Whether you are trying out a few new beers or you receive a lovely beer hamper as a gift, it’s good to remember that beer tasting is a lot like wine tasting. No two beers are alike and there are some very distinct flavours if you know what to look for.

First, here are some terms and definitions:

Aroma hop – hops that are added later for aroma and floral notes

Alpha acid – the active component of the hop that gives beers their bitterness

Beta acid – the active component of the hop that adds to the aroma

Base malts – grains that are heated but not roasted to help create the main base of the malt selection

Bittering hop – added early in the process for bitterness

Cellaring – storing and preserving beers

Esters – a chemical compound that is created during the brewing process.

Malts – grains used as part of the base to make beer

Skunked – light damage to the beer which gives it a skunky aroma

A guide to tasting

Beer tasting is not quite as formal as wine tasting. You don’t have to use any formal rules and the words used to describe the various flavours and aromas are more direct. Here are some examples:

Citrus

This flavour is predominant in heavily hopped IPAs. The beer will smell and taste a bit like citrus fruits like lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit.

Dank

This is an intense hop smell that is particularly pungent. It is noticeable from several feet away and it smells much like fresh hop resin. It is often found in beers that are made with fresh, wet and unprocessed hops.

Grassy

These beers smell like freshly cut grass or green leaves. When the scent is described more like hay, it is usually a bottom fermented beer like a lager or it could be used to criticise beers that have been hopped too long.

Piney

This refers to that pine tree scent. It could be a compliment or it can be used to criticise the beer. If you enjoy bold IPAs, you might enjoy this pine flavour. If the flavour is not perfectly balanced, however, it can overpower the rest of the beer flavours.

These are some of the top flavours and aromas to look for when beer tasting. Not only can you enjoy this knowledge when testing different types of beer, but you can also impress your friends with your beer knowledge!