The Beer Circle » Tastings » An Adventure in Family Beer Tasting
An Adventure in Family Beer Tasting
February 29th, 2012 | 2 Comments | Written by Garrett Miller
Editor’s Note: The tasting sheet includes a reference to Sierra Nevada producing “Colorado” beers – this is obviously incorrect, and stems from a general transcription error way back in 2010. Sierra Nevada is located in Chico, CA, and makes some pretty awesome beers. We’re sorry, Sierra Nevada, and thank you, astute reader, for pointing this out.
I come from a long line of light beer drinkers. Eager to slog down hearty quantities of triple-hops-brewed yellow fizziness, most members of my family are quick to reject offers of “those dark beers”. While I’ll never turn my nose up at My-Namesake’s Lite, I’m often looked at with confusion as I crack open a Dogfish Head or Sierra Nevada brew at a family gathering. This confusion eventually led to curiosity, with a few family members beginning to consider broadening their horizons.
As I’ve mentioned before, I love using common craft selections to introduce strictly-Bud/Miller/Coors drinkers to the wider world of taste that’s available to them. I’ve done things like this before with groups of friends, typically to great effect, and when my family heard of this, they asked that I put together a tasting for them over the Christmas holiday. Happy to oblige, I wanted to offer them a good, accessible example of each of the major styles. My strategy was as follows: I wanted to begin with two very good “Gateway” beers – Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils – which I describe as the “lawnmower beer”, that is, what your Miller Lite should taste like. Once we try that, we move onto the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, offering delicious hoppiness without the bite of IPAs, and so on. The list is below:
The sheet included some basic information on each of the styles, a brief description of each beer (many blatantly stolen from the brewers’ websites), a Beeradvocate score, as well as a very cursory guide on tasting. Everyone from my grandmother to my cousins participated in this one. The results were both encouraging and disheartening, with a little bit of hilarity mixed in.
For example, Taster #1 found that Sierra Nevada Torpedo’s “Throat Spray” taste was rather offensive, but, as a wine drinker, was delighted by the similarities found in a Belgian-style ale such as Tröegs Mad Elf.
Taster #2 was offended by anything even remotely hoppy, I surmise. Fortunately, Sierra Pale Ale’s aftertaste wasn’t entirely awful, I suppose. “Cologne” was never a flavor that I got from Dogfish Head’s 60-Minute IPA, but we each have our own tastes, right?
Some other tasters began to demonstrate certain patterns:
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening is this: one taster who has been drinking light beer for generations found greatest delight in, of all selections, New Belgium’s Trippel. She’d never even heard of a “Belgian ale” before, but as an experienced baker, knew what coriander was, and was excited by its presence in her glass.
I never intended for this to turn into an experiment, but that’s precisely what happened. It also made for a fun night afterwards. I had no idea that preferences would be so varied, or that acceptance of different styles would be so different from when I held tastings for groups of friends. Ultimately, what my findings revealed is that they are ready and willing to learn more – but perhaps with an audience that has been drinking yellow-fizzy for decades and generations, we need to move a bit slower. I look forward to repeating this experiment with a perhaps smaller, more refined tasting list. Suggestions? Feel free to share them in the comments below!
Last updated by Garrett Miller at .

Written by Garrett Miller
Garrett brings a somewhat different perspective on beer to the table. While always thrilled to try any new, exotic brew that finds itself his way, Garrett finds that he's often quite satisfied with reliable, common craft choices. As such, Garrett is a fan of trying and reviewing these (admittedly less expensive) beers, and using them to introduce the exciting, flavorful world of craft beer to those not-yet-acquainted. Garrett’s favorite styles are IPAs and bourbon stouts, but won’t turn his nose up at anything. Find Garrett Miller on Google Plus
Filed under: Tastings · Tags: 60 Minute IPA, Dogfish Head, Mad Elf, Natty Light, New Belgium Brewing, Oak Barrel Stout, Old Dominion Brewing Company, Oskar Blues Grill and Brewery, Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Torpedo, Trippel, Troegs Brewing Company, Trogenator
Follow Us
Categories
- Beer at the Ballpark (2)
- Beer Facts (9)
- Beer Festival (6)
- Beer Pairing (8)
- Better From The Barrel? (9)
- Brew It Yourself (28)
- +Breweries (379)
- +Belgium (9)
- Brouwerij Van Steenberge (1)
- Cantillon (5)
- De Struise Brouwers (1)
- Trappist Rochefort (1)
- +Canada (1)
- Dieu du Ciel (1)
- +Caribbean (2)
- +Denmark (5)
- Mikkeller (4)
- Nørrebro Bryghus (1)
- +Europe (6)
- Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg (1)
- Brouwerij De Molen (1)
- Domaine Familial Louis Dupont (1)
- Grolsch (1)
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro (1)
- Pilsner Urquell (1)
- +Germany (1)
- Weihenstephan (1)
- +Italy (2)
- Birra del Borgo (1)
- +Latin America (1)
- +Mexico (2)
- Cucapa (1)
- Netherlands (1)
- +Scandinavia (1)
- HaandBryggeriet (1)
- +South America (7)
- +Colombia (5)
- 3 Cordilleras (1)
- Apostol (1)
- Bogota Beer Company (1)
- Cerveceria Bavaria (1)
- +Colombia (5)
- +UK / Ireland (10)
- Guinness (4)
- Harp (1)
- J.W. Lees & Co. (2)
- Newcastle (1)
- Robinsons Brewery (1)
- Samuel Smith Brewery (1)
- +US Great Lakes (43)
- Bell’s Brewery (6)
- Church Brew Works, The (2)
- Dark Horse Brewing Co. (1)
- Founders Brewing Co. (6)
- Goose Island Brewing Co. (4)
- Great Lakes Brewing Co. (2)
- Half Acre Beer Co. (1)
- Hoppin’ Frog Brewery (2)
- Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. (2)
- Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. (3)
- MillerCoors (3)
- New Glarus Brewing Co. (3)
- Pipeworks Brewing Co. (1)
- Revolution Brewing Co. (1)
- Sprague Farm & Brew Works (1)
- Sprecher Brewing Co. (2)
- Timber Creek Tap and Table (1)
- Two Brothers Brewing Co. (1)
- Voodoo Brewery (1)
- +US Mid-Atlantic (150)
- 16 Mile Brewing Co. (1)
- Adroit Theory Brewing Company (3)
- Appalachian Brewing Co. (1)
- Atlas Brew Works (2)
- Aviator Brewing Co. (1)
- Blue Canoe Brewing (1)
- Blue Mountain Brewery (1)
- Bluejacket (6)
- Bullfrog Brewery (3)
- Capitol City Brewing Co. (1)
- Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. (1)
- Chocolate City (2)
- Church Brew Works (1)
- Cricket Hill (1)
- DC Brau Brewing Co. (5)
- Dogfish Head (15)
- Draai Laag Brewing Co. (1)
- DuClaw Brewing Co. (4)
- Elk Creek Aleworks (1)
- Fat Head’s Saloon (1)
- Fegley’s Brew Works (1)
- Flying Dog Brewery (3)
- Flying Fish Brewing Co. (1)
- Fordham Brewing Co. (1)
- Happy Valley Brewing Co. (1)
- Hardywood Park (3)
- Heavy Seas Beer (2)
- Iron Hill Brewing (1)
- Ithaca Beer Co (1)
- Lancaster Brewing Co. (2)
- Lost Rhino (1)
- Lost Rhino Brewing Co. (1)
- Mad Fox Brewing Co. (4)
- Mud Hound Brewing Co. (2)
- Old Dominion Brewing (2)
- Otium Brewery (1)
- Otto’s Brewery (1)
- Pittsburgh Brewing Co. (1)
- Pizza Boy Brewing Co. (7)
- Revolution Brewery (1)
- Right Proper Brewing Co. (1)
- Selin’s Grove Brewing Co. (4)
- ShawneeCraft Brewing Co. (1)
- Sixpoint Brewery (3)
- Southern Tier Brewing Company (1)
- Spring House Brewing Co. (1)
- Stillwater Artisanal Ales (2)
- Stoudt’s Brewing Co. (4)
- The Brewery at Hershey (1)
- Three Stars Brewing Co. (2)
- Tröegs Brewing Co. (21)
- Victory Brewing Co. (5)
- Voodoo Brewery (9)
- Weyerbacher Brewing Co. (3)
- Williamsburg AleWerks (1)
- Yuengling Brewing Co. (2)
- +US Midwest (19)
- Anheuser-Busch (6)
- Boulevard Brewing Co. (1)
- Crispin Cider Co. (1)
- Goose Island Brewing Co. (1)
- Metropolitan Brewing (1)
- Perennial Artisan Ale (2)
- Prairie Artisan Ales (1)
- Surly Brewing Co. (1)
- Three Floyds Brewing (3)
- Upland Brewing Co. (2)
- +US Mountain (15)
- Avery Brewing Co. (1)
- Blue Moon (3)
- Epic Brewing Co. (1)
- Four Peaks Brewing Co. (1)
- Grand Teton Brewing Co. (1)
- Left Hand Brewing Co. (1)
- New Belgium Brewing Co. (5)
- Oskar Blues Brewing (1)
- Phoenix Ale Brewing Co. (1)
- +US New England (20)
- Allagash Brewing Co. (2)
- Beer’d Brewing Co. (1)
- Boston Beer Co. (4)
- Brewery Ommegang (1)
- Cisco Brewers (1)
- Community Beer Works (1)
- Hill Farmstead Brewery (2)
- Long Trail Brewing Co. (1)
- Maine Beer Co. (1)
- Portsmouth Brewery (1)
- Saranac (1)
- Shipyard Brewing (1)
- Shmaltz Brewing Company (1)
- Sixpoint Brewery (1)
- The Alchemist (1)
- +US South (13)
- Abita Beer (1)
- Cigar City Brewing Co. (5)
- Jester King Craft Brewery (3)
- Karbach Brewing Co. (1)
- Pensacola Bay Brewery (1)
- Prairie Artisan Ales (1)
- Terrapin Beer Co. (1)
- +US West (72)
- AleSmith Brewing Company (1)
- Alpine Beer Company (1)
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company (1)
- Bear Republic (1)
- Cascade Brewing (2)
- Coronado Brewing Company (1)
- Craft Brew Alliance (1)
- Deschutes Brewery (3)
- Elysian Brewing Co. (2)
- FiftyFifty Brewing Co. (1)
- Firestone Walker (6)
- Gigantic Brewing (3)
- Hair of the Dog (2)
- Hopworks Urban Brewery (1)
- Howe Sound Brewing (1)
- Kona Brewing Co. (1)
- Laurelwood Public House (1)
- Logsdon Farmhouse Ales (1)
- Lost Abbey (2)
- Lost Coast (1)
- Midnight Sun Brewing (2)
- North Coast Brewing Co. (1)
- Port Brewing Co. (2)
- Redhook Brewing (1)
- Reuben’s Brews (1)
- Rogue Ales (2)
- Russian River Brewing Co. (3)
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (9)
- Sound Brewery (2)
- Stone Brewing Co. (10)
- The Bruery (5)
- Widmer Brothers Brewing (1)
- +Belgium (9)
- Budget (8)
- Cellaring (1)
- Cooking (5)
- +Distillery (2)
- Labels (7)
- +Online Stores (19)
- Archer Liquors (1)
- Beverages 4 Less (2)
- Bine and Vine (2)
- Bottle Trek (1)
- Bruisin Ales (2)
- CraftShack (1)
- Kahn’s Fine Wines (2)
- Lets Pour (1)
- Marina Market (1)
- Specs Online (1)
- West Lakeview Liquors (1)
- Opinion (5)
- +Restaurants (17)
- Al’s of Hampden (3)
- Capone’s Restaurant (2)
- Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats (1)
- J. Gilberts (2)
- Mekong (1)
- Monk’s Cafe (5)
- —Reviews (237)
- Bars (10)
- Beer (121)
- Beer Accessories (1)
- Beer Float (3)
- Beer Release (13)
- Beer Week (7)
- Books (1)
- Breweries (34)
- Cellar (10)
- Reserve Society (1)
- Stores (4)
- Tastings (11)
- Vertical (2)
- Shenanigans (14)
- +Styles (291)
- American Adjunct Lager (1)
- American Amber Ale (2)
- American Black Ale (1)
- American Brown Ale (3)
- American IPA (3)
- American Pale Ale (4)
- American Strong Ale (6)
- American Wild Ale (10)
- Baltic Porter (3)
- +Barleywine (12)
- +Barrel Aged (87)
- +Bourbon (29)
- Blend (9)
- Buffalo Trace (1)
- Elijah Craig (1)
- Four Roses (4)
- Heaven Hill (4)
- Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (1)
- Pappy Van Winkle (3)
- +Brandy (6)
- Catoctin Creek Peach (1)
- Catoctin Creek Pear (1)
- Laird’s Apple (1)
- Gin (1)
- Oak (4)
- +Rum (3)
- Cruzan Dark (1)
- Gosling’s (1)
- Newport Distilling Company (1)
- +Rye (3)
- Finger Lakes Distilling (1)
- Rittenhouse (1)
- +Scotch (2)
- Lagavulin (1)
- Tequila (1)
- +Whiskey (4)
- +Wine (8)
- +Bourbon (29)
- +Belgian (40)
- Belgian Pale Ale (4)
- Belgian Stout (1)
- Flanders Red (1)
- Gueuze (2)
- IPA (2)
- Kriek (1)
- Lambic (4)
- Oude (1)
- Pent (1)
- Quad (2)
- Saison (4)
- Strong Dark Ale (7)
- Strong Pale Ale (2)
- Tripel (4)
- Witbier (2)
- Berliner Weissbier (1)
- Biere de Mars (1)
- Black and Tan (1)
- Black IPA (1)
- Cider (2)
- Dopplebock (1)
- English Barleywine (1)
- English Pale Ale (1)
- Fruit (7)
- Fruit / Vegetable Beer (4)
- Herbed/Spice Beer (1)
- Imperial Amber Ale (1)
- Imperial IPA (15)
- Imperial Porter (2)
- Imperial Stout (21)
- +IPA (22)
- Fresh Hop (1)
- Irish Dry Stout (1)
- Lager (1)
- Milk Stout (1)
- NA (1)
- Oatmeal Stout (5)
- Old Ale (4)
- Porter (8)
- Pumpkin Ale (1)
- Robust Porter (3)
- Russian Imperial Stout (7)
- Rye (1)
- Saison (3)
- Scotch Ale (1)
- Smoked Porter (1)
- Stout (10)
- Tripel (2)
- Triple Bock (2)
- Winter Warmer (1)
- The Beer Circle (19)
Authors
- Russ Beck (83)
- Bob Pack (64)
- Garrett Miller (46)
- Jeff Kupko (38)
- Paige Deckert (35)
- Greg Bruce (29)
- Kenton Martin (20)
Archive
Most commented
- Ultra-Budget: Anheuser-Busch "Natty Daddy"
- The Beer Circle Eastern PA Brewery Tour Recap
- My Brew Day at Pizza Boy Brewing
- Cooking: Dark Chocolate Founders Breakfast Stout Cupcakes with Bourbon Frosting
- Recap: Barrel Room Collection Release at Voodoo Brewery
- Guest Post: Homebrew Contest Winning Mango Triple IPA
Recent Comments