How To Choose A Beer Like A Pro
When you’re visiting a place for the first time, you don’t always have a go-to beer you know will be good. When you’re not an expert, how do you know what to look for when you are reviewing the menu? As a bartender, here are some strategies I use when I choose a beer.
“You don’t have any IPAs do you?”. I cannot count the number of times in a busy weekend that I get this question.
A few weekends ago, a couple sat down at the bar. They did what our new guests so frequently do: pull out their Columbus Brewery Passports. For those of you unfamiliar, every so often a city with a lot of breweries will have a little passport that you can buy to collect stamps on your visits. In Columbus they’re free, and you can pick them up at any participating brewery.
While most of our guests know what to expect, our Brewery Passport seekers are often newbies just trying to earn their free pint glass. For the record, we do not have an IPA. And rather than explaining the history of the India Pale Ale like an asshole, I usually just say “Sorry, no. We’re a German Style Brewery, so we stick to German beers.”
The recipient of this news usually always responds the same way: nodding politely while pursing their lips, then glancing down at the menu once again. What surprises me is how often they neglect to ask for a recommendation.
As I slid the couple their glasses of hefeweisen, I thought about how a few simple actions could have made their experience better. What would I, a bartender, tell the guests about how to choose a beer? How can someone who isn’t a beer expert know what to look for?
When You Have Time To Plan
Unless you are from out of town and just looking for a place to grab a quick drink, most of the time you have a good idea of where you want to go. You may have heard a rumor, or have done a cursory search on google maps or yelp. You may even (should you be so dedicated) have read reviews on Untappd, and even have read the descriptions of their beers. If you are that prepared, these tips are probably not for you. You’ve done your due diligence. But not everyone who enjoys beer puts in that kind of time, and I’m guessing if you’re reading this that isn’t you anyway. So what are the most helpful things to know before you head over?
1. Start by reviewing the website, specifically the “about” or “history” pages.
I know, I know. Do you really need me to tell you that? Well, yes but there’s a little more to it that what you are probably thinking. Don’t just look at the beer list. Look at the brewery’s description of their brewing style. Not all craft breweries are the same. Some specialize in particular types of beers, which can make or break your trip depending on what you like. Hate sours? Better make sure that they aren’t a sours only brewery. Only drink ‘merican beers? Maybe don’t come to a German brewery. Knowing something about the specialty of the brewery isn’t just useful to avoid what you hate, it can also help you appreciate what you try. For a long time craft beers were dominated by IPAs, and a lot of craft beer drinkers think IPAs are the best beers. This perspective prevents beer lovers from branching out and, as a consequence they miss out on some really great experiences. When you see that a brewery is German style, expect that you are going to see a lot of varieties of lagers. When you see that a brewery specializes in wild ales, be prepared to taste some really weird beers. Also, keep in mind that not all lagers are light, and not all ales are hoppy. European hops taste more herbal, whereas American hops taste more resinous. Barleywines are STRONG. Ask yourself if you’re willing to be a bit adventurous or if you just want something familiar.
2. Review The Beer List Online
Breweries will keep a list of current beers on their website. Even if you are a regular at a place, it is nice to review every now and then just in case they make something new. Check out the current beer list, then ask yourself if the brewery produces styles of beer that interests you. Do they mostly produce one type of beer? Is it a style that you enjoy? Is it a style you would like to try? I generally stay away from any brewery that only produces IPAs. I know that I might want to try whatever award-winning beer they are known for, but I’m not interested in drinking them all night. As you are reading the descriptions of the beers, identify a few that you might like to try. Be prepared for them to be out of seasonal or limited release beers. If you are really adamant about trying something, call the brewery and ask if they still have it. Our brewer makes a limited amount of our monthly beers, and we don’t advertise when they’re gone. A quick phone call can prevent you from wasting a trip. It is also a good idea to identify their flagship beers before you go. These are the beers that they are known for. Flagship beers are the brews that are produced the same way every time, and are available year-round. It may be the beer that founded their brewery or an award-winner. They are also usually something that appeals to most people, so it might be a prudent choice for a first beer.
When You Don’t Have Time To Plan
Sometimes you end up in a place that you’ve never been, and may not have even have known existed. You have no idea what you will encounter as you walk up to the bar, and have had no time to prepare. Here are a few strategies to help you navigate the menu.
1. Consider the Style of the Brewery
Is this a typical American craft brewery? When you look at the beer list does it look like they have mostly a variety of ales? Most breweries have a pretty decent selection of beers so that guests can easily find something they will like. They will probably have a classic pale ale, an IPA, a lager, and some kind of dark beer like a porter. They might also have a sour or fruit beer. You can easily make a selection based on the type of beer that you like because they have a little bit for everyone. This is more complicated when you are visiting a specialty brewery. IPAs are really popular in the United States, but it’s an English style of beer. You cannot expect every brewery to have one. In my experience most craft breweries in the United States tend to stick to ales. German style breweries, however, will mostly have lagers and weizens. If you like something very light you should probably stick with a helles or a kolsch (if they have one). Be aware the pilsners are more hoppy than a standard American lager. Dunkels are really nice darker lagers that will probably appeal to someone who likes a stronger flavored beer. Schwartzbiers are similar to a porter (which is an ale). Some breweries may also specialize in Belgian style beers, sours, wild ales or Bretts. If you have never heard of some of these styles, this is the perfect opportunity to learn about them. Read the descriptions of the beers carefully and be mindful of the flavors that are described. Also look at the alcohol by volume (ABV). If anything is called a “Brett” just know that it will taste like it was made in a barn. IBUs can sometimes give you a bit of an idea of how bitter a beer is. A pale ale is going to have an IBU around 40, and an IPA around 60-70. Very malty beers will sometime have high IBUs but you will not notice it as much, so with porters and stouts the IBU is not particularly helpful.
2. Read the Reviews on Untappd
Never heard of UnTappd? It’s a free social media app for beer lovers. You can create an account, add and tag your friends, and then check in and rate beers when you visit a brewery. It can be really helpful if you are someplace new and don’t know what to get. Review the trending beers and trending breweries for your location. What do other people who have visited this brewery like the most? Click on their reviews: did they describe the flavor profile? Does it sound like something you might like?
3. Just Get a Flight
As much as I hate pouring flights, I would rather you order one than: 1) hate the beer you choose or 2) order a million free samples. To be clear: we are happy to let you try anything. I often offer a sample of a beer if someone says they only drink light beers, because while I think they will like the beer I pick out for them, some people are very, very picky. However, if you want to try them all just get a flight. When you get a flight you have an opportunity to try multiple beers rather than just one or two, AND if you don’t like one of them you haven’t wasted a whole glass or all your money. Not all breweries make it obvious that they have flights, so it never hurts to ask. I only offer that information when someone seems unable to make a decision about a beer, but if they ask the answer is always yes. Chances are if you see a bunch of tiny beer glasses, they have flights available.
4. Ask the Bartender for Their Favorites
What seems like the most obvious answer, also seems to be the least chosen action. Believe it or not, the person pouring your beer is a professional. Your bartender knows the beers they are serving, and they know how they are received by other guests. When a guest asks me what is good I usually give two responses: 1) tell them what sells the best, and 2) ask them what they usually drink. Our three regular beers are pretty evenly popular, however the hefeweizen is probably what we are known best for, and the dunkel seems to be very popular among our regulars. Asking what is most popular will give you a starting place. These beers are usually what the brewery is most known for, and what brings people back again and again. However, taste is subjective and we are all special little snowflakes that like what we like. Knowing your palette is helpful to me as your bartender. Last night I was serving some women from New York. They wanted beers, but said that they weren’t really beer drinkers. I asked them my usual question: What type of beer do you usually drink? Their answer actually surprised me. They said “Usually light beers, but we want to try something different. We like red wines, dry, lots of tannins.” Their preference for dry wines led me to recommend one of the darker beers. If you want to broaden your understanding of beer, tell your bartender that and have them bring you something different for a change. You might find a new favorite.
If there is one final piece of advice I would give you as a bartender it is this: consider that there are a world of beer styles out there for you to try and be open to seeing the best your current location has to offer. When I was a teacher, I occasionally had a student that drove me nuts. But you see, even that kid has something unique and magical and lovely about them waiting to be discovered by someone. Getting to know that part of them made me enjoy my job even more, and made me a better teacher to them in the end. By being willing to put aside your bias and choose to look for the positive you will learn to appreciate the sensory experience of beer in a deeper way, and build your knowledge of something you enjoy in the meantime. And in the end, isn’t that why you’re here?
