Comments on: Blind tasting lager

By: Bailey

Bailey — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:14:59 +0000

LMG — of the two of us, Boak is the one with the sensitive palate. Usually, when I’m sitting there saying “malty, hoppy, beery”, she’s spotting wet cornflakes, apricots, gripewater…

Leigh and Mark — it’s a bit of a pain to organise a blind tasting but, as you say, worth the trouble. If nothing else, there’s something really weird about trying to judge a beer without other cues, especially alongside other similar beers. All kinds of subtle differences emerge that you might not otherwise notice.

TIW — we associate Zywiec with nasty hangovers in Poland from when Boak lived there! Not sure what’s up with Becks but I doubt their weird spammer/blogger will be linking to this post, or that they’ll be adding “Tastes like spit” to their bottle anytime soon.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:26:25 +0000

Interesting stuff – as blind tastings always are, like you say. Just goes to show that they are super-useful, even to the ‘experienced’, like yourselves. Sort of like a work-out for your palate and brain.

By: Ten Inch Wheels

Ten Inch Wheels — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:49:37 +0000

I’ve loved Zywiec since I tried it ‘by accident’ at a barbecue.

Becks used to be a decent beer. That’ll be the InBev factor, then.

By: Velky Al

Velky Al — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:53:21 +0000

I love doing blind tastings, a recent IPA one was good fun. When Starr Hill brought out a “black IPA” I messed about with a few people and did blind tastings of that and a mix of stout and the regular IPA – no-one could tell the difference.

By: Lars Marius Garshol

Lars Marius Garshol — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:30:04 +0000

I think Boak did well to come as close as she did. Of all the people that I’ve seen try this, I’d say her result is among the best.

And thanks for the plug.

By: Mark Dredge

Mark Dredge — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:01:34 +0000

Blind tastings are great fun and some interesting results here. I love the idea of only ever drinking stuff that I have no prior knowledge about and judge it exactly as I taste it, but then at the same time I love the way that hype or expectation can make beers better than they perhaps are. I’ve been meaning to get Lauren to buy a few random beers from the supermarket and give them to me blind to see what I say and think about them.

By: Bailey

Bailey — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:14:35 +0000

Lars Marius did a blind tasting several years ago where one of the beers was dyed dark. Colour sends so many signals to us about how something will/should taste. Did you ever do that experiment in home economics at school where you had a pink coloured milkshake that was actually chocolate flavour? Absolutely bonkers. Would have sworn in court it was strawberry.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:11:52 +0000

not too embarassing as the difference between spanish and German beers was identified. It does go to show that a big part of the drinking experience is formed by preconceived ideas and drinking environment.

I think blind tastings should be blindfolded tastings, that would be fun!