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TasteYourBeer.com — Beer Tasting and Hop Appreciation Kit

February 14th, 2008

So I guess this is a quasi-review. I read about this kit in the latest issue of Beer Advocate. It’s basically a set of thirteen jarred hops and a scent cleanser. In my kit, I have a jar of coffee beans (the cleanser), and the following hops: Cascade (US), Centennial (US), Chinook (US), Liberty (US), Willamete (US), Fuggles (UK), Target (UK), Goldings (UK), Hallertauer (DE), Perle (DE), Spalt (DE), Tettnanger (DE), and Saaz (CZ). The overall package presentation is very nice — a bit of DIY with a load of polish. The resources that come with the package are well-done. There is a 47-page guide to tasting beer with tons of tidbits about beer — as a long-time beer geek, I actually learned a few things.

The kit is to be used to assist in picking out hop flavors and aromas in beer. You sniff and sip the beer, then sniff a jar of hops, then sip the beer again. If you have a good match, you’ll taste the difference between the two sips. Take, for instance, this glass of Abita Golden. It’s made with Hallertauer hops. Without the kit’s aid, I can make out some earthy aromas, with some subtle spicy hints in the finish. After sniffing the kit’s included jar of Hallertauer hops, I get strong earthy aromas of sawdust and a nice, herbal, sage finish.

There really is a difference here and it will be interesting to see how quickily I can train my palate. I’m also wondering about the shelf-life of the hop jars. How long can I expect them to retain their aromas? Clearly, it’s smart to keep the box lid closed as much as possible — light is not a friend to the hop. I guess time will tell - a quick skim through the use manual yields little information.

So far so good, however. If you want a fun beer geek item, I suggest checking out TasteYourBeer.com for more details.

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Entry Filed under: Beer