No matter if it's lager or ale, good beer is complex, and presents a wide range of flavors in each taste. If you really want to taste the beer, don't throw it down your throat. Let it hang around your mouth for awhile, and good things start to happen almost immediately .

Any beer walks a fine line between the basics: sweetness and bitterness. The brewer decides what the balance between the two is going to be, and how best to include all the secondary flavors that make up a beer's character. That character is often described with some of the following terms:

Aggressive, as in the non-beer world, means boldly assertive.

Complex describes a beer that's multidimensional; many flavors and sensations commingle on the palate.

Fruity is used to describe the nuances that remind you of berries, apples, pears, bananas, etc.

Hoppy describes the bitter flavor of the hops, as well as the slightly spicy overtones that accompany it.

Malty describes a grainy and caramel-like taste.

Roasty and Toasty both refer to roasted grain flavors that may become prominent.

Round describes a beer that strikes a smooth balance between sweet and spicy

While it's swirling over your tongue, also notice the mouthfeel and body. Does it feel crisp and effervescent, or soft and chewy? Light or full-bodied, perhaps somewhere in between? Words used to describe these sensations are probably the easiest to understand. Some, like wimpy, voluptuous, massive and viscous are also just fun to use. Others you may hear are robust, astringent, flat, full, gassy, light, sharp, smooth, thin, thick or watery.

And now, the finish. It would be a sad thing to forget how great a beer tasted as soon as it left your tongue. Contrary to what most beer commercials tell you, aftertaste can be a good thing.

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