Beer flight at home: how you crown the winner
A flight is four to six small pours side by side. Skip the full pints and the random fridge raid. You taste, score, and name a winner. This page is the flight format and the crowning. For themes, light-to-dark party setup, and how many people to invite, use how to host a beer tasting party. When you create a ClinkRate session, choose beer.
1. What a flight is (4 to 6 small pours)
At a bar, a flight is a paddle of little glasses. At home it's the same idea without the paddle: four to six beers, 2 to 4 ounces (60 to 120 ml) each, lined up so everyone can compare. A pint of each would end the night before beer four. Small pours keep palates sharp and people upright.
A flight is a tasting with a short list and a winner at the end.
2. Build the flight
Pick a set that can actually compete. Four IPAs, a light-to-dark run, local versus the famous can: any of those work. The beer-party guide covers themes in full. Here the rule is simpler. Same night, same table, enough contrast that scoring isn't a coin flip.
- Four to six beers. Fewer feels thin. More and nobody notices #6.
- One glass each, or rinse between. Clear glasses if you have them. Appearance is a real score.
- Water on the table. Optional crackers. Optional bags if you want it blind.
Serve lighter and more delicate beers first. The party guide has the full light-to-dark walkthrough. Don't steamroll the flight with the biggest stout in slot one.
3. Score each beer (four criteria)
Same four scores as every ClinkRate session and the printable scorecard, 1 to 5, half stars allowed.
- Appearance: colour, haze, the head.
- Aroma: swirl and sniff before the sip.
- Taste: first hit, finish, whether it changes.
- Mouthfeel: thin or creamy, crisp or coating.
One note per beer is enough. "Tastes like a Christmas tree" is a legal tasting note.
4. Live tally / leaderboard
On paper, the tally waits until the last pour. Then someone becomes the accountant. In ClinkRate the leaderboard moves as people submit. You can see beer 2 pull ahead while you're still smelling beer 4. Nobody needs a spreadsheet.
5. Crown the winner and the AI recap
Highest average wins. Read it out. If you hid the labels, unwrap after the scores are locked. Then let the night have a recap. ClinkRate writes an AI summary of each beer and of the evening (Professional, Fun, or Sarcastic) so the group has something to share besides "I think we liked the dark one."
6. Run the flight in ClinkRate
The host starts a session, chooses beer, and shares an 8-digit PIN (or a link). Guests join on their phones. No sign-up, no app. They rate appearance, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel. The app tallies live and crowns the winner.
The catalog has 40,000+ drinks, so adding the flight is mostly search. The first session is free. After that the host pays a flat $1.99 per session. Guests never pay. A flight uses the same tasting session. You just keep the list short.
Start a tasting: first session free
Create a session, choose beer, share the PIN, and crown a winner from the flight.
No account needed for guests. 8-digit PIN. Host pays $1.99 per session after the first free one.
FAQ
What is a beer flight?
Four to six small pours, typically 2 to 4 ounces (60 to 120 ml) each, served together so you can compare. Skip the pint of each.
How do you crown a winner from a beer flight?
Score each beer 1 to 5 on appearance, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel. Add the totals, or let ClinkRate tally live. Highest average wins. If you ran it blind, reveal labels after the scores are in.
How many beers in a flight at home?
Four to six. Fewer than four feels thin. More than six and palates fade. For themes and party setup, see how to host a beer tasting party.
Do guests need an account to score a ClinkRate flight?
No. Guests join with an 8-digit PIN. No app, no sign-up. Only the host pays. First session free, then $1.99 per session. Choose beer when you create the session.