When you are having a party, there are a variety of factors to take into consideration when you are trying to select beverages. What you offer to drink will be very different at Christmastime than in the summer, or if your party is late morning versus early evening. Where your party is located will also help you determine what to serve, as will the type of tone you want to set. It is important when having a party to include everyone’s drink taste and to have something available for all likes and dislikes. This does not mean that you need to offer every beverage known to man or that you need to have a full bar available. However, you might want to have on hand a white wine, a red wine, beer and a couple of hard liquor options, or a mixed drink like pitchers of margaritas or martinis. Be sure to keep a variety of mixes on hand, as well as non-alcoholic options for those who don’t want to drink alcohol.

If you are striving for a more formal tone, and are perhaps having a sit-down meal, then pre-dinner cocktails are in order. On the table you may have just a bottle or red wine and a bottle of white wine per each 4 guests. This gives your guests the choice. If you have help with serving, they may want to keep an eye on empty bottles and replace them as needed. Another great touch is an after dinner wine or a dessert wine. These wines can be enjoyed on their own or with a dessert, just be careful in matching the dessert wine to the dessert. If you are celebrating a new job, an engagement, a wedding, a new baby, retirement or anything else, then your only choice is champagne or a sparkling wine. Many people find champagne too dry, therefore the sweeter sparkling wines make a great replacement and you still get the fun of the exploding cork. So lift your glass high and make a toast with some bubbly. It’s the perfect way to celebrate.

If your party is an outdoor one, like 4th of July or Cinco de Mayo, or even just an old-fashioned cookout, there are so many options for beverages. Having something for everyone is essential. Offering a pre-mixed fruity light drink will be a hit definitely. Mix up a batch of sangria with some red wine and fruit or a wine punch to dip into and you’ll have happy partygoers! Make sure you keep your summer party drinks cool for your guests and have lots on hand, especially if you are outside. Another consideration in hot weather is to make sure your guests avoid heat stroke, so keep lots of water on hand also to hand out, maybe alternating it with the alcoholic beverages.

In pouring beer, gently pour it at the side of the glass to minimize the foam. You can judge your speed at pouring based on the head formation. Target two finger heads. For beers that have sediments of yeast visible at the bottom of the bottle that is meant to be drunk with the beer, stop pouring and leave a small amount of beer on the bottle. Swirl the remaining amount of beer before pouring it to lift the yeast.

Observe the appearance of the heads on whether they are thin or dense. Note the head’s color which can be white when pilsen and on certain stouts and porters light to medium brown. Examine the beer against the light and note whether it is clear or cloudy in appearance. Smell the beer on whether it primarily smells of malt or hops. In general, it will smell like hops when it comes to light colored beer and darker colored beer will smell like malt, coffee or roasted chocolate. Ales have a spiciness or fruity flavor smell from the yeasts. Take a few good whiffs or smell of the beer before making your first sip.

During the first sip and as the beer enters your mouth, think about the first sensation that you will feel. You may find it sweet or bitter and the taste can somewhat be complex as you will note a difference of taste between the first and the finish. Sense the texture of the beer inside your mouth. It can feel dry, thick and chewy or fizzy and thin. A very important characteristic of beer would be its texture. For the finish, think about the lingering flavors of the beer inside your mouth. It could be bitter as a result of the hops or sweet from the malt.

Varying beers have different styles. It can be different as to whether the yeast should be poured with the beer or left in the bottle or other issues like whether the beer should be cloudy or clear. A few tips would be not to taste new beer with food or right after eating as the flavors of the food can affect your impression on the beer. Drink water to cleanse your palate. Cheese and crackers are good to pair with beer but you have to bear in mind that these can also affect the beer’s taste and flavor in your mouth. When tasting a number of beers it is ideal to start with the light colored ones then on to the darker ones.