Hosting: Sharing/Blind Tasting -- How Many oz Pour, etc.?

As far as pour size, I usually do four to five ounces depending on bottle amount and nber of people. Just divide the number of bottle ounces by guests. There ya go. I wouldnt do any less than two ounces of anything. It doesn't give the taster much to work with over time (cold pour to warming). Any less and it would also be kind of a let down.

Get some glasses from a wine or party store. You can get the disposable ones but why not get a half a dozen glass samplers? They are usually five ounces and cost about a dollar each. You'll use them again.

Don't feel as if you have to invite anyone to your tasting. It's ultimately your event and your beer. As long as you thanked him for bringing it back, I don't see why you must invite him.

Lastly, make sure you have snacks and bottled water. Get some frozen pretzels and maybe some cheeses. You'll need some carbs. And the bottled water to hand out is a good way to stay hydrated. I usually have about two dozen people at my tastings. They last about five hours, I go through four cases of water and more sausage balls, pretzels, pizzas and cheese than I care to admit. In my experience, I like the large tastings but the smaller more intimate ones are my favorite. Try sitting each person a place at the table with glassware and a coaster. I usually sit out brewery stickers or buttons too. Just a few suggestions.

 

Huh? Sorry, I had to.

Anyways, to answer your questions:

1) Pour size will vary based on amount of beer (12oz, 22oz, multiple bottles, etc). Heavy sediment in something like a sour or Belgian will also factor into things. Instead of searching for a set amount of ounces, just try and make it equal as best you can.

2) It's your tasting, so you can request whatever you want. Do get real demanding, but rather just let people volunteer to pick off something from a list of things you're searching for. Hey, if you provide a location and a good chunk of the beer they can bring some snacks, chairs, or some more beer.

3) I'd say to let them bring their own glasses. Though if you want to do side by side tastings then just buy some cheap plastic glassware. People don't seem to mind this much at beer fests.

4) As before, it's your tasting, so the guest list is up to you.

Tips: lots of water - keep it out in the open, and keep the pitcher/whatever full. Encourage snacking too. People quickly get caught up in the beer and forget to eat and hydrate, and this can end an evening - or an experience - pretty fast.

Try to keep a good pace. If you don't think about this I promise that the bottles will be opened quicker and quicker as people drink more. By the end of the night you've opened stuff you won't remember or be able to enjoy without pacing.

I'd also suggest some sort of palate cleanser. Either lots of crackers or better yet - some non-IPA beer. Add a stout here and a lambic there to break up all the bitterness or else everything will threaten to run together, which only hurts the blind aspect of things.

 

I just picked up 5 packs of these glasses from Ikea for a tasting, $5 for 6 glasses. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10015124/
They also have some slightly smaller ones for $1.50 for 6:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80094014/

 

These are a little more expensive than what jmdrpi suggested, but they are pretty damn sweet!

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=18491524

 

2oz pours so no one misses out or gets the dregs. Then let them fight over the leftovers.

Least bitter to most bitter is best as well.

These cups are pretty cheap and green for the most part.

http://www.worldcentric.org/biocompostables/cups/pla-cold-cups

 

I do about a 4oz pour at my tastings. I also have people bring food, water, etc. I supply all the beer, glasses and a place to host the event. I use 4 oz cups from the beerfests I've been to. I also have people do a rating of each beer from 1-10 on a small piece of paper. I then throw all of them into a hat and pull one out. Who ever's rating it is wins a box of beer. As far as adding more beers. How about DFH 60 and/or 90. If you get Cigar City Jai Alai I highly reccommned that. Cheers.

 

Normally I like to use 4oz pours, but if there are going to be more than four people at your gathering this would be a problem and you may have to have 2oz pours instead. I usually use small taster glasses that I have gathered from festivals or small snifters depending on how many people are coming. If you do not have adequate glassware you can always ask people to bring their own. If you want glassware for the future you can go to a dollar store (Dollar General, Dollar Tree..etc.) and pick up some cheap glasses.
My neighbor hosts a tasting once a week and he will let people know what he is planning on pouring and usually ask people to bring other beers for more variety. I see no reason not to let the people know what you're providing and then ask them to bring one or two beers themselves or to bring appetizers or cheese and cracker plates. With an IPA tasting you're definitely going to need crackers or pretzels to cleanse your palate between beers.
When I do a tasting that is specific to a single style I like to throw in one or two locals as well as one or two brews that are not generally considered "great" for the style. I am not familiar with NC beer availability but maybe you could throw in something like Big Sky IPA (very underrated imo) or Summit IPA and see what people think or get some stuff from Terrapin.
If this is your tasting I do not see a problem in asking certain people to bring things and I don't see a problem not inviting people (unless it may cause some kind of strain on existing friendships). If you know certain friends who do not like IPAs then maybe don't invite them so you can have room for those who do enjoy that style.
One recommendation I would give is to rinse your glass between beers and to drink plenty of water. If you want to go over the top you could do some research on each brewery you have a brew from and present that information to your tasting group so they have a better familiarity for the brewer and beer or give the background story behind the IPA and DIPA styles.
Hope the tasting is a success and post the results! Cheers!

After reading the other posts (maybe should have done first) I agree with the DFH suggestion if it is available there. Also the least bitter to most bitter is a good suggestion as well and you should be able to find the IBU amount either on the bottle or on the brewer's website. As far as using a beer as a palate cleanser I would go with a German Pils or maybe a Kolsch.

 

lol sounds like you had a great time, I am having my own first tasting day at my place in a couple weeks and can't wait! I haven't had hop wallop but have been meaning to try it. pte, hopslam, and maharajah are great beers!

 

Do you have Cost Plus world market there? they have these little glasses that have a bulb shape to them, around $2-3 each. Great for stuff like this.

 

Incredible.

 

whats so incredible about that?

 

It's so…Seinfeldian.

 

lol OOOOK, I guess it does sound like something Goerge would say.