What is a Flight of Beer, Anyway?
A “flight” is a sampler platter of several different beers, usually served in miniature glasses. When your beer finally lands, it’s likely to be presented on a wooden paddle, a custom-made tray, or even a repurposed slate.
The glasses themselves are typically miniature “pint” glasses, snifters, or tulip glasses, depending on the style of beer being served. They’re likely to be arranged in a particular order, i.e. from light to dark or mild to strong, depending on the types and styles of beer included.
What’s the Point of a Beer Flight?
It’s kind of like a “degustation menu” for beers.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, what’s a degustation menu?
It’s basically a carefully-curated selection of small—microscopic, really—dishes, focused on slow, appreciative tasting with good company. In other words, it’s a highfalutin’ way to say “sampler platter.”
But back to beer flights—much like a degustation menu or a sampler platter, beer flights allow you to savor a smorgasbord of flavors and styles, usually from a particular brewery or with a particular theme.
It’s a good way to dip your toes (not literally, please) into a lot of different types of beer without going “all-in” on a full pint.
Now that we’ve circled the runway for a bit, let’s taxi to the gate and see what’s on tap:
Anatomy of a Beer Flight
The million-dollar question (or at least the $10 – $20 question): How many beers are in a flight?
Beer flights can range from as few as 3 to as many as 8 samples. The typical, “average” beer flight has about 4 to 6 glasses. Some breweries have more offerings than others, so that’s why there’s no hard and fast rule about the number of beers in a flight.
Now how many fluid ounces are in a flight of beer? Well, we’ve established that the number of beers can vary from flight to flight, but the size of each “pour” can also vary. Typically, you’re looking at 4 oz. per pour, though some may have 2 oz. samples.
If you’re ordering one, it’s important to keep in mind how many ounces you’re drinking and know your alcohol tolerance—especially if there are high ABV beers like imperials, dubbels, tripels, quads, etc.
While the idea is to savor each pour rather than drink them all down like shots of rye whiskey, not everyone can handle eight tiny beers before things get a little wobbly.
Note: The largest beer flight I’ve seen so far has 18 pours. Make sure you bring a traveling companion (or two) for this kind of flight—otherwise, prepare for turbulence.
How to Order a Beer Flight
Ready to embark on a journey of beer discovery? Here’s how to order like an experienced traveler:
- Scope out the selection: Before you start, take a gander at the beer menu. A lot of breweries will offer pre-selected flights, but others will let you choose your own adventure.
- Mix it up: If you do have the choice to customize your flight, don’t be afraid to mix styles and flavors. Try a hoppy IPA, a dark stout, a fruity sour, a crisp pilsner, etc. It’ll help the flavors and textures stand out even more.
- Ask the beer experts: Unsure where to start? Ask your friendly bartender or server for recommendations.
- Take notes (mental or otherwise): As you sip your way through your flight, note your favorites. So that way, when you’re ready for a full pour, you’ll know exactly which brews to order.
- Enjoy the journey: The whole point of a beer flight is to try new things and savor the experience. So sit back, put your table in its upright and locked position (don’t actually attempt this), and let your taste buds take flight.
Now that you know basically everything there is to know to order a flight of beers with confidence, broaden your horizons by checking out Hops Hunters’ reviews of beers and breweries!
