Just in time for summertime barbecues, baseball season, and Father’s Day, we tapped Ryan Daley, the Sr. Educator and Master Cicerone for Anheuser-Busch for all the info you’ll need to give your beer—whether it’s a lager, porter, stout, IPA, pilsner, or some crafty combination of the above—the top-tasting treatment it deserves.
How to serve beer
According to Daley, the top tip for serving beer is simple: pour it into a glass. This offers several benefits to the drinking experience. The first is being able to appreciate the beer’s appearance. Beer has an amazing array of colors, from bright golden sunshine to dark mahogany. If you don’t pour it out you’ll never even get the chance to appreciate the look of the beer. Next, by pouring the beer into a glass it helps to release the carbon dioxide. This benefit is twofold: on one hand it helps to release more aroma, and ultimately more flavor, in the beer. On the other, it makes the beer feel and taste less filling. There are dozens of different styles of glasses for beer. Some may have a historical connection to a certain style of beer; others may be better suited for one style versus another based on the size and shape of the glass. According to Daley, when all is said and done, you should simply select a glass you like. “A good beer glass is a combination of form and function. By pouring the beer into a glass you are already gaining some positive functionality. In terms of form, it should look good to your eye and feel good in your hand,” he explains. Long story short, it’s just as important to choose a glass that’s right for you as it is to choose a glass that’s right for the beer.
How to store beer
As warmer temperatures are settling in leading into summer, one of the most important, and simple, things you can do to improve your beer drinking experience is to store your beer cold. Beer is a perishable product, and most beers styles will deteriorate over time. Warmer storage temperatures will accelerate the aging process and increase the chance of negative flavor development. You may think leaving that case of beer in the garage when it’s 80+ degrees for a few days is no big deal, but it is. If you have a basement in your house, put it in a cool, dark corner there. Your beer will thank you at the appropriate time.
