How To Make Drinking Craft Beer Even More Enjoyable
Drinking craft beer is something that many people find enjoyable. It's nice to sit down at the bar, perhaps with a few friends, and sip away at a tall, cold beer. But how can you make drinking craft beer even more enjoyable? Here are a few tips.
Figure out which styles of beer you enjoy.
If you just order beers based on their names or the described characteristics, you may not always end up with a beer you like. A better ordering technique is to figure out what styles of beer you enjoy, and then stick to ordering those styles. You can do this at a beer tasting. Sample IPA, wheat beers, lagers, saisons, and so forth—and keep track of the styles you like most often. Then when you're at the bar, you can focus on ordering beers of those same styles.
Drink from lightest to darkest.
If you plan on drinking several different beers on the same night, order them in order from lightest to darkest. Or, if they mostly vary in hop character, you'll want to order the least hoppy beers first, followed by the more hoppy beers. This prevents you from over-taxing your taste buds. If you were to taste the stronger or darker beers first, you might then have a hard time tasting the lighter or more mellow beers.
Don't take too long to drink your beer.
There's nothing wrong with taking your time and sipping your beer—to a degree. If you want to drink really slowly, consider ordering a half-pint or a smaller beer, rather than a full pint. This way, you will be able to drink and finish the beer before it gets too warm. Also, make sure that you set your glass down between sips. Continuing to hold it will cause your hand to warm the beer up prematurely.
Have some food with it.
Rather than drinking beer on its own, order some food with it. Even if you just order a plate of fries or something else simple, the food will help adjust your palate between sips so you enjoy the beer even more. You'll also have to worry less about the alcohol hitting you too hard if you've been eating while drinking.
Drinking craft beer can be a lot of fun, especially if you follow the tips above. Make sure you have some good friends to drink with, too.
Reach out to a brewing company or local liquor store to learn more about craft beer.