Beer Tasting with non-beer geeks

Order the beers that arrive from least to most intense impact on the palate. Have on hand plenty of water and non-salted snacks such as water crackers, etc. Its good that you have score cards that people can use to write down their impressions of the beer. Allow time for discussion of each beer and what flavors people pick up, etc. you may find more people begin to use them. At the end have people who are willing vote (by secret ballot) for their top three choices and compile the results. For a general overall discussion. This is when it’s a good time to have any other foods served, etc. and some will want to have a second sample of one or more beers, etc.

Enjoy!

PS: I think you and those of you into craft beer already realize that the worst thing you can do in this situation is to say anything that comes across as critical or judgmental. Rather your comments should be focused on describing flavors etc., but without getting carried away. I'm reminded of being at a beer tasting where a woman told me she didn't like hoppy beers. I asked her, "do you like grapefruit?" When she said yes, I pointed to one of the beers she thought she wouldn't like and suggested there was a lot of grapefruit flavor to that beer. She did try it and liked it enough to go back for a larger pour.

Edit: Forgot to mention, that part of my suggestion is that you do small pours for all, one beer at a time rather than have a free-for-all, that way it becomes a social occasion focused on learning and tasting rather than just a pick something and try it drinking session.

 

Remind yourself to keep your vocabulary simple. I've found this is harder than one might think. I'll be with more casual beer drinkers, as you put it, and will say something as simple as, "the flavor profile could be more complex," and I'll be met with many an eye roll. I guess a better way to put this in beer novice presence would be, "In my opinion, the flavor is too simple. I want to taste something more." Also, remind everyone that there is no wrong impression about a beer and that it's natural for everyone to taste something different. This will help to encourage conversation. I might also pretend I'm judging a homebrew competition and the brewers are standing right there, just to remind myself to provide only "constructive criticism."

 

Keep an open mind.

 

Do your best not to be overzealous showing your passion for true craft beers. That's a hard thing to do without coming off too opinionated. Just ask what they like about the beers they bring and try to relate that to something you know they may also enjoy.

 

When I'm with "casual beer drinkers" I like to say that there are really only 2 kinds of beer - the ones you like and the ones you don't like. The ones you don't like, other may love. I like to get them thinking about the flavors and aromas, like others have already said. Get them to recognize where the flavor is coming from - the malt? the hops? the yeast? You're right that several of them are bound to bring Shock Top or Blue Moon, but even that is moving into a "new" realm for many of them. Blue Moon has been a gateway brew for many of my "converts." But, have fun with the beers. That is crucial.

 

Good luck...I've tried this a couple times, and in my experience, if you're used to shit beer, then the good stuff can be overwhelming. I let them drink the crap stuff, and when they leave I break into the good stuff.

 

Let them know that what they brought is swill.
but they shouldn't worry because you have plenty of the good stuff.

 

In my close group of friends only one person is really into craft beer. When I am drinking an amazing beer such as a juicy IPA I love asking them to smell the beer and it usually turns heads.

 

Don't be an asshole, and remember, beer tastings are for assholes. Camaraderie is the light. Beer is the switch

 

SHARE. Not everyone is into craft. When my friends and I have a get together, we share. Obviously no BMC, but if you provide an APA, someone will give you an Oktoberfest. Trade a Lager for a Porter. Have a Euro instead of an IPA. Besides, after 3 everyone's palates are roached then it's time for shots of whiskey!!!

 

I have a few friends that tolerate my beer drinking. I bring over beer to their house (because I'm a drunk). I share if they're willing to try. If they don't like it, I'm not offended. Yet, a few brews have got them noticing different flavors in beer. I think that's the cool enough.

 

Non beer geeks will scan your whole fridge to find the Blue Moon, 805, or Coors that might be in there. They usually don't try something unless you compare it to a similar macro brew beer.

 

We've done a few bottle share/tastings like this. Try to keep the beers in a general theme. Right now, fall beers, with a mix of pumpkins, oktoberfests, and brown ales is a good theme. You can stretch things a little, but you don't really want to attempt to run the whole beer gauntlet in one tasting.

Food, crackers, and other snacks are needed. Some cheese and a couple appetizers are great, but you could do a full meal/potluck type of thing, too.

Have fun. You can have some structure, but don't be too rigid. It's beer, enjoy it!

 

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "casual beer drinkers." I mean lots of people like good craft beer without having a lot of knowledge about it because (a) they don't drink that much and (b) just because they enjoy good beer doesn't mean they care enough to learn all about it. That is a lot different than people who are only familiar with Bud Light.

Either way, you should definitely avoid sounding like a pompous, know-it-all ass. But in the former case you can just hang out naturally and let conversation develop where you can wax eloquent on the topic of beer. In the latter case, I suppose you do the same, but might end up just not trying so hard to keep them focused on beer unless they show a strong interest.

At the end of the day, drinking beer is supposed to be enjoyable and being hectored is not fun. As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You are advocating by simply having people over to try different beers. There's no reason to be incredibly pushy on the subject.

 

Shhhh, you're out numbered. Don't laugh & point or snicker w/your fellow beer geeks, at the Shock Top Pumpkin. You'll spook them, bring them in on the sly like the witch in Hansel & Gretal...

 

I have had success with limiting a tasting to one style, just to help noobs focus. For example, if you taste Two Hearted side-by-side with Hop Devil, you can very easily enlighten a novice palate as to what "balance" is.

If you're all over the place with a random selection of styles, you won't help a potential beer nerd find any traction. If you focus, they will at least be able to walk away with one little bit of information. Knowledge is built one piece of data at a time.

 

Do you find one of those two beers to be balanced?

 

Nice topic OP. I think its great if non beer geeks want to hang out and do a beer tasting with a bunch of their beer nerd friends. The key is to let them know its perfectly ok to be independent on their opinions of each beer and also important not for the collective group of beer geeks to question or badger them "how can you not think this is a great?" kinda stuff. That's not cool at all and will scare them off. Make everyone feel welcome and enjoy the comradary.

 

So, to the OP, how did the beer tasting go last night? There were many suggestions posted. Were any followed?