12 Laugh-out-Loud Tips for Evaluating Craft Beer, Southern Style
Blog Post
12 Laugh-out-Loud Tips for Evaluating Craft Beer, Southern Style
As a Southern gal with a hankering for brews, I’ve waded through more breweries than you can shake a stick at (or a saxophone at a jazz club). Think of craft beer as a philosophy class—a tad more bubbly and a wee bit rowdier, but by the end, you’ll be both enlightened and maybe have the hiccups. So grab your pint glass, and let’s embark on a merry adventure through the art of assessing those luscious suds!
Warning: Navigating this journey might rile up an intense craving to sample every IPA and stout within driving distance. Tread with laughter!
1. Appearance: The First Howdy-Do
Before wetting your whistle, give that beer a once-over. Is it sporting a dashing amber glow or a cloak of mystery? Like a debutante flaunting her new gown at a Southern cotillion, a tip-top brew doesn’t shy away from putting its best foot forward in color, clarity, and head retention.
2. Aroma: Catching a Whiff of Wonder
Aroma is your prelude to paradise or disappointment. Thanks to genius fermentation, scents like floral bouquets or zesty citrus can hit your nose. Inhale deeply—does it remind you of a bouquet or your grandma’s kitchen with its roasted malt aroma?
3. Flavor: The Key Showdown
This is the epic moment where barley and hops duke it out. Like a fantabulous Southern BBQ, balance is key, with no flavor bullying the others. If it impresses, you’ve got a keeper in your hand.
4. Mouthfeel: The Texture Two-Step
Your grandma didn’t knit you those cozy socks without reason—feel is crucial, just as her pecan pies are! Cutting-edge malt treatments and temperature controls refine the body and texture, revealing whether the beer is smooth as silk or as lively as a Charleston dance.
5. Finish: The Parting Note
A good finish should leave you clamoring for more, akin to a surprise encore at a rural jamboree. Whether dry, sweet, or a touch bitter, it ought to evoke a heartfelt “well would you look at that!”
6. Consistency: The Sign of Skill
Consistency is king—a master brewer ensures each batch is as reproducible as a Southern grandma’s grits. Technology fine-tunes this craft, ensuring every sip lives up to expectations.
7. Innovation: The Southern Twang
Innovation is akin to adding sassy flair to shrimp and grits. Whether trying novel flavor combos or daring brewing stunts, it keeps beer convivial and thrilling.
8. Sustainability: Being a Green Patron
Keep an eye on sustainability, darlings. Patronize breweries that save energy and recycle water, improving Mother Earth’s well-being and the beer’s vibrant taste.
9. Local Pride: It’s All About Roots
These days, craft beer is a communal yarn. Support local brewers, and you support local life, with eats paired so brilliantly you’d swear they were Kentucky bred!
10. Pairing: The Gastronomic Dance
Pairing beer with food is a treat. Match the mighty stout with a sumptuous stew, or a dainty lager with that perfect fried catch—we in Dixie know a winning food dance!
11. Educate Thyself: Broaden Those Horizons
Expand your knowledge with brewery tours or reading industry tidbits. Education enriches taste buds, proving enlightenment pairs wonderfully with a cold one.
12. Enjoy the Experience: Roll with the Good Times!
Above all, cherish the indulgence. Craft beer is like an inviting Lowcountry sunset—meant to be savored and shared. Cheers to the joyous ride that is craft beer!
So here’s to wandering through the wondrous world of brews with a wink and a willing spirit! As craft beer burgeons, these tips ensure you remain the toast of the brewery tour—sipping with savvy and savors like a pro. Happy sipping, y’all!
Cheers, Donna Paulsen