to evolve. And even if you never feel like you can distinguish every little nuance in a beer, what really matters is that you enjoy the experience of drinking beer. If you try and force it, then you will probably diminish your enjoyment to some degree.

 

I'm working on building my beer palate. I've been doing beer sampling with a few buddies of mine, talking about what we taste. My question is: what are the other things people taste, smell, and observe in order to refine their palate? Do you try the many fruits used to describe the beer characteristics?

Many thanks for any advise.


PS: What exactly is baby sick/diapers? I saw it on a flavor wheel.

 

This wheel:
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/infographic-day-beersci-edition-beer-flavor-wheel

 

It's all about practice. And not just with beer. Eat outside of your normal foods. I've found that buying exotic fruits when I see them has been very helpful. Just make sure you're paying attention and really trying to experience and describe the flavors.

If you've spent any time in rural areas (seeing as your from Minnesota, that seems likely to me), you don't need to eat horse blanket to know the taste. Try to be aware of new and/or particularly noticeable tastes and aromas. Eventually things will start to line up.

 

So homebrewing really opened my palate up to what each ingredient can bring to a beer. By changing malts or hops you really get a grasp on what each piece brings. It has really helped me with hop flavors the most. You can brew with single hops, citra brings a dank musky tropical flavor to my beers. Chinook brings some pineapple and pine flavors. I never would have known if I hadn't brewed some single hop beers on my own.

 

I think getting into food and the culinary arts helps a lot. It exposes you to a wide variety of aromas and flavors, which will help you discern similar flavors in beer. When you're tasting beer, rely on your initial impressions, even if they may differ from others that you are tasting with. I've found that certain smells and tastes in beer can evoke very strong memories of foods or aromas that are personal to each individual. Just enjoy a beer and see what sort of nuances you can get out of it, it will get better the more you do it!

 

Im no expert but I find when I take a good size first sip I dont take another for a minute or two and let the taste seep into my upper mouth and the backtaste to soak in a bit. Then I often can get a handle on what Im tasting.

In the end all that matters is that you like what your tasting. But "tasting" IS great fun and a fascinating hobby.

 

swirl beer around in your mouth like your are gargling your mouth with mouthrinse.

 

Practice, practice and more practice

 

I would buy beer that is considered a good example of the style and also buy another beer that is considered a poor example of the style. I recently had a stout that was the perfect example of so many off or undesirable flavors that I actually sat with it while it warmed, taking a sip here and there to really observe those. It's not often you get the chance to taste plastic, cooked corn, cardboard and no finish in any beer let alone all in one beer. lolz The idea is that you will see what the flaw is in the beer and be able to pick it up more easily. Also that you will begin to be able to contrast and therefore define the qualities that make a beer good and what makes it poor.

 

A bacterial contamination. You will know the beer has it at the first whiff.

 

Thus to say one can't learn from reviews and tastes described by others because we all taste things differently is at best misleading.[/quote]

One can learn, but one also experiences too much info plus it colors you thoughts. lets say you read a review and it list 20 things they found. You taste it and find 10 or less. Now what? Do you keep drinking it UNTIL you find them?
I agree we do taste the major favors of sour, sweet etc the same. it is the difference in what we taste that makes us like different beers. otherwise we all love IPA or stout or wits. Can we learn to find the same things? maybe.

 

that power of suggestion is dangerous thing....

 

only my wallet tastes things rare.

 

“Can we learn to find the same things? maybe.”

The definitive answer to “Can we learn to find the same things?” is a resounding maybe.

If an individual is ‘blind’ to diacetyl no amount of experience or training will permit that person to perceive diacetyl.

If a person is genetically predisposed to perceive 4MMP as cat pee not training is going to permit that person to perceive pine when drinking a Simcoe hopped IPA.

There may be other flavors which can be perceived by the majority of folks but there will always be flavors which are dependent on the genetics of an individual.

We all have our own unique palates.

Cheers!

 

So true. While I feel that my nose and palate are well trained, I know several people that have genuine tasting talent. It's always interesting to watch them analyze. No histrionics, just talent. Some folks are simply gifted.