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American beer drinkers once had only watery, weak options when it came to their home brewing and microbrewing choices. However, the rise of craft brewing has changed that irrevocably and consumers today have access to a very wide range of beer options with a variety of different characteristics. In fact, sampling the various styles of beer out there can be an incredible experience. Beer tastings give you the chance to explore your various options but those new to "tasting" their beer can find some of the terms used to describe a beer a bit confusing. For instance, what exactly is a "hoppy" beer? What does a "malty" beer taste like?

Words Pale in Comparison

It's important to understand that the terms used to describe a beer's flavor and character profile are really very poor alternatives to tasting it yourself. For instance, one person might describe a particular brew as having mild citrus overtones but that really doesn't tell you much. Does it mean that there's a hint of lemon? Does the beer taste like oranges?

The terms used to describe a beer are hard to pin down unless you have a point of reference in your own experience. The best option here is to conduct your own taste testing with some beers with easily identifiable qualities and characteristics.

Beer Tastings Increasing

The good news for beer lovers is that an increasing number of breweries and pubs are holding tastings. These make for excellent options if you want to develop your understanding of what goes into making a beer's flavor. You will find that these are excellent places to learn from others, compare notes and learn what you are looking for in a beer's taste before you drink it.

Quite a few pubs and brewers are holding tastings during which the host will describe the flavor character of the beer beforehand. Often, the host will also be available for questions from burgeoning tasters during and after the tasting. You will even find tasting classes out there, but these are still a bit rare outside of major metropolitan areas.

If you find that you have no options nearby to attend a tasting, you can actually buy some pretty decent tasting guides and do your own analysis for the various beer types listed in the guide. That might be a great excuse to get some friends together to explore some of the options available to you in the realm of beer.

Look for Clues

If you're new to tasting beer, a few helpful pointers will get you going in the right direction. One of the most important clues you'll have is the beer's color. While you can't always pin a beer's taste on its coloration, it usually does have a lot to do with it. For instance, very dark beers usually have a heavier malt taste than lighter beers, while lighter beers are often more hoppy in nature.