The basics of brewing are well documented and generally understood by homebrewers: proper cleaning and sanitation, a vigorous boil, fast hot and cold break, healthy yeast, and temperature control, to name a few. However, brewers often don’t realize why each step is so crucial for a desired flavor profile. Sensory analysis can provide insight into your processes and help you determine where you could be going wrong (or right!). Basic sensory knowledge can help you improve your process and avoid undesirable off flavors.