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Yesterday I provided the homebrew for a party my friend throws every summer about this time. This is what qualifies as a "beer disposal event", our family name for a party where we reduce our inventory by taking stuff to people who aren't as sophisticated tasters as some (meant very kindly, no way would I ever serve someone a bad beer!). Anyway, as I was sitting there in the woods - the party was up in Conifer, CO - I noticed my beers tasted different. My process brain went to root cause analysis pretty much immediately. I'd loaded up the coolers and driven up there in about 45 minutes so the beer wasn't as cold as I normally drink it, straight from the lagering fridge which is at 33 degreee F on a warm day. Check. But even then, I'd put beers in the fridge late and had them here a bit warmer than normal. I was drinking out of plastic cups - neutral, no difference. But I was getting the "subtle" flavors that the tasters describe when talking about beers, so it had to be something....
Eventually I settled on a change of scenery. I was sitting, talking with friends, joking about. By not concentrating so hard on the flavors, I was picking up the flavors. I was answering questions about the beers, it was a gorgeous, if a bit warm, day in the mountains, and really, all I can think of to cause the difference in taste was the change of scenery.
Eventually I settled on a change of scenery. I was sitting, talking with friends, joking about. By not concentrating so hard on the flavors, I was picking up the flavors. I was answering questions about the beers, it was a gorgeous, if a bit warm, day in the mountains, and really, all I can think of to cause the difference in taste was the change of scenery.