Nicole Garneau (1), Lindsay Barr (1); (1) Flavor Lab, LLC, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
Sensory
Supplier Poster
In the 1970s, representatives from the American Society of Brewing
Chemists, the European Brewing Convention, and the Master Brewers
Association of the Americas, developed a system of flavor terminology to
identify, define and communicate attributes in beer. The terminology
system they developed is universally recognized as the beer flavor
wheel. Despite the huge advance in standardization that this work
allowed, the authors recognized that their contribution was only the
beginning. In the publication, Meilgaard et al. made a call-to-action to
the industry to continue the task of bringing the terminology
up-to-date. Since its debut we have seen great advances in both brewing
and sensory science, and yet the most recognized tool in the beer flavor
toolkit has largely remained stagnant. Inspired by Meilgaard’s original
paper and call to action, as well as discussions with leaders in the
brewing community where complacency with the flavor wheel and it’s
shortcomings has become mainstream, the authors here propose a radically
different model for beer flavor, the Beer Flavor Map. This new tool is
scientifically aligned with the sensory research of the last four
decades, accounts for new complexities in brewing science and is also
accessible for brewing professionals and consumers alike. The purpose of
the Beer Flavor Map is to provide a scientifically accurate model that
is both user-friendly and rooted in up-to-date, published scientific
research.
Nicole Garneau is a geneticist who studies sensory perception and
the interactions of sensory attributes in pairings. She completed her
B.A. degree in genetics at Rutgers and her Ph.D. degree in microbiology
at Colorado State University. As cofounder of Flavor Lab, LLC, she is
responsible for the taste and mouthfeel components of the new sensory
tool, the Beer Flavor Map. In addition to conducting research, Nicole
actively promotes public participation in scientific research through
crowd-sourcing and through accessible language and dialogue. For this
reason, she is a sought-after speaker, has done numerous media
interviews and is featured in other media, including the book, Beer Pairing: The Essential Guide from the Pros.
She is active in the brewing community as a member of ASBC, a founding
member of the Beer & Food Working Group, and an advisory board
member of the Fermentation Sciences program at Colorado State
University. When she’s not in the lab, or consulting on sensory
perception, she’s dropping science gems online as @yopearlscigirl. Visit
drnicolegarneau.com or BeerFlavorMap.com to connect and learn more.
