Alright - this is a half joke, half serious question. I am leaving for a Vermont to NYC trip where I am planning on obtaining as much of the best IPAs in VT as possible, stopping at NEBCO, then hitting a few of the best Brooklyn breweries. I am worried that with all the IPAs and beer I will be drinking I might not be able to taste anything by the end of the trip...do any one you either: 1. have a good trick for getting your palate ready for such an endeavor? i.e. not eating spicy foods, drinking coffee for a few days? 2. have a trick for in between beers to refresh the palate? i normally try to drink some room temp water and have a piece of bread but even if I have a dbl IPA at lunch and then drink water for hours I still feel like my tastebuds are dull when I have a second beer at dinner or at happy hour... Anyways - would love get any and all advice...even if it just "you should never use the phrase 'prepping the palate' again douchebag" Thanks!
No specific advice, but I know how you feel. My one and only tasting of Heady was in the late morning, following a night of many IPAs. While it was still very good, I could feel my tongue was kind of scorched from all the hops the night before, and I know I didn't get the full effect. My sensitivity to hops came back after I ate some lunch (during which I had MBC Lunch), if that's any help.
Personally I start light and then heavier into the brews so as not to have too much fatigue on the palate. Prepping....well, a few hours before consider not eating something hat is going to hang on for too long. Siracha and spicy dishes, or a double caramel macchiato whippy drizzle with a side of fluff woof. Variability of the species though would come into play, what works for some does not work on others.....I was half starved when I got to Jackie O's in Athens and all I had for the morning was one fantastic donut from Amish country.....believe me, after some light sips of our (me and the little lady's)choice of many different brews I didn't suffer with palate fatigue, I suffered from a quick rush from the alcohol since the lightest one I tried out of 8 was 8.9 percent. An awesome experience----just add some food in there though and enjoy lest ye spin out.
So you are saying the only cure is more beer? Just kidding, but you did get a couple of really good beers in one day at least!
Have a cheeseburger in between sips. Seriously, just enjoy yourself, unless you're a paid taste taster.
Eat as bland as possible. Focus on tasting the beers not drinking them. When tasting beers don't eat or nibble on anything salty and, as you usually do, drink lots of water. (Salt is not a palate cleanser it’s a palate changer. The same goes for cheese and other nibbles, etc.) Take along on your trip lots of unsalted water crackers or unsalted pretzels. (Bread typically has salt in it.) Use bottled spring water when possible since it typically has no chlorine. If you drink beers other than the ones you've gone to taste make them as different from an IPA as you can get them. (e.g., beers rich in malt flavors) Give your palate as much rest between hop dominated beers as you possibly can. Have fun!
This might be the only time in my life I get to try some of these beers...i just want to make sure i taste them!
Make sure to chug straight from the bottle. Minimizing air contact really opens up the flavor profile.
I feel your pain. I often get different flavor profiles from the same beer depending on the order in which I drink them. Since your avatar indicates you are coming from Washington, I presume you are flying, not driving but the best advice I can give is to bring home as many beers as you can possibly can. Just make sure to wrap clothing around the bottles, put them as close to the middle of a suitcase and yes, I recommend a hard sided suitcase. For cans, it's not a big deal if they are jostled but you don't want to have any clunking inside the suitcase. You will also need to weigh the suitcase so you don't get ***** on extra fees or worse yet, have to ditch some beer because all of your luggage is overweight.
Ive been on similar endeavors and its just common sense, stay away from spicy foods, anything too hot (temp), salty, sweet, things like that, keep it to hot dogs and pizza. my personal trick is water with lemon in between beers!
1. Coming into it from hiking or some kind of physical activity and having it with food always helps. 2. Food and water. 2a. drink something other than face blasting IPAs for a change. Carry on.
I agree with what someone else posted, water with a little lemon is a great palate cleanser. Also a great hydrator if your going to be drinking a lot.
It's simple -- don't overdo it. Vermont may have some great IPAs but you don't have to try to drink the pub dry of them. Vermont has some very good non-IPAs too, so enjoy some of those along the way to give your palate a break.
