What are characteristics to look for when judging or tasting beers? What qualities make beers superior to others?

Beer tasting and judging are very popular among beer enthusiasts - often referred to as beer geeks or beer snobs. There is no need to be an expert to enjoy the art of beer tasting, beer lovers of any experience level and taste preference can partake.

A beer tasting session with some friends can be a good way to try a number of different beers while still having some cash left over to hit the bars. Buy a mixed six pack or have each person bring a few different beers. Try a few ounces of each beer moving from the lighter styles to the heavier flavors.

The best way to become knowledgeable on various styles is to try as many as possible. A beer tasting session makes for a good pre-game social gathering and you may even find your new favorite beer.

Beer has more than 1,000 identifiable flavors, according to research conducted by Morton Meilgaard, the inventor of the beer flavor wheel, which is widely used in beer analysis. However, even the best beer judges can only detect about 100 individual flavors.

While everyone has their own methods, it's important to pay special attention to the aroma and appearance of the beer when discerning between flavors. Pour the brew into a clear clean glass, rather than consuming it right out of the bottle. Visual inspection may include some swirling to explore head retention and the lace it leaves on the glass. Next make sure to get a good nose on the brew and sample a small portion. Different sections of your tongue are responsible for bitterness, sweetness, saltiness and others so keep that in mind. Finally, remember that alcohol dulls your senses, so beers with higher alcohol content will affect your taste buds even if it's the first sip of the night. Fine beer tasting is an activity for the beginning of the night, not the end.

The best way to become a knowledge beer judge is practice. Trying a few ounces of a new beer each night while also doing some reading on the topic will heighten your awareness and can really fine tune your beer tasting skills. Beeradvocate.com is a very popular site among so-called beer geeks and contains critiques on thousands of beers. It may be a good place to get started.

While many enjoy critiquing and analyzing brews, the best beer is the one you most enjoy without causing you to feel ill. Consume your beverage, don't let it consume you.

Why can't beer be purchased in grocery stores or gas stations in Pennsylvania, unlike many other states?

Pennsylvania functions on a three-tier distribution system for beer and malt beverage distribution. It consists of brewers, wholesalers, and retailers (a.k.a. distributors) or licensed on premise sales establishments (bars and restaurants). Breweries must sell their beer to wholesalers and then to distributors. Wholesalers may double as distributors.

Residents can then pick up their beer by the case at the distributor or purchase six-packs or individual bottles at restaurants or bars.

If a business is qualified to become a wholesaler, distributor, or holder of an on-premise liquor license, there are many laws they must comply with many rules, such as the amount of sales from food and seating capacity of the establishment, among others.

While the three-tier system certainly increases the cost of beer, it has some positive effects. It has kept more regional brewers alive in Pennsylvania than in any other state. It also increases the variety of beers available, as small brewers are more valuable to wholesalers than a supermarket chain.

Another advantage to the system is the increased care of the product. A wholesaler's entire business is beer and malt beverages. They are focused on quality and freshness, and work closely with brewers. Supermarket chains have many other products to worry about. The archaic system has brought more money to local economies, but that comes at the expense of higher prices to the consumer.

Chris Straub is a senior majoring in chemical engineering and a Collegian columnist. He is also the great-great grandson of the founder of Straub beer. His e-mail address is cts150@psu.edu.