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I'm not sure I like the idea of doing the tastings actually blindfolded. I know that seeing what the beer looks like would be a big clue, but it would hardly tell you what brand it is. I mean, even beers from differing styles can look similar, add to that the subdued lighting of the B&C beer hall and I can't see your peepers playing that big a role.

Let people decided whether they like it or not based on all of their senses and just see what the data looks like.

No, it won't tell you what brand it is -- but something pale, clear and fizzy will instantly make one think "I won't like this". If you want to completely remove prejudice and go just on taste, seeing the beer will spoil it. I have a couple of black mugs at home which might help.

So, hypothetically, what would envisage being in the line-up for this sort of thing?

I think if you're going with blindfolds you should also go with earmuffs - in case someone starts humming a jingle from a recent ad campaign.

Sounds like the cold room could double as an isolation booth <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

[quote:13soqipk]seeing the beer will spoil it. I have a couple of black mugs at home which might help. [/quote:13soqipk]
Sippy cups?

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:2a8z9itz wrote: No, it won't tell you what brand it is -- but something pale, clear and fizzy will instantly make one think "I won't like this". If you want to completely remove prejudice and go just on taste, seeing the beer will spoil it.[/quote:2a8z9itz]

Maybe that will be the case with some people, but I think most of us can name some clear and fizzy beers that we actually like, leaving us to use our other senses to decided if this is one of those, or one of the others.

I suppose we could keep the selection to beers that look similar and see how that goes.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:2a8z9itz wrote: So, hypothetically, what would envisage being in the line-up for this sort of thing?[/quote:2a8z9itz]

I started writing a list, but then I looked at it and thought that it might give my thinking away. How about I just work it out with the barman and you lot taste and mark? Someone else could do it after that.

You could try to guess the brand too, if you like, but you would be guessing from the B&C beer list, not list of four or five beers.