We had yet another round with evil Miller Lites this past week. Again, we got to try the horrible flavors that may inhabit your beers that I discussed in my last BJCP post. We finally received our sensory kit from BJCP partner, Siebel Institute. The kit included additional flavors to the previous session’s nastiness; isolations of Acetaldehyde, Almond, Butyric, Mercaptan, etc. Some of the flavors were described as “sewer-like,” “Farm/Barnyard,” “Soapy/Fatty/Goaty,” “Cheesy/Old Hops/Sweaty Socks.” My favorite descriptor is “goaty.” How would you even know what goaty smells or tastes like?
Les lined up all 24 flavors in doctored Miller Lite in a random order numbered from 1 to 24, and it was our job to attach the corresponding number to the flaw on a sheet. I was suffering worse than usual from my normal seasonal allergies, and I only got four right. Pretty bad. I hope when we take the exam in August that I am not suffering similarly.
Next we tasted Belgian Strong Ales, as presented by CSI member Greg Thompson. (more…)