Comments on: The tyranny of the tasting note http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:38:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Notes and Scores « Beer Blog http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-286252 Notes and Scores « Beer Blog Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-286252 [...] back, my friend and fellow scribe Stan Hieronymus posted on his Appellation Beer about the “Tyranny of the Tasting Note,” cribbing, and attributing, liberally as he did. And, indeed, there is much to learn about [...] [...] back, my friend and fellow scribe Stan Hieronymus posted on his Appellation Beer about the “Tyranny of the Tasting Note,” cribbing, and attributing, liberally as he did. And, indeed, there is much to learn about [...]

]]> By: Death to Tasting Notes? A Question of Context « Nectar of the Gods http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-194209 Death to Tasting Notes? A Question of Context « Nectar of the Gods Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:58:11 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-194209 [...] and into the blogging world. [Thanks must go to Stan Hieronymus for several of the links found in his discussion of Asimov’s speech.] Wine writer Alder Yarrow has generated a great discussion on his blog [...] [...] and into the blogging world. [Thanks must go to Stan Hieronymus for several of the links found in his discussion of Asimov’s speech.] Wine writer Alder Yarrow has generated a great discussion on his blog [...]

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193516 Stan Hieronymus Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:59:29 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193516 As long as I'm leaving wine links, he's the "other side" of the tasting note discussion: <a href="http://www.steveheimoff.com/?p=2073" rel="nofollow">When egalitarianism becomes elitist: In defense of purple prose</a> As long as I’m leaving wine links, he’s the “other side” of the tasting note discussion:

When egalitarianism becomes elitist: In defense of purple prose

]]> By: Daniel Bradford http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193514 Daniel Bradford Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:05:46 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193514 While I generally agree with the drift here, I do think it's valuable, if not important, to understand the origins of flavors, both on and off, and have a healthy respect for styles. I say this after a decades long career of trying to introduce people to good beer through publications, events and associations. I really think it's valuable to gather together and distribute beer knowledge without "gourmeting" beer in any form. I like helping people to understand what they like and why, so they can go out and explore more of the breadth and variety of beer with a better sense of their own preferences. Something beyond "I like hoppy beers!" Anyway, that's what's behind my new endeavor, which is still staggering around in circles. Cheers, Daniel While I generally agree with the drift here, I do think it’s valuable, if not important, to understand the origins of flavors, both on and off, and have a healthy respect for styles. I say this after a decades long career of trying to introduce people to good beer through publications, events and associations. I really think it’s valuable to gather together and distribute beer knowledge without “gourmeting” beer in any form. I like helping people to understand what they like and why, so they can go out and explore more of the breadth and variety of beer with a better sense of their own preferences. Something beyond “I like hoppy beers!” Anyway, that’s what’s behind my new endeavor, which is still staggering around in circles.
Cheers, Daniel

]]> By: ethan.john http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193383 ethan.john Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:14:00 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193383 I have to agree: The only use for tasting notes should be to describe the kinds of brews that one likes, so that we can better appreciate what others like, and better help guide each other toward better brews. I have to agree: The only use for tasting notes should be to describe the kinds of brews that one likes, so that we can better appreciate what others like, and better help guide each other toward better brews.

]]> By: The Beer Nut http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193262 The Beer Nut Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:43:50 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193262 Some of us don't find the two to be mutually exclusive. Especially us paid-up members of the Drunken Pontificators and Pub Philosophers' Guild Drinking beer, or wine, for status reasons just makes you look like an idiot, IMO. This is far more about the drinker than the drink. Some of us don’t find the two to be mutually exclusive. Especially us paid-up members of the Drunken Pontificators and Pub Philosophers’ Guild

Drinking beer, or wine, for status reasons just makes you look like an idiot, IMO. This is far more about the drinker than the drink.

]]> By: Joe S. http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193258 Joe S. Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:38:57 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193258 "drinking a beer and simply saying “I like it” should suffice in most cases." Amen. Unlike wine much of the time, I hope beer is about having fun and not about status. I mean, I'd prefer it to stay that way. Hedonism not intellectualism. “drinking a beer and simply saying “I like it” should suffice in most cases.”

Amen. Unlike wine much of the time, I hope beer is about having fun and not about status. I mean, I’d prefer it to stay that way. Hedonism not intellectualism.

]]> By: Mario (Brewed For Thought) http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193099 Mario (Brewed For Thought) Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:27:31 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193099 <i>“I know I should know something more about wine, and I really would like to learn. I’ve been meaning to take a class…or is there one book that you really recommend?”</i> I've had beer tastings for novice beer drinking friends and they have a similar attitude. They were concerned with being wrong, but I told them to just taste it, and if they noticed familiar flavors, to take note of it, or not. I agree that beer should be given the respect of wine, but drinking a beer and simply saying "I like it" should suffice in most cases. “I know I should know something more about wine, and I really would like to learn. I’ve been meaning to take a class…or is there one book that you really recommend?”

I’ve had beer tastings for novice beer drinking friends and they have a similar attitude. They were concerned with being wrong, but I told them to just taste it, and if they noticed familiar flavors, to take note of it, or not.

I agree that beer should be given the respect of wine, but drinking a beer and simply saying “I like it” should suffice in most cases.

]]> By: Alan http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193088 Alan Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:24:04 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193088 "<i>My point is that this is not natural human behavior.</i>" Isn't the illustration showing that this is exactly natural human behavior - just that it is a behavior we do not admire or want encourage in each and every setting? People want to understand, especially when the thing being exposed to is something as initially unpleasant as wine or even beer. Those not exposed to alcohol do not often immediately say "yum" so much as "blech" due to the intensity of flavour, though it is also often because the entry example of the drink is of a bad wine or beer. That being the case, as with the new and off-putting like cricket or parachuting, the natural human behavior is either to avoid or explore intellectually. But, as when one finds oneself next to a Star Trek fan in the wrong context, it can be extremely irritating to be part of the unwanted learning curve of another. “My point is that this is not natural human behavior.”

Isn’t the illustration showing that this is exactly natural human behavior – just that it is a behavior we do not admire or want encourage in each and every setting? People want to understand, especially when the thing being exposed to is something as initially unpleasant as wine or even beer. Those not exposed to alcohol do not often immediately say “yum” so much as “blech” due to the intensity of flavour, though it is also often because the entry example of the drink is of a bad wine or beer.

That being the case, as with the new and off-putting like cricket or parachuting, the natural human behavior is either to avoid or explore intellectually. But, as when one finds oneself next to a Star Trek fan in the wrong context, it can be extremely irritating to be part of the unwanted learning curve of another.

]]> By: The Beer Nut http://appellationbeer.com/blog/the-tyranny-of-the-tasting-note/comment-page-1/#comment-193082 The Beer Nut Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:56:25 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=1033#comment-193082 The term "natural human behaviour" is, at best, meaningless. Especially when it comes from someone wearing clothes. People enjoy things in different ways, and this issue is really just a question of social cop-on. Regardless of what you're eating or drinking, there's no point in going into full-on appraisal mode if you're not in company who speak the language. With any specialist interest there are always going to be people who take it too seriously. I don't think this is more prevalent among wine people than beer people, it's just that there are more of them. The term “natural human behaviour” is, at best, meaningless. Especially when it comes from someone wearing clothes.

People enjoy things in different ways, and this issue is really just a question of social cop-on. Regardless of what you’re eating or drinking, there’s no point in going into full-on appraisal mode if you’re not in company who speak the language.

With any specialist interest there are always going to be people who take it too seriously. I don’t think this is more prevalent among wine people than beer people, it’s just that there are more of them.

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