The Joy of Drinking Beer

Part of the joy of drinking beer comes not only from the taste, but the aroma as well!

Our sense of smell is the most powerful of our senses. Humans have around 1,000 different receptor types that can detect 10,000 different smells. Each aroma arouses a particular set of neurons, each with a specific intensity. Like the keys on piano, a smell plays its own specific chord within our sense of smell and sends signals to the brain.

When you pour a beer and take a whiff, you may notice the scents of malted barley (caramel, nutty, chocolate), hops (citrus, floral, piney, herbal), or even yeast (fruity esters, banana, barnyard).

These aromas may trigger emotions and even memories, transporting us to another time and place. We learn to associate certain smells with experiences, many of which are pleasurable. Is it any wonder that we begin to feel happy the moment the aroma of a freshly poured beer hits our senses?

Don’t forget to stop and smell the beer!

For more on “Beer Aroma-therapy” read this article from the Crafty Beer Girls