Beer flavors are more intense after taking a break.

I could definitely see that over a long period of time. On a smaller scale, I usually take Mon-Weds/Thurs off from any drinking and I always notice that first IPA on Friday night really pops. Could just be the anticipation though

 

This is definitely true. Drinking, especially heavy drinking, will burn your taste buds out pretty quickly and make beers taste more dull. Waiting a few days in between really makes me look forward to and anticipate a good beer, and I appreciate it even more.

 

Its not DEFINITELY true, as the same logic would also apply for food and other beverages. Your last sentence seems more logical.

 

Sounds as though you've been drinking lots of IPAs.

Your senses of taste and smell adapt somewhat over time to repeated exposure to many flavors and require time for that adaptation effect to go away and for them to be "reset" so to speak. Often that can be done with only a few days break or with changing up the flavors from one time to the next (which is the basic idea for using palate cleansers when doing a multi-beer tasting). But when dealing with more intense flavors short times or palate cleansers may not be enough and there is cumulative effect so longer breaks may be required.

 

On the contrary, it can in fact be quite true for beer and for food and other beverages, depending in part on the intensity of the flavors involved. So while anticipation may play a role, sensory adaptation also exists and has been demonstrated many times and in many ways.

 

Subjectivity...the nose tastes things first and the mind. If you "think" that fine. To me after the thought of anything I love after being forced not to have it, hypes and clouds the experience every time. you know?

be deployed anywhere without booze for 6months plus, I went nuts wanting any kind of booze...

I remember walking down the gang plank, looking for any watering hole.

 

Ive noticed too. I was drinking every single day for a while and took a week off. The next beer i had sam adams Oktoberfest was better than i remember. And im not the biggest sam adams fan flavor wise its always no matter which beer theres always that toasted spicyness unique to SA. But was very good. After a week of nothing im excited to see how it is on DIPAs now.

 

I'll have to agree taking a break does wonders to my taste buds, after getting off the stool and hitting the head the beer waiting for me tastes sooo good.

 

Which is why as an IPA guy, I drink more lagers and Miller Lite than any other beer. Palate fatigue is a bitch, been there done that, prevention is really the key to enjoying that IPA.

 

adaptation comes undone in a few days?

 

This is ,as a self professed hop head, why I still love variety.

 

I drink almost everyday, mostly ipas and sours. I took the month of June off and I could tell a difference in the taste once I started back. Anticipation may have played a role, but I think the time off helped

 

Depends on intensity, and a few other things, but generally, yes.

Think of moving from bright room into a darkened room. (Or go the other way from dark to bright.). Takes a while for your eyes to adapt. Now for flavors, stretch that out to a different time scale that can involve hours or even days.

 

It's called palate fatigue. Your flavor receptors become desensitized to the same flavor over and over. Take that repetition away and sensitivity returns. On your next first beer of the day, compare the first sips to the final ones.

 

I usually break from bedtime until late afternoon the next day, and that works for me. Life is short- cheers!

 

Snark on
So, you have been drinking nothing but enamel removing hop bombs, I see?
Snark off.

 

Yes

 

No

 

Then are you saying that you taste buds never adapt?