If you're planning to try several different brews, you'll fare better by drinking "samples" of each (say, three to four ounces) instead of whole bottles. Try four-ounce servings, which will allow a standard 12oz. bottle to be shared among three people. Even then, it's probably best not to try more than 10 beers in one sitting - you're tastebuds won't be able to go much further, regardless of whether the rest of your body can. Be sure to use glasses that leave plenty of room for swirling and sniffing (and which ideally curve in towards the top, to concentrate aromas). Jot down your impressions of each beer's aroma, color, flavor, aftertaste and other qualities.

Finally, if you're sampling beers in the same style, you may want to compare a few at a single time. Consider tasting in "flights" of around three beers, recording your impressions of each. If you're sampling different styles of beer, on the other hand, always start with the lowest-strength, lightest-flavored (and usually lightest-colored) brew. Work your way up to richer, more powerful examples. This way, one beer's flavor won't overpower another's. And remember to have lots of plain, cold water on hand: It will help refresh your palate between brews, as well as keep you from enjoying the tasting too much (if you know what we mean...).