I did a quick search but couldn't find a consensus. I am hosting my first tasting but with only three people. We will be doing a blind tasting on six different Quads. I have a Westy 12, Rochefort 10, St Bernardus 12, Boulevard Sixth Glass (American wild card) and I'm still deciding on Pannepot, La Trappe and Gulden Draak. Anyhow, my question is how important will glassware be to this? With three people and six beers I am going to obviously need 18 glasses. We only own like 3 chalice/goblets together but I do have plenty of tulips, snifters and pint glasses. These are pretty big beers and I'd like to do this correctly and be fair for a blind review. I feel like these are my three best choices...... 1) 18 random tulips and snifters 2) 18 pint glasses 3) Suck it up and buy 6 chalices or goblets and each person go one at a time Im leaning towards #1. I'm probably overthinking this but I would like to see what other BAs think. This is, for all of us, our first shot at a Westy and few of the others so we are pretty excited. Thanks in advance! - Ryan
My thoughts exactly. As long as the glasses are identical you can remove that as a variable in the end results. FWIW- these are Dollar Tree glasses that I used for a smaller blind tasting:
ok shoot me now, but when i do this i just use thick disposable plastic glasses. and you know what no one cares
If you plan on doing future tastings, invest in the right glassware. I prefer the Spiegelau Brussels style snifter. Probably a bad sign, but I carry glasses in my jeep for impromptu tastings. Have your friends byog.
About a month and a half ago, I held a three-person, four-quad tasting. We each used a single tulip. In between beers, we rinsed and dried the glasses, and took a break for water and to let ourselves mentally reset and move on from the previous beer. We didn't have a problem. I supposed you could use 18 snifters/tulips/wine glasses, but I just don't see that as necessary. Regardless, I'm sure you'll have a good time. Enjoy!
When we did some blind tastings (3 beers at a time), we used Glencairn glasses and marked each one with some temporary paint. They are the perfect size, not too expensive, and are like little tulips. They are also good to have on hand for scotch and bourbon
