The Visual Aspects of Beer Appreciation

Visual appeal of beer is understated. Visual aspects of beer evaluation are considerable. Good lighting cannot be underestimated when it comes to appreciating the finished product of a beer. The range of color in a beer as well as any highlights give us appealing cues to the beer in hand.

Growing up most of us enjoyed the descriptors of colors given to us by Crayola Crayons. We learned the difference between brown and sienna, umber and chestnut. We also learned about shading: dark, medium and light. Descriptors such as deep and pale provide additional shades to the colors we see in beer. Even the most myopic drinker can enjoy the visual cues of a beer by bring the glass close to the face and we may only assume that they are deeply appreciating their beer.

The American Society of Brewing Chemists came up with a clever scale for standardizing the color of beer. It is referred to as the Standard Reference Method. It is a very scientific method of determining the color scale of a beer. The scale ranges from 2 (similar to that of a very pale lager) to 70 ( similar to an Imperial Stout). This tool is used as a standardization of color This tool has become important to the brewing industry because consistency is a very critical marketing factor.

Another good reason for good lighting is to consider the clarity of a beer. Since the 1800s, beer clarity has held a premium alongside beer quality for some styles. Prior to the 1800’s the issue was not as important. The process of malting prior to the invention of indirect kilning imparted a dark color to beer at the time. Issues of fermentation also effected the clarity of beer prior to the 1800’s. It was the revitalization of such styles that led to the acceptance of darker colors and affected clarity in beers. Ingredients such as wheat and oat were brought back to beer styles, and have a significant impact on the clarity of a beer without filtration. Fermentation factors such as yeast flocculation and lagering also contribute to the clarity of a beer. If a brewer is looking to capture a style, recreate a style or even create a style which causes a beer to be dark or cloudy then those features are considered desirable by the consumer.

Let’s move on to another important aspect of visual aspect of beer evaluation, glassware.  While the style of glassware may not give visual clues to the beer, there are more important factors to take into consideration.
Quality glassware has no warping or discoloration. Tinted glassware is a huge faux pas. Dimpling, impressions and printing on glassware are a distraction.  When pouring for several people, it is important that the same type of glassware is used. Beer poured into an old fashion glass will appear darker than the same beer poured into flute glass.

Clean glassware is critical to beer. Nothing is worse than pouring beer into a glass that is tainted with detergent and having it effect the crowning glory of beer. The head.

The head of a beer is so important that it itself is evaluated on three things: color, retention, and texture. The color of a beers head can range from white as the driven snow to espresso. Retention of the head is indicated by the amount of proteins in a beer. Grain selection has a great deal to do with head retention. Alcohol content will also effect head retention. The more alcohol in a beer, the less head retention in a beer.  The alcohol content in a beer may be given away by the "display" of legs on the side of the glass.  The texture of a beers head can also range from meringue-like to lacey. Some Belgian beers are famous for their lace. Only a clean glass will give us the special qualities of such a attribute.

It is unfortunate that in competition so little scoring goes into the appearance of a beer. There are so many things one can determine from a beers appearance. However, it takes more knowledge and experience to evaluate aromas and flavors in a beer.