Tasting

What does Swiss lager taste like? Golden, with a firm white head, a mild bready aroma, and little hop character. On the palate it feels soft and slightly sweet, with a short, dry finish. Feldschlösschen Original represents this type perfectly. It's the beer many in Switzerland consider the benchmark when describing a straightforward lager.

Small Basel breweries make for a good contrast. The Ueli Bier from Fischerstube comes from a brewery in the city that combines house brewing with a pub. Unser Bier is likewise a small Basel brewery. Taste an industrial lager side by side with a small-brewery beer, and the difference is obvious.

In Switzerland, beer is served in a "Stange." This is a slender, cylindrical glass that usually holds three deciliters, or 0.3 liters. It keeps the beer cool right down to the last drop, and the head holds for a long time. Small breweries also use tulip glasses or mugs for stronger beers.

Serving temperature runs six to eight degrees Celsius. Any colder, and the beer loses flavor; any warmer, and it quickly turns flat and heavy. Beer is poured with the glass tilted, straightening up as it fills. A good lager carries about two fingers of foam that stays creamy.

When tasting, first note the color, then the aroma of malt and hops. Take a small sip and let it circulate in your mouth a moment before swallowing. A touch of bitterness in the finish is normal. Sipping water in between helps keep comparisons clean.