June 17, 1997
Beer description terms
Glossary from A-M
This week I will list a glossary of terms used when describing beers. I will cover from A-M this week, and from N-Z next week. Then, in following weeks, I will cover terms used in the production of beer.
acidic -- taste like acid, or predominately sour
aftertaste -- the palate sensation that occurs after the beer has been swallowed.
aroma -- the fragrance of something (beer in this case) generally thought to be that portion of the odor derived from the ingredients used to make the beer, as opposed to the bouquet, which relates to the odors caused by the by-products of the fermentation process.
astringent -- causing contraction or shrinking, such as the tissue in the mouth.
austere -- when used to describe beer tastes it means that it is simple and lacking of complexity.
balance -- the harmony between the various flavors of the beer. Usually referring to how well the malt and the hops are in proportion to each other.
bitter -- the tangy or sharp taste in beer caused by the hops. Without this bitterness beer would have no zest, with too much bitterness it would be too hard and biting.
body -- the perceived "thickness" of the beer. Stouts, for instance, usually have a full body because they are thick and rich and creamy, whereas a paler beer normally tastes more watery or thin, light bodied.
bouquet -- that part of the odor of the beer that is caused by the actual fermentation process. (see aroma)
brackish -- partly salty, though not neccessarily unpleasant.
bright -- when describing a beer's appearance it means clarity and brilliance, when describing its flavor, it means its zest.
cardboard -- a taste or odor reminiscent of wet cardboard. Usually encountered with foreign beers, especially from the Orient.
clarity -- how free the beer is of particulate matter, such as yeast, ranging from crystal clear to muddy.
clean -- crisp and refreshing, fresh tasting, leaves no sweet residue in your mouth.
cloying -- too sweet and rich to the point of being offensive.
creamy -- to me this means a very thick and rich head, made from very small bubbles. Not airy.
dank -- slightly moldy smell like you would find in a damp basement.
dry -- not sweet.
effervescence -- very bubbly like champagne or alka-seltzer.
ferruginous -- iron-like or rust-like in flavor.
finish -- that part of the palate sensation that occurs during swallowing.
flabby -- soft and sweet, a derogatory term used to describe a beer's flavor.
metallic -- a flavor found in beer sometimes that could either be caused by the container that it is served or stored in, or by a flaw in the brewing process. Sometimes caused by overage.
Cheers!
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Real Beer Page
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Beer Hunter
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Celebrator Beer News
This is considered to be one of the leading beer newspapers in the country. Based in Northern California, they provide lots of beer related news on a bi-monthly basis. I have seen most of the beer rags on the market, and this is one of the best.
Pyramid Brewing Company
This is probably the coolest brewery web site on the internet. The web site design is 2nd to none. It features a drawing of the brewery where you click on areas you want to visit (such as the restroom, where you can submit your own witticisms and view things others have said) a gameroom, which features a cool (and totally unique) game of on-line darts! The list goes on and on. Check it out, and plan to stay a while!
Pubcrawler
This is one of the most extensive listings of Microbreweries, Brewpubs and Beer Bars on the internet. It is very current, very user friendly, and gives you the option of searching by City and/or State, Name, etc. An awesome web site!
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