Mecklenburg Gardens  .  Feb 16, 2007  .  7:30pm 

I can name that beer in two sips... Think you've got the taste buds to discern ale from lager? English IPA from American IPA? Vienna Lager from Oktoberfest? Then we hope to see your smiling face at Mecklenburg Gardens this month!

Here's how it works: You'll be given samples of a commercially available beer. You must first decide is it an ale or a lager? (1 point). Then define the general style. (Example: American Ale, another point.) Now, can you name the correct sub-style? (Am. Brown Ale, a third point). Finally, can you name the exact brand of beer? (In this example, Bell's Best Brown, another two points.) He/She who tallys the most points after five beers will be crowned the Big Shot Bloatarian Beer Nerd of the Month (Quite an honor!) To make things a little easier, for each beer we'll recruit a victim... er, expert, who will taste the beer and give impressions and guesses to the group. This gives you a chance to compare your tasting skills with some of our more experienced members, and maybe improve your overall palate. This fun and challenging February meeting promises to be another great one in what's become an annual event.