Getting more flavor when drinking beer outside

Could be the environmental difference with regard to humidity and whatnot, and how that impacts your senses. Could be that you're getting the addition of light skunking notes outside. Could be the psychological impact from the atmosphere.

 

The brain is trained to look for new aromas and discard aromas that have been around for a bit. This is why you sometimes don't notice that you stink (because you've gotten used to yourself), or why someone's perfume bothers you at first but passes as you get used to it. It's a survival technique. If all you were smelling when you were at the watering hole was the flowers around you and the earthy water itself you might not notice the predator sneaking up behind you - so the brain stops paying attention to those particular notes after a certain point and looks for new things (lion sweat!). That might be what's happening here, you're stepping out of a standard, safe environment into something that's more complex and your brain is ramping it up. Just a theory based on previous theories. Or it could simply be that all of the extra aromas put your senses into overdrive. If you were to walk into a dark cave I'm sure your senses of feel and sound would pick up, and probably your sense of smell as well, although your eyesight would be lost. My guess is it's something like that going on.

 

Plus, if you have the AC on, I'm assuming that it's warmer outside. The beer would be warming faster, and the aromatics volatilizing faster.

 

I notice the same and made a post about the same thing a while back! Beers always seem to smell and taste more vivid outside.

 

This happens to me, especially with IPAs/Hoppy beers. What happens for me is the hops get much "greener" and can become offputting. I think its the competition/addition of aromas (since taste and olfactory are intertwined), where inside there are few natural smells and hops play alone, but outside there are other aromas competing or adding to a particular aroma. Like most IPAs get distinctly more grassy and green as soon as I step outside.

 

You're not alone. I poured a beer a couple of nights ago and wasn't getting much aroma or flavor out of it. Went outside to take the trash out and brought the beer with me. As soon as I stepped outside, I was able to pick up much more from it than when I was inside. I'm not sure what the science behind it is, but there are numerous factors at play and I think @NeroFiddled brought up some interesting points.

 

This is too funny because I commented on this a few weeks ago to a friend. I noticed that when I sat outside my beer picked up new aroma and taste. I got a lot of dank out of my IPA and noticed deeper flavors. I agree with others on the warming effect and change in humidity. Honestly I feel most beers are kept too cold, it mutes a lot of the goodness.

 

I prefer to drink outdoors whenever possible(99%). The beer does seem to emit more flavor in the fresh air.

 

Opposite. Even a slight breeze outside blows the beer aroma away and brings in other smells. Better beer aroma indoors for sure. I may enjoy the experience of drinking the beer outdoors more, but it certainly doesn't enhance any flavors.

 

Perhaps it's more the smells and tastes of the outside air that's augmenting perception of the beer's flavor and smell.

 

Becoming one with nature enhances our senses! :-)

Ok enough of the tree-hugging BS, could it be simply that your beer warms up much quicker outside compared to inside? As we all know as beer warms both the aroma and tastes improve (most beers)? Do you generally drink beers quickly inside before the temp of beer changes? That could be the most likely cause.

 

It makes perfect sense considering much of taste is aroma. You are getting aromas that aren't part of the beer but is influencing what you taste.

 

I think in general day drinking outside is better than indoors. Maybe perception has a deal in it.

 

I always just thought I was kind of nuts, but whenever I drink outside (specifically if the sun is out) I always pick up a distinct aroma/flavor that I don't particularly desire. I assume it has something to do with the beer being light struck, but i wouldn't describe it as "skunky" per se...

 

Maybe, I'll take a closer look next time I have a brew outside. I'm sure the environment does play a part in the experience.

Cheers!

 

Maybe the beer becomes more oxidized quicker outside and changes the aroma and flavor a little bit?