National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Education, Careers & Opportunities => Topic started by: Andrew on May 19, 2016, 11:18:22 AM

Title: NHC/BJCP Beer Sensory Kit
Post by: Andrew on May 19, 2016, 11:18:22 AM
As discussed at the AGM, I think it would be a good idea for the NHC to have sensory kits on hand that clubs can draw on for their own sensory sessions and/or BJCP training. I would suggest a kit containing the following:
If we want to go for a 12 capsule kit instead of a 10 capsule one, I'd probably add Ester and Phenolic. There's also scope to do an "Advanced Taster" kit that includes flavours like isoamyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate and differing hop notes (floral, citrus, grassy etc).

Thoughts?
Title: Re: NHC/BJCP Beer Sensory Kit
Post by: molc on May 19, 2016, 11:48:23 AM
Aectic and lactic to go with the butryic could be good, as that would mean people could isolate the three main bacterial infections in a batch, all of which point to different root causes. I'd probably swap out Mercaptan myself, simply as it's not one you really come across that commonly since people know to use brown bottles, but I could be wrong :)

The other thing that we mentioned at the AGM was maybe to get enough to do two different concentrations - one at perception level, one at blow your socks off level, just to help judges detect at normal concentrations.
Title: Re: NHC/BJCP Beer Sensory Kit
Post by: Andrew on May 19, 2016, 04:04:09 PM
Good point- though I do like presenting the mercaptan and watching people's faces.
Title: Re: NHC/BJCP Beer Sensory Kit
Post by: Leann ull on May 19, 2016, 04:08:44 PM
Tastes just like chicken, I mean Hein....
Title: Re: NHC/BJCP Beer Sensory Kit
Post by: pob on May 19, 2016, 04:13:31 PM
Quote from: Andrew on May 19, 2016, 11:18:22 AM
There's also scope to do an "Advanced Taster" kit that includes flavours like isoamyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate and differing hop notes (floral, citrus, grassy etc).

Would be handy to have the first selection as a 'club' kit & maybe get the 'judging/Advanced Taster" kit for more structured training; would only need them for the BJCP type courses.

Do they have an expiry date? What's their shelf life?

12 sample kit would be good, add the Ester & Phenol.

The club kit could be at the higher concentration, so people really get the sense of it; with the advanced one as standard.
Title: Re: NHC/BJCP Beer Sensory Kit
Post by: molc on May 19, 2016, 05:40:09 PM
I think I just can't smell skunk. Have tried straight from the capsule twice and I just don't smell anything :)

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Title: Re: NHC/BJCP Beer Sensory Kit
Post by: Andrew on May 20, 2016, 09:05:50 AM
Quote from: pob on May 19, 2016, 04:13:31 PM
Do they have an expiry date? What's their shelf life?

12 sample kit would be good, add the Ester & Phenol.

The club kit could be at the higher concentration, so people really get the sense of it; with the advanced one as standard.
I think it's 2 years on the Aroxa kit- I can check later as I do have one Uno kit left at home.

Concentrations are down to how much you dilute the capsules with- I do 1 capsule per 500ml for sensory training; and then 1 capsule per 1000ml for perception training.