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’m starting a beer tasting club with some of my friends and co-workers. I have a few ideas of what I want to do. This month we’re all bringing beer that we have never had. Next month, we’ll probably decide on a theme. I’d like to hear how any of you run such an event. Thanks!
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Don’t do a theme until you get an idea of what you like.
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I’d say do themes SO you can learn what you like.
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That takes a long time. IPAs this week, only to find out everyone hates IPAs? Meanwhile those tasty Belgain ales are weeks away on the schedule.
It makes much more sense to me that you get an IPA and a Belgain Ale and an Imperial stout, rather than a night of stouts or something like that. Additionally, if you have people who are new to craft beer, you want to expose them to a variety, and more importantly, not scare them off by choosing a style they don’t like or find boring. Just my opinion.
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Thats one cute lil bugger dude. Brings a smile to my face. 
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Thanks for the ideas, keep ’em coming...
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Maybe you’re right. On the other hand, I’ve also known people who "hate" stouts or "hate" IPAs, who have only had one or maybe two beers from the style. If you’ve only got a small random sampling, you can’t really see what a style has to offer.
I guess it depends on what you want to do as a tasting club. If you want to learn, I think comparing at least similar styles if not beers within the same style, is the only way to go.
If you just want to have a rough idea of what’s out there and find a new favorite beer or three, then I’d say either just have everyone bring random beers.
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The Fredericksburg Area Brewing and Tasting Society (www.fabts.org) picks a theme each month. This month was English Ales, last month Barelywine, before that "Winter" beers. The point is to try new beers and perhaps learn to like new things. If you only pick beers you know you already like, what’s the point? It’s just another night at the pub in that case.
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Maybe one week you can do domestic regions, and one week you could do a specific country.
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We have been doing a tasting since 98 or 99 which was originally weekly and we switched to monthly in 04. We have tried the theme thing a few times but is more interesting and educational if you just try to bring new and or unique things. Always have snacks of some kind and try to have everybody on the same beer at the same time so the discussion does not become disjointed. And try to have the same glass or at least the same style glass for everyone as different glasses can make a huge difference in the nose and perceived flavor profile of the beer.
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