Beer
The tasting board: how to work your way through our taps
5 October 2026 · 3 min read
Four small glasses instead of one decision. How to approach the tasting board at Beavers Pub, and why the order matters.
Six taps in a row is a nice problem to have. Everything sounds good, and you still end up ordering the one you already know. That is what the tasting board is for: four small glasses instead of one decision.
What the board is, and what it isn't
A board with four small glasses, each holding a different beer. That's it. It isn't a guided tasting with a talk and a fixed start time, so there is nothing to book and nobody will lecture you. You sit down, order the board and take it at your own pace.
Which beers end up on it depends on what's on tap, and the taps change all the time. Ask at the bar what is available right now. The board in the pub is always more up to date than any menu online.
What order should I drink them in?
This is the one rule worth knowing. Light first, strong after, and anything sour or very bitter as late as you can, because it coats your palate.
- Pale and mild first: lager, helles, festbier. They are clean and not very bitter, so they show you best how the next beer differs.
- Then the hoppy ones: pale ale and IPA, with citrus, resin and a firmer bitterness.
- Then the odd ones out: a saison, peppery and fruity, or a sour with a sharp edge.
- Dark and heavy last, if there is one on the board.
Don't follow it religiously. But if you start with the sour beer, the lager afterwards will taste of nothing.
Getting more out of it
Take your time over the first sip: smell it, then drink. Have a mouthful of water between glasses. And say what you liked. If you know by the end which of the four was your favourite, order a full glass of that one. That's what the board is for.
It's more fun with two. Order one board, share the glasses and argue about which was best.
What if I don't drink alcohol, or can't have gluten?
We stock bottles from other independent breweries, including a gluten-free beer from Gusswerk and an alcohol-free one from Rampensau. If something doesn't work for you, tell us when you order and we'll sort it out.
When to come
We open at 6 pm from Tuesday to Thursday and at 5 pm from Friday to Sunday; Monday is our day off. The kitchen stays open until 10 pm. If you want to eat with the board, order at the same time: fish and chips, wings or a burger all go well with the hoppy beers.