Why does Beer taste better over time?

Question

I think beer taste way too bitter and I dont enjoy it at all. I asked my friend why he likes the bitter taste of the beer and he says it simply grows on you. My question is why?

Answer 1

I agree that beer can be bitter or even very bitter. The human response, as with most animals, is to avoid bitter foods as many poisonous compounds are  found to occur naturally  in plants. But with beer, which is made bitter from the use of hop flowers, we know it to be safe.

In food sensory perception an overload of any one flavor causes "fatigue."  Sensory fatigue is temporary and taste perception will be restored with time or by washing the culprit compound away. In wine & beer tasting this is done with water and crust-less bread or other foods.

After drinking several beers the perception of bitterness is reduced as the bitter taste receptors become fatigued from continued use. This is true for any other flavor in the beer as well. So the result being a perceived reduction in bitter flavor.

Why exactly some people like or enjoy a bitter flavor and others do not remains an unanswered question for sensory scientists. One theory is the number of that particular taste receptor a person possess. The fewer receptors means that person needs a higher concentration of bitter compounds to fully realize the taste sensation. Conversely, a person with many receptors is more sensitive to that particular taste.

Answer 2

It's a defence mechanism that protect children from being poisoned by making them sensitive to bitter tastes.  It fade over time to correspond with knowledge of safe bitter things.  And also your taste buds dies as you age.

Answer 3

The first taste a child likes is sweet. Then sour, and salt. The last of the basic four (omitting umami and calcium) that people develop a liking for is bitter. That is why children would rather OD on candy and lemonade than caviar and tonic water. Beer is pretty much the same. "Beginners" tend to prefer the malty beers, like bock. The real "beer nuts" go for IPA. I still like the bocks best, myself.

Answer 4

It all has to do with your pallet, if you've never tasted something like beer before it will taste gross, but as your pallet gets trained to taste different things it becomes accustomed to different fflavors

Answer 5

no one really knows why, it just grows on your after you drink it two or three times, it's just like every other drink or food, you might not like the taste of it and then you try it again, and discover you love it.

it could be because of the difference in brands to, like, you don't like one, and then you try another one that you REALLY don't like, so you go back to the old one, and find you like it, i'm unsure though.

hope i helped?

Answer 6

The more and more you try the more and more you make your self develop a taste for it. I really dont think that very many people like it the first time they try it. I know i didnt