Subject: Digest for the period 9/5/2007 - 9/6/2007
Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:02:15 -0400

Table of contents
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  1. "Fleeting" Aroma 


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From: Lyle C. Brown  Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 19:32:56 -0400
Subject: "Fleeting" Aroma 


 Spencer Thomas quotes Brian Lundeen on aroma: 
"why do you consider something that is so ephemeral in your judging of the
beer?  If you have to leap nose-first into the glass to detect these
volatiles before they disappear for all time, are you not ascribing aromatic
qualities to the beer that simply will not be present in the overall tasting
experience?"

And responds: 
"Ubi gave part of the answer -- what is fleeting in a 2 oz sample may/will
stick around longer in a full mug or glass. 
Another part of the answer is that those fleeting aromas may give us a hint
to something wrong (or right) in the beer. "

I agree with Spencer's responses, but have to add a more important aspect,
which speaks directly to Brian's question:  The real issue here is not that
the aroma aspects "flee," so much as our noses become saturated by some of
those volatiles very quickly. Even from a distance, as you are inspecting
the color and head retention, you may, without paying attention, inhale
these volatile aromatics and saturate your palate, thus missing them. It is
important to get the fresh impression right away. Even though you are no
longer conscious of these "fleeting" aromatics, they are an important part
of the overall impression of the beer. While you are noticing the bigger,
more persistent aromatics, the volatiles are still impacting your sense,
just not as consciously. 

All three parts of the answer apply. 

-Lyle 




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