A beer to suit everyone’s taste
A beer to suit everyone’s taste
Do you like your beer blonde, red or brown? Full-bodied, smooth, or bitter? And do you have trouble deciding which beer to choose from the hundreds of options available at IGA? Philippe Whouters has created Flavour Profiles to help you identify your own personal taste profile and discover a whole new world of beers, eah more surprising and delightful than the next. Learn how to perfectly pair beef and food, organize a fun tasting, or simply find the right brew to cap off you evening. It’s easier than you think!
A quick guide to beer
Match colours with sensations
Beer tasting is also about experiencing different sensations. Colour may give you clues as to a beer’s flavour and aroma, but analyzing what you feel when you drink it helps you define its character.
Each beer is identified in store with its flavour profile. Look for yours!
Your color + Your sensation = Your flavor profile
Choose a color
May have light bready or grainy notes.
May have light bready or grainy notes.
May have light to strong caramelly and toasty notes.
May have light to strong caramelly and toasty notes.
May have notes of chocolate, roasted grain, sugar, vor molasses
May have roasted, coffee, or wheat notes.
May impart fruity notes.
Choose a sensation
Smooth
Little to no bitterness.
Bitter
Mild to medium bitterness.
Sharp
More pronounced bitterness.
Acidic
Light, refreshing acidity.
Tart
More striking acidity.
Full-bodied
A balanced beer with no bitterness.
Sweet
A syrupy sensation with no bitterness.
Spicy
A piquant beer, usually from black or hot pepper.
Smoky
Distinct smoky flavours..
Stange
Designed for smooth beers with subtle aromas.
Hops
Perfect for bitter of sharp beers.
Tulip
Used for full-bodied, sweet, or smoky beers.
Flute
Brings out the flavour of acidic, tart, or spicy beers.
Beer pairings
Beer and sushi
Nigiri and sashimi bring out the subtle flavours of the fish. Opt for smooth beers that will refresh you and quench your thirst while at the same time letting the taste of the fish shine trough.
Beer and chips
Forget plain chips – spicy or peppery chips are all the rage right now. Serve them with hoppy beers for a delicious contrast.
Beer and sausage
Hoppy beers cut through the fat of the sausage and release the more subtle flavours in the seasoning. Pair mild sausage with smooth beer and spicy sausage with strong beer.