SMELL THE BEER. AS SOON AS THE BEER IS POURED, SWIRL THE CUP, BRIN...

4. Smell the beer. As soon as the beer is poured, swirl the cup, bring it to your nose, and inhale the beer’s aroma several times. When a beer is cold, it may be necessary to swirl the beer in the cup, warm the beer by holding it between your hands, or putting your hand on the top of the cup to allow the volatiles to accumulate in a great enough concentration to be detected. Write your impressions of the beer’s aromas. Particularly, note any off aromas that you detect. Do not assign scores for aroma yet.