This article first appeared in The Docket, the official newspaper of Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Last week I provided you with a basic introduction to craft beer and outlined some of the major differences between craft and its counterparts from much larger beer companies. In addition to being a great accompaniment to meals and a satisfying form of refreshment (qualities craft shares with many BMC[1] products), craft beer is a thing to be enjoyed and appreciated in its own right.
Craft brewers don’t dedicate their lives to producing high quality beers just so you can throw them back without a second thought. In order to fully appreciate everything these brewers pack into their beers it is important to use all of your senses. For those of you familiar with drinking fine wine, drinking and appreciating craft is similar in many respects.
Appearance: Take note of how your beer looks. Different styles come in a wide array of colors that you will come to appreciate. Most beers should have about an inch of foam (head) sitting atop the liquid after they are poured. Little to no head can be an indicator of a dirty glass or poor carbonation.
Smell and taste: According to beeradvocate.com, smell comprises 90-95% of what you taste, so it is important to note the brew’s aromatic qualities. Malt and hops are the two main ingredients in beer that provide most of its taste and flavor. Malts: sweet, roasty, smoky, toasty, chocolaty, nutty, caramelly, biscuity? Hops: dank / resiny, herbal, perfumy, spicy, leafy, grassy, floral, piney, citrusy? Don’t worry if you cannot detect most of these things when you begin to analyze aroma and taste. It takes time and experience. (Malt and hop descriptions referenced from Beer Advocate's Beer 101 section.)
Mouthfeel: How does the beer feel in your mouth? Light, crisp, thick, watery, full, warm, maybe even chewy?
Drinkability: Is this a beer you could drink all night? Or is it more of a one and done? Keep in mind that not all craft beers are meant to be drank a six pack at a time. Heavier beers like stouts are meant to be sipped and savored slowly.
Beer of the Week!
Without further ado, let’s finally taste a craft beer! Feel free to drink along as you read my review of a local favorite, Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold. Like I said above, don’t worry if you don’t have all (or nearly as many) the same experiences I note in my review. I have tasted literally hundreds of beers and written reviews of almost as many. Your beer senses will develop with time.
Dortmunder Gold pours a brilliant orange/amber color with about an inch of off-white head. Aromas of fresh bread, caramel, and feint floral hops waft up from the glass. The flavor follows the nose closely - lots of pleasant sweet malt, biscuits, and some tropical hops that add a touch of bitterness on the back end. Hints of orange and lemon zest result in a fairly sweet and refreshing finish. Dortmunder Gold is light to medium in body. Its crisp flavors and relatively light body make it an easy drinking brew that you could easily have more than one of in an evening. This beer will pair nicely with some lemon-pepper haddock or grilled chicken. You should be able to find Dortmunder Gold at most stores in Cleveland that sell beer for $8 to $9 a six pack.
If you like this beer, you may also want to try: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Hoegaarden, Great Lakes Holy Moses
Respect beer!
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