Beer Tasting Not The 'Best Job in the World' !

By Religare

Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 15:30

Beer testing is believed to be 'world's best job' even though there are some complications says, Jon Elks, a Brit beer taster of Carlsberg .

He also says the profession as a beer tester requires a full control of your senses all the time",

Elks takes charge of quality control at at the Carlsberg brewery in Northampton. At present, he and his team are on full swing with more work as the intake of alcohol increases during this FIFa World Cup across the UK

Elks can differentiate about 70 types of smells and flavours beginning from strawberry to leather with a single sip. This was because he was trained for nine years.

He started off this job at the age of 21 after responding to the classified local paper that said,"Wanted: People for the tasting of beer."

But Elks, 30 says he's drank only 450 pints during his job because the expert sips he takes are very less
"My mates can be a bit jealous and I do get accused of not having a proper job," The Sun quoted Elks, as saying.
He added: "I have to point out to them that it's not all about drinking beer. Although that's not to say I don't still enjoy it."

Daily a panel of six people gathers at the brewery's official testing room to drink each day's samples. Before the tasting begins, tasters are not permitted to use perfume or aftershave and cannot take strong food or smoke for an hour.

The tasting hours start at 11.30am as this time is believed to be the most sensitive for taste-buds

Like any other jobs, this job has a fair share of work pressure, as tasters make sure that all 54,000 bottles of Carlsberg beer running off the production line every hour holds the highest quality.

Elks said: "Every couple of months we are given six random beers, one of which has been spiked with a particular smell or flavour, just to keep us on our toes and make sure we don't lose our edge.

"You have to be in full control of your senses all the time. But it's probably the best job in the world."