CiceroneCraft Brew Bar StoryHow to Build a Beer Flight in Madison (Even If You Don’t Know Beer Styles)

If you want the best beer flight experience in Madison, here’s the shortcut: order by flavor, not by style. You don’t need to know the difference between a pilsner and a pale ale to build a great flight—you just need to know whether you want something crisp, juicy, rich, or tart. At Garth’s Brew Bar (1726 Monroe Street), our team is Certified Cicerone Beer Server–trained, so you can describe what you like in normal human language and we’ll map you to the right pours.

The simplest rule: build a “story,” not a sampler

A good flight is four small pours that make sense together—not four random beers that fight each other.

Here’s the easiest structure (works every time):

1. Reset – crisp / clean / palate-opening

2. Anchor – the beer you think you want

3. Bridge – something adjacent that nudges you into a new lane

4. Wildcard – the “plot twist” (dark, tart, funky, or seasonal)

That’s the whole method. Everything else is just choosing your flavor path.

Step 1: Pick your “north star” flavor (not a style name)

If you’re staring at a tap list and your eyes go blurry, answer this instead:

Which one sounds best right now?

• Crisp + clean (refreshing, easy, bright)

• Juicy + citrusy (fruit-forward, soft bitterness)

• Rich + smooth (coffee/chocolate/toasty vibes)

• Tart + bright (lemony, tangy, punchy)

• Low bitterness (the “I don’t like IPAs” lane)

• Non-alcoholic (still want the treat, just not the alcohol)

At Garth’s Brew Bar, we’ve got 18 taps total: 16 beer taps plus 2 non-alcoholic nitro taps (coffee and tea), and a cooler with 95+ cans and bottles—so you can build flights in a lot of directions.

Step 2: Choose a flight path (Classic → Adventurous)

Pick one of these flight “tracks” based on how bold you’re feeling.

Track A: “I want easy wins”

• Reset: crisp and light

• Anchor: something balanced and crowd-pleasing

• Bridge: similar, but a little more character

• Wildcard: seasonal pick that’s still approachable

Track B: “I want to learn what I like”

• Reset: crisp and neutral

• Anchor: your usual flavor lane (juicy, rich, tart, etc.)

• Bridge: a neighboring lane you’ve never tried

• Wildcard: something you’d never order as a full pint

Track C: “Surprise me, but don’t hurt me”

• Reset: crisp

• Anchor: low bitterness

• Bridge: “juicy but softer” or “dark but smooth”

• Wildcard: one weird one (with guidance)

Recommendation logic: “If you like X, try Y”

Use this like a menu decoder.

• If you like sparkling water / crisp cocktails / light wine → try crisp, clean beers

• If you like orange juice / tropical fruit / citrus → try juicy, citrus-forward pours

• If you like coffee, chocolate, toasted flavors → try rich, smooth, roasty pours

• If you like lemonade, margaritas, sour candy → try tart, bright pours

• If you hate bitterness → ask for low bitterness and we’ll steer away from sharp edges

• If you’re not drinking alcohol → ask for the nitro coffee or nitro tea, or an NA pour that matches your flavor lane

One sentence that works every time:
“I like ___ and I don’t like ___. Can you build me a flight?”

Step 3: Taste like a normal person (3 sips that matter)

You don’t need a notebook. You need three quick checks:

1. First sip: “Does this feel crisp, rich, tart, or bitter?”

2. Second sip: “Would I take a full pint of this?”

3. Third sip: “What exactly do I like or dislike about it?” (sweetness, bitterness, tartness, roast, fruit)

If you do nothing else, do the third sip question. It turns “meh” into usable feedback fast.

Step 4: Avoid the two flight mistakes that ruin everything

Mistake #1: Four palate-busters in a row

If every pour is big, bitter, boozy, or sour, your tastebuds go numb. Start with a reset.

Mistake #2: Ordering for ego instead of enjoyment

Flights aren’t a test. They’re a tool. The best flight is the one that helps you find your next favorite pint.

“Flight scripts” you can literally say at the bar

Here are a few copy/paste lines you can use:

• “Can you build me a flight that starts crisp and ends weird?”

• “I want low bitterness and I love citrus.”

• “I want something dark but not heavy.”

• “I usually drink wine/cocktails/coffee — what’s a good bridge into beer?”

• “I’m not drinking alcohol tonight — what NA options feel the most like a treat?”

A great beer flight is a tiny story: start with a crisp “reset” pour, choose an “anchor” beer you already think you’ll like, add a “bridge” beer that nudges you into a nearby flavor lane, and finish with one wildcard. Order by flavors—crisp, juicy, rich, tart—not by style names. If you tell a beertender what drinks you already enjoy (coffee, lemonade, wine, cocktails) and what you want to avoid (usually bitterness), they can build a flight that makes sense in one try. The goal isn’t to prove you know beer—it’s to find your next favorite pint.

FAQs

What is a beer flight?

A beer flight is a small set of tasting pours designed to compare flavors and help you choose a full pour you’ll love.

How many beers should be in a flight?

Four is ideal: enough variety to learn, not so much that your palate gets overwhelmed.

Should I choose a flight by beer styles?

Not unless you already know styles well. It’s usually better to choose by flavor (crisp, juicy, rich, tart, low bitterness).

What’s the best first beer in a flight?

A crisp, clean “reset” pour that clears your palate and sets the baseline.

I don’t like bitter beer—what should I ask for?

Say “low bitterness” and name one drink you like (coffee, lemonade, wine, margaritas). That gives your beertender a reliable direction.

Can you build a flight around non-alcoholic options?

Yes—ask for NA options that match your flavor lane, including nitro coffee or nitro tea.

Flights or pints—what’s better?

Flights are best for discovery; pints are best when you already know what you want.

What’s the fastest way to find “my beer”?

Give one preference and one “no”: “I like ___ and I don’t like ___.” Then let the flight do the work.