"How to Taste Beer" - the Salon way

One of the most difficult things I encounter is evaluating beer. I hear people using these descriptors that I would never have come up with, even though they make perfect sense. So when I ran across this Salon.com article titled "How To Taste Beer" I knew I would have to share it.

First, get the beer out of the bottle or can. You can't smell it in there! A few years ago I had a Dale's Pale Ale and poured it up in a glass. It was lovely! In a can? Not so lovely.

Second, think about the aroma and appearance.

Third, do more than decide whether or not you like the beer. Describe what you taste.

Fourth, taste and talk about a lot of different beers.