In Reply To #13 If I'm trying a new beer, I usually open it just before dinner and review it then, but enjoy the bulk of it with the meal. I really enjoy having food with beer, rather than having it alone. Of course, not all beers are best with meals. I can't stand having a barleywine, a big Belgian or imperial stout with dinner. Those are usually night caps for me.

In Reply To #16 I think I'm the opposite. I don't typically like beer with foods. Of course it depends on what beer and what food, that sometimes changes. For reviewing purposes only I think food might hinder the taste. Although if I do have a beer going and then have a meal, I won't get rid of the beer. :)

In Reply To #16 Could never drink a stout with a meal. That's like having two meals at once. ;)

When I review a beer I try not to finish the whole thing without eating food. Flavors change near the end of a glass, especially as it warms up. If you finish your beer in 10 or 15 minutes, you're drinking it too fast! (if you're reviewing it)

In Reply To #19 Interesting. I can't say I've ever really kept a track of how long it takes me to finish beers. sometimes it's 10 minutes and sometimes I guess it's 30 minutes or more.

In Reply To #19 I drink most of my beers fairly warm anyway, but you are right, different flavors emerge towards the finish of the glass. I must say, most of my beer notes are taken upon the first couple sips, and then I leave it at that. If there is something noticable after that I scratch something else down, but that doesn't happen too often. So most of my reviews are from some sips before a meal. Eating with the beer probably isn't good practice, but I'm no professional and that's when I like the beer the best.

In Reply To #1 Where I make my Masters in Furtwangen, the amount of bier drank is measured in liters. On a non-drinkng evening, one liter will do, normally; two to three liters, and on party nites, hell I loose count after 5 or 6. After that I go to the ammo closet and start tossing Belgi's in to the party just to ramp it up a bit. Usually return fire comes in the way of schnapps, and hashish. By dawn, we are pissed royal, and stagger off to first section at 7:45. Trinken mitt der Huns, not to be missed! The hund is a Jack Russel Terrier, Felon by name, King of all Terriers by title!

This message was edited by Brad Pear at 7/23/2004 9:57:41 AM.