Can you taste the difference between beer?

Question

My sister said a study was done and some old beer-drinking dudes were blindfolded and presented with a variety of beer (Stella Artois, Heinekin, Steinlager and Lion Red). Lion Red is a watery, disgusting beer and Stella Artois is great but she reckons the guys couldn't taste the difference between the beer because 'quality' beer is just perception of the label.

Do you think this is true? I think I could taste the difference between a good beer and a c**p one but my sister reckons all beers basically taste the same.

Quite preposterous. Or is it?

Answer 1

Among the pilsners there is a lot of similarity. Heineken is a truly awful beer and shares a taste with other plisners of its ilk. The main difference between pilsners is the amount of 'skunkiness' in a beer. The better pilsners have less. Frankly a lot of them taste the same.

Mild and bitter have a differing flavour. Whites and dark white beers (weissbier) has a definite taste difference.

Answer 2

NEVER DRINK!!ITS BAD 4 YOU!

Answer 3

yesterday i had a belgian beer and could definitely taste the difference between that and the lager i was drinking before (fosters)

i could probably tell a stella apart, but i dont think i could pick fosters out from most other lagers to be honest. i dont think they taste that differently.

obviously guiness (urgh) i could definitely tell - you'd have to blindfold for that because of the colour.

i usually dont care what it is, as long as it does the trick lol! (except guiness)

Answer 4

You can absolutely tell the differences especially when you get into imported beers.

Answer 5

absolutely! it is an acquired taste, requiring a some what gifted or sophisticated pallet, but like any other skill , honing requires practice. your sister is obviously inexperienced.

on the bright side, she is probably also a cheap date, as opposed to a girl who would like only the best beer

i read the following posts, and don't know where to begin, perhaps this should be a long discussion educating the non ber drinkers who use terms like pilsner, lager, but do not understand the meaning.

First of all, I prefer guinness, but appreciate all beers, and the beers she had listed were all adjunct beers and pilsners. that is beer made from cheap grain or light grain.  there is a huge difference to the sophisticated pallette, and actually in the US I hate heiney, but in europe its quite good, which has to do with preservatives, etc. not skunkiness. as far as typesany blind monkey could taste the difference between a porter, a stout, a true lage, a weissbeer, and a junk malt liquor. as easily as a child could tell between jelly bean flavors.  learn to enjoy, and as your tastebuds grow, so will you.

Beer is not bad for you, it is actually healthy in moderation.

"life is too short to drink cheap beer"

   -socrates