Beer taste better as it sits?

For me a well made beer doesn't taste worse after it warms up whereas an unbalanced one does. After it warms a bit the taste does change, usually I notice the malt more, or sometimes the hops develop a more layered hop flavor, most often the aroma opens up. But it does change and whether it's heat or oxidation I really can't say though I suspect it's the heat.

 

The way a beer tastes changes when as it warms up. Weather is becomes better or worse depends on who is doing the drinking.

 

I'd like to add that you might have enjoyed it more after you became acclimated to it. Personally, I think this is a huge factor. People are usually quicker to wonder how the beer changed rather than wondering how their perception changed. The last sip wasn't a case of acclimation though... but I still find that I perceive a beer differently over time and this isn't just due to changes in the beer.

Welcome to the site. You'll find an entire group of people here who believe that beer tastes good. We're not all masochists.

 

I rarely drink my beer ice cold. I usually let it sit a little bit after I pull it from the refrigerator because I personally prefer how the aromas and flavors seem to evolve as it warms.

 

Indeed. Pouring a beer into a glass will allow the beer to breathe and aromas to be released. Very important because the senses of smell and taste are closely intertwined in an individual's perception of any food or beverage. Drinking a beer too cold will mask many of the aromas and flavors, allowing only certain facets of the brew to appear, such as bitterness.

Welcome to the wonderful world of beer (and BA). 30 eh? Better late than never.

 

There are a multitude of beer styles – covering a wide spectrum of flavor profiles – and as many interpretations of those styles as there are breweries that brew them. If you're willing to make the effort, it's likely you'll find at least a few that you'll actually enjoy...no forcing or self-torture involved.

 

A perfect glass to use to experiment with

 

Beer (or any beverage) always has more flavor as it warms up, but only your taste buds can decide if it "tastes better."

 

I would say that this applies to most styles, but I think that a lot of flavours are muted or non-existent when a beer is straight out of the fridge. Now, whether or not a beer tastes "better" at a higher temperature is totally up in the air.

In an effort to not point any fingers, what I will say is that most AAL's use "ice cold" as a marketing ploy in an effort to mask a lot of (arguably) unpleasant flavours.

 

Just remember that the world of beer is huge. There are hundreds of styles that all taste entirely different. If you don't like one you very well just might not like that type of beer. Nothing wrong with that, just find one you do like! Personally I prefer my beer slightly warmer than fridge temp.

 

OP that is the beauty of beer. Each one takes on a character of its own. I really enjoy my beers warmer especially darker heavy beers, to me they bloom so to say as they warm. Everyone is different and will taste things differently, I would suggest drinking cold and allowing to warm and take note of the changes, good or bad. I know what ones I like warmer and cold, etc, just a matter of trial and error.
Cheers.

 

I like my beer cold, it's probably mostly habit from drinking everything else cold. Plus cold temp = refreshing to me. Of course the beer warms as you drink it and still tastes wonderful. So I suppose in a way I'm a fan of both schools of thinking. Like another commenter said, try different kinds and you'll find your niche and expand your horizons. Beer flights and a sample here and there are good ways to do this.

 

Hops numb your taste buds, drinking impairs you to a degree making things taste different, temperature does affect flavor. It's a little of all of these.

 

My favorite breakfast as an 18-year-old: warm Yuengling and cold pizza.

This may not be a completely on-topic response.

That said, welcome to the fold, Drew. I hope you come to appreciate good beer.

 

I have a feeling that with not ever drinking then after a couple sips it starts to taste better, the impairment factor played a big part here. Most of us on this site drink regularly and can't easily relate to what it would be like to not only taste beer, but have alcohol in your system for the essentially first time.

 

Used to be a BA (not active for some years now, don't want to mention name) with whom I had the pleasure of some crazy tastings who drank all his beer at room temp. He said why bother letting it warm up and reach the proper full flavor when he could start it that way.