How to Throw a Beer-Tasting Party

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Dazzle your friends with your beer knowledge and let them test their sophisticated taste buds while throwing a beer-tasting party.

Warning
Don't drink unless you're of legal age. Drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

Step 1: Invite friends and pick themes
Invite friends who drink beer. Buy your sampling beers using a seasonal theme, or pick an array of types, like imported beers versus domestic.

Step 2: Designate drivers
Designate drivers for guests and make your home available for sleepovers. Confiscate keys if you are concerned about someone’s sobriety.

Step 3: Display beer
Display bottles with labels exposed. Enlighten guests with your knowledge of beers or beer history as they evaluate what to try.

Tip
Resist the impulse to try lighter ales first, moving toward porters and stouts. Save your palate and let hoppy and high-alcohol drinks wait until the end.

Step 4: Score the beers
Give guests sheets of paper and pencils for scoring beer by taste, texture, and finish. If the party is a success, discussion of beer debates afterwards may be unfocused.

Tip
You could invite home brewers to bring their concoctions.

Step 5: Set out sample glasses
Set out three-ounce sample glasses for tasting and lager beer glasses for those who want more of one kind. It’s a party – don’t try to force anything on them.

Tip
Ask guests not to wear colognes or perfumes that can interfere with the bouquet and therefore the taste of beer.

Step 6: Provide snacks
Provide snacks such as crackers, mild cheeses, fresh fruits, and pate to clear the pallet between beer tasting.

Did You Know?
Did you know? In 2007, organic beer sales in the U.S. jumped to $25 million, a 29 percent increase from 2006.