Horizontal vs. Vertical - Definining Terms

That's pretty much my definition.

Usually my preference for a vertical is also to go from a more recent to older, but there's no right or wrong answer.

 

This is my take on it as well, vertical is the same beer of different vintages whereas horizontal is the same type (i.e. Pils) from different breweries.

 

I always thought of a horizontal as the same beer with different adjuncts and/or barrel treatments. BCBS is a prime example of this, as well as the Yeti series from Great Divide. The same type/style beers from different breweries would just be classified as a "(blank) tasting" in my opinion, such as a "stout tasting" or a "Pils tasting" as referenced above.

 

That's how I always thought of a horizontal. I feel the point of a either is to notice the changes between the beers whether it is the difference in aging (vertical) or difference between additions or subtractions to the same beer (horizontal).

 

First of all, nothing in regards to beer is disallowed if you find it enjoyable. Frowned upon maybe, but never disallowed. In this case though, I just wouldn't describe it as a horizontal, I would call it a brewery tasting or sampling. Just my opinion though.

 

I think a horizontal can include similar styles from one brewery, e.g., a run of BBA beers (same year?), say from Central Waters, but I usually see it as two alike styles (side by side) or more brews (horizontal) from different breweries. Just my .02 cents...

 

I never thought of a horizontal as different styles of beer from the same brewery, or even different styles of beer - I always thought a horizontal was different beers of the same style (kinda like a "which-one-is-the-best" type of thing).

Verticals, I agree with. Same beer from different years. In either case, I'd imagine you need at least three beers. If you're only doing 2 beers, it's more of a head-to-head.