Have you ever wanted to host a beer tasting party but don't know where to start? Well, this blog post will show you how! Whether it's for family, friends or co-workers, hosting a beer tasting party is not as hard as you may think. Here are five tips on how to plan the perfect event.
1. Pick your beers
The most important part of planning your tasting party is picking the right beers. Make sure that there are at least 3 different types of beer available for all to try.
Check out some great brews available from Lassou. We have the best UK craft beers that include IPAs, lagers, pale ales, pilsners, stouts, and much more. You can also include some non-alcoholic options for those who want to cut their alcohol consumption. We have beers for everyone's taste, and what is more important is that when buying these beers you are helping breweries with their social and environmental activities.
It is also essential to make sure everyone has their own glass so no one's palate is contaminated by sharing glasses.
2. Provide your guests with snacks
Consider serving foods that match your guest's taste preferences and serve them with complementary sauces or spices. The best foods for beer include pizzas, fried chicken, cheese, fish& chips, tacos, chips and dips, salted nuts.
If you want to get fancy and serve a specific beer with its perfect food pairing, check out this file. It is a brief food & beer matching chart where you can find a food matching for different beer styles.
3. Discuss the tasting notes
The best thing about beer is its sheer variety. From the very light lagers to the darkest stouts, there are many different flavors and aromas that can be found in every style of beer. Engage your friends to share their thoughts about beer tasting profiles.
There are many different tastes that can be experienced when tasting beer. The first taste you experience is the bitterness of the hops, followed by a malty flavour and ending with an aftertaste of sweetness. However, this is not all there is to it. There are also other notes such as citrus or floral depending on what type of beer you are drinking. To truly appreciate how beers taste, it's important to understand these different notes.
4. Get creative
A beer tasting party can be a great way to try out new beers and find your new favorites. To make this experience more interesting, you can ask everyone to bring one bottle of their favourite brews and present it to everyone.
Instead of buying several beer boxes, you can go with polypins. These are great for parties, gatherings or just to have the luxury of draught beer in your own home.
Another way to organize your beer tasting session is to select all beers in one style, for example IPAs or lagers only.
Beer tasting is also a great opportunity to explore your local brews. Just look for the nearest brewery and pick up some of their best beers. This way you both support small producers and local economy while discovering new beer styles and flavour profiles.
5. Have fun
Think of some fun activities you can do in between your tastings. These can be table games, karaoke, and other fun things. Take a survey on each other's favorite breweries and see who has tried more beers than anyone else. The winner gets bragging rights for life (not really, actually).
Keep the Beer Pong away from your beer tasting party - drinking games can get out of hand quickly!
To get people excited and engaged, try blind tasting and let people guess which bottle they have just tried. This is a fun way to taste and train your senses.
Here you go, these are some ideas for your beer tasting party. Have fun and don't forget to have a designated driver, or call a taxi. Drinking and driving is never a good idea.