Sensory wha...?

WSET Wine Sensory Analysis Wheel

Sensory analysis is just what it says it is, an accurate mapping of something done with your senses. These things are often applied to not just wines but beers and spirits as well. I tend to take sensory analysis to a weird point. I once asked a Jets offensive lineman if he wanted a "Big and Brassy" wine or one that was "Soft and Silky." He wanted the soft and silky, for the record. Its not just my terminology that is my own, but the places and ways it hits me, as could be expected since everyone experiences things differently. Just 20 minutes ago, I was drinking a Session lager (previous post So... How Does This Work?) in the shower, before you judge, try drinking a beer in the shower. After almost 2 weeks of trying to figure out this beer, I realized that the main notes in the middle end of this beer are toasted grains, not oatmeal or wheat, but flax and sunflower seed jumped out at me. Professionals say that experience is the best way to learn to analyze drinks and I agree, but I find that memories work best in this. When I smell some things, it takes me back to my childhood, or a specific point in time when I was thinking about something. Every time I smell plaster or drywall, it takes me back to a time I got sick after eating some pizza that my caretaker had brought home, because it tasted like drywall. Let's just say it wasn't a good time. Other times, things make me think of generic things. Most Belgian Saison style ales have started tasting like pineapples and bananas, but other times like in the instance of Kona Brewings Longboard Lager tastes like sunshine and happiness. The senses are weird and wonderfully strange, but i think i might be miserable without them.

So... How does this work?

Session Lager from Full Sail Brewing

I don't know how much of the world cares about drinking well, but i'm going to try to make a believer out of people one cocktail at a time.

My first post I figure should be about things I tend to gravitate towards. I like whisky(ey) a lot, gin, vodka and rums are ok and are great at times, tequila is always suspect, brandies are a situational. Beer and wine are strictly mood/weather based, but most likely good at most times.

Currently, Session Lager from Full Sail Brewing is what i'm drinking. It is a crisp lager that refers to a "session", which is social gathering wherein a group of individuals drink over a period of time without getting drunk, generally. Session beers are usually lower in alcohol, 3-4% but Full Sail did a great job with this beer at 5.1% making it one that if drank in a short period of time could cause some damage. This beer is one to savor and enjoy, extending your session to a bit longer than the normal 3-4 beer time.

You will have to forgive my rigidity for I haven't had much practice at being eloquent, I will try my best to wax poetic. Upcoming will be events, things I find new and/or exciting, things I've tried and liked/disliked or just interesting tidbits that are on my mind.