As any beer connosisseur will tell you, there is a real art to tasting beer correctly.  Sure, it’s one thing to throw a few back at the bar with your buddies while watching the game, but when you really want to enjoy a beer by savoring its unique flavor…well, then you have to know what you’re doing.

According to the BeerAdvocate website, there are four main steps to follow: 

Look.  What is the beer’s true coloe and consistency.

Agitate.  Pull the aromas out of the glass by swirling the beer gently.

Smell.  90-95% of what you experience is through your sense of smell.  Breath through your nose with two quick sniffs, then with your mouth open, then through your mouth only.  Enjoy its bouquet.

Taste.  Sip the beer but don’t swallow it immediately.  Work it around your entire palate in order to detect any sweet, salt or bitter new flavors.  As a beer warms, its true flavors will pull through and become more pronounced.

These simple rules will help you become a true gentlemen of discerning taste when it comes to the suds.  Now all you have to do is step out into the wilderness of pubs and breweries and start rating the lagers that capture your attention.

Speaking of beer and wilderness, a great beer sampling opportunity will hit Columbia next weekend, only a few minutes away from the Broad River Trace community.  The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (500 Wildlife Parkway) will host Brew at the Zoo, a beer tasting extravaganza  with samplings from specialty brews, domestics, imports and microbrews…not to mention a chance to check out some cool animal exhibits while you are enjoying your beer.

When: Saturday, August 7, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online or at any Riverbanks ticket booth.  They’re going for $30 for Riverbanks members and $40 for the general public.  Day of event: $50. Designated Driver tickets are also available for $15 and include unlimited softdranks.  That’s a great move for the Zoo to provide that option.

(Photo Credit: mccun934)