The Art of Drinking Craft Beer

By: Paula Polei

With Independence Day just around the corner, many Americans are preparing for family gatherings, parades, picnics, barbecues, ballgames—and of course, craft beer. The 4th of July is the biggest beer-selling holiday of the year, and researchers expect similar results again this season.

Since so many Americans will be celebrating with craft beer, BOB wanted to share a few expert tips on how to properly enjoy your favorite beverage this holiday.

1. Choose the Right Beer

With so many varieties of craft beer on the market, picking one that matches your taste is key. Here’s a quick rundown of popular craft beer styles:

• Ales: Fast-fermenting, sweet, full-bodied, and often fruity. Includes IPAs, pale ales, porters, stouts, brown ales, and barley wines.
• Lagers: Slow-fermenting, crisp, and less hoppy than ales. Includes pilsners, dunkels, and Vienna-style lagers.
• Stouts: Dark and creamy with chocolate or coffee notes. Subtypes include oatmeal and oyster stouts.
• Bitters: English ales with a deep bronze color and pronounced hoppy bitterness, ranging from session to premium bitters.
• Wheat Beers: Light and hazy, often with banana, clove, or apple notes. Commonly served with a wedge of lemon.

For a complete guide to craft beer styles, visit craftbeer.com.

2. Take It Slow

Good craft beer deserves to be savored. Sip slowly to experience the full range of flavors and aromas as the beer warms and evolves over time.

3. Pour It

Pour gently down the side of your glass to control foam. Aim for a two-finger head. If your beer has yeast sediment at the bottom, stop pouring, swirl the bottle to lift the yeast, and pour the rest into your glass.

4. Look at It

Admire your beer’s color, clarity, and head. The foam can range from bright white in pilsners to light brown in stouts—each revealing something about the brew’s body and malt character.

5. Swirl It

Swirling your beer releases subtle aromas, activates carbonation, and tests head retention—just like swirling a fine wine.

6. Smell It

Take a deep whiff. Light beers tend to be hoppy, while darker beers often smell of roasted malt, chocolate, or coffee. For the best experience, breathe through your nose twice, then once with your mouth open, and finally through your mouth before your first sip. Remember, 90–95% of flavor comes from aroma!

7. Taste It — or Rather, Chew It

Take a sip and let it sit on your tongue. Move it around your mouth to explore the flavor profile—sweetness, bitterness, saltiness, and all. Try tasting again as it warms; the true flavors emerge as the chill fades.

8. Repeat

Now that you’re a craft beer tasting pro, repeat these steps until your taste buds are fully satisfied.

If you’re among the millions of Americans enjoying beer this 4th of July, BOB reminds you to savor responsibly and drink smart. Cheers to good friends, great flavor, and American craft beer!