Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Exam

To best assess the flavors of a beer served at 38 F, what should you do?

1. Chill it to 34 F

2. Drink it from the bottle

3. Let it warm up

4. Pour it in a frosted mug

The correct answer is: Let it warm up

To assess the flavors of a beer served at 38 F, allowing it to warm up is the most effective approach. Beer flavors can become muted when served too cold, as cooler temperatures can suppressmany of the nuanced aromas and taste characteristics that define different beer styles. As a beer warms slightly, its aromatic compounds become more volatile, allowing the full spectrum of flavors to emerge. This is particularly important for certain styles, such as ales and complex lagers, which may exhibit rich fruity or spicy notes that are less detectable at lower temperatures. On the other hand, chilling the beer further to 34 F would likely obscure the flavors even more, while drinking from the bottle prevents proper exposure to the aromas since the neck of the bottle limits the release of aromatic compounds. Pouring the beer into a frosted mug also detracts from flavor assessment, as cold surfaces can induce additional chilling of the beer, thus muting its aromas and flavors. Allowing the beer to warm up is a simple and effective step to ensure that you can fully appreciate its intended taste profile.