I have to admit, before going to the beer tasting at Piccolo’s, I already knew a thing or two about beer. Namely — number one: It’s what I always order if I’m out indulging in adult beverages. And number two: Labatt Blue is what we keep stocked in the fridge at home, so it’s what I always request in the drive-thru at Nan & Pap’s. Yep. I knew those two things. And I also knew that whenever I try something new, something with a fun name or fancy label, I’m usually disappointed. Or worse. Remember the time I bought the big bottle of chocolate-flavored beer, in honor of Sweetest Day? Blech. Double blech. That stuff was gross. So anyway, fortunately for me — because I’m still intrigued by those crazy names and artsy labels, and because I want to nail down what it is about those beers I found unappealing once I got past the packaging — Piccolo’s had one of their beer tastings Friday and I was able to bump my list of the two things I knew up a notch. I got there a little early so I wandered around the store and perused the individual bottles they have available to mix and match. Now there’s a good idea for anyone who doesn’t want to commit to a whole six-pack of Circus Boy or Gonzo Imperial Porter or Black Wacker Wheat Ale. These are just a few of the many varieties from which you can fashion a custom “sample” six pack of your own to take home and try. Others that caught my eye — and this is all about their labels you understand — were the Coney Island Lager and something called Boo Beer, but I still didn’t know beans about their contents. So it was time to start learning… And here — armed with a list of exactly what I was sipping, and lots of answers from Eric — is where I began my schooling. First taste — Lagunitas Pils. Something I might buy in the future, but wouldn’t have, without this tasting, as the label wasn’t intriguing enough. Seriously though (and enough with the labels!) it was darker than my usual Canadian Pilsener, which usually scares me off but it turned out to be quite tasty, which was encouraging because it was actually the lightest-colored beer in the selection I was about to sample. Yikes! Next was an Avery India Pale Ale and here’s where I learned about the taste that never sits well with me — it’s the hops. Some people love a hoppy beer. Not me, it seems. Oh, and you’re not obligated to drink your sample if you don’t care for it. Your beer host won’t be offended. Note to self: No hoppy beer! Appropriately, number three was Stoudt’s Triple. Now mind you, we’re getting well beyond the pale amber shade I’m used to seeing in my glass. But this was really very good! It had a little spice and fruitiness, which I like. Hey, that’s right — I already knew I liked Sam Adams Cherry Wheat and Pete’s Wicked Strawberry Blonde. I guess I knew more than two things after all. Moving on to number four, The Poet, with a pitch black Raven on the label and the contents just slightly lighter — here’s where I learned to not be “afraid of the dark.” Seriously, one of the other attendees said this to me — that I shouldn’t be afraid of the dark. Well, the one other attendee, I should say. There wasn’t much of a crowd yet as it was still early, just the staff, myself and a friendly gent who was also very knowledgeable about beer. And he was right, this “dark” wasn’t scary at all. And speaking of knowledge, did you know you can age some beers, just like you do wine? I had no idea. I never knew that dusty cardboard case of Blatz that sat in our garage the whole time I was growing up was improving with age. Errrr… I guess it wasn’t. It seems aging isn’t good for all beers. So anyway, The Poet had a nice roast-y aroma and taste and while the description mentioned a “bit of chocolate on the finish,” it was nothing like the aforementioned Sweetest Day mistake. It was tasty! Next was Horn Dog, an ale from the same folks that make that Gonzo Imperial Porter, Flying Dog Brewery. Dark and rich and malty (Now malty I like!) it seemed like something you’d have for dessert. Or let’s just say it’s not one you’d take on the boat for a day at the Bay. Are you kidding? The alcohol content? At 10.2%, it was the highest of all the samples. You know what else I learned? The color of the beer has absolutely no connection to the alcohol content. So I hope all this education isn’t making this sound like a stuffy affair. I guess I was just pleased how easy it was to pick out flavors — like caramel — and understand some of the terminology I thought would be totally foreign to me. The beer tasting was a lot of fun — and not stuffy in the least. Several more guests — and pizza! — had arrived by now and the guys and I reminisced about 3.2 beer and getting your hand stamped “low” and they brought up how PBR is so popular these days and… What’s that? Oh, yes, I did say, “the guys and I.” There weren’t any women guests while I was there. True, it was still early and the tasting went until 8 p.m., but ladies? I totally recommend this! But back to the last (and darkest) selection on the list: Porter. That’s it, just Porter — which, if Horn Dog is dessert — Porter could be an after-dinner coffee. Thick and robust, it has a touch of coffee taste, and at 5.2%, proves that dark doesn’t necessarily equal loaded with alcohol. So what about you? When do you get to do this? Well, Piccolo’s hosts beer tasting seasonally, about every three months or so (watch for them) but in March, we get lucky! They plan on having a special tasting of Irish beers in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Hey, shouldn’t it be in honor of St. Bridget? She’s the one who wrote a poem describing heaven as a lake of beer… In any event, I’d definitely recommend attending the next tasting, or mixing and matching your own six-pack in the meantime. It’s always good to try something new and you just might learn a thing or two — or more.

Beer tasting

WHEN: Seasonally, with a special tasting of Irish beers in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. WHERE: Piccolo's Wine Shop, 1212 Hull Road, Perkins Twp. INFO: 419-625-2714