These are the absolute no-gos when drinking beer, according to top beer sommeliers
Becoming a wine sommelier has been possible for years. Beer sommeliers, on the other hand, have only been around for a much shorter time. By now, our country has more than 200 beer sommeliers, and they come to our aid with all our pressing beer questions.
What are absolute no-gos when drinking beer?
Beer sommeliers love drinking beer—and doing it the right way. After all, a perfectly poured beer, at the right temperature and without any unnecessary fuss, tastes best. But not everyone is a beer sommelier, so you can also do it wrong. For example, by ‘waking up’ your beer by stirring it briefly with your fingers…
Bas Schampers, beer sommelier and creator of the Bourgondische Bierkelder
“Lemon in your witbier or weizen. Or worse still: grenadine in your Trappist beer. If the brewer had wanted those flavors in the beer, they certainly would have added them—and done so properly!”
Richard Moerkerk, beer sommelier at Proeflokaal de Boom and owner of De BierBasiliek
“Pouring the last sip of beer from your glass into the fresh, carefully poured glass of beer.”
Kim Sonneveld, beer sommelier and owner of Plan B
“I personally find it irritating when guests drink beer because they want to fill up their Untappd (a beer app where you can rate the beer you’ve drunk) with the newest, most special, craziest beers. Beer is meant to be enjoyed! It’s not a competition to see who knows the most crazy beers.”
Arvid Bergström, beer sommelier, author and owner of Proef Bier
“Skimming pilsner with a dirty beer skimmer. In many bars, beer skimmers are placed in a glass of water to keep them ‘clean.’ During my training sessions, this is the first thing I draw the staff’s attention to. When I ask whether they would take a sip of it, the answer is always “no, that’s disgusting,” exactly. So you are touching other people’s beer with it.”
Monique Biben, beer sommelier
“Drinking specialty beer straight from the bottle instead of from a glass.”
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