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Photo: Getty / Angelo DeSantis
You’ve probably noticed that in the modern era, food and drink preferences vary widely. Just try to host a dinner party these days, and you’ll likely be designing a menu that has something for everyone fromketo dietersto vegans andmocktaildevotees to Malbec aficionados.
Earlier this summer, researchers discovered thatmeat-eaters tend to be more extroverted. And this week, another study that’s set to publish in the December 2020 issue of the journalFood Quality and Preference, cracks open the topic of beer preference and personality.
Those who err on the risk-taking side and love new experiences—AKA the “openness to experience"Big Five personality trait—tend to prefer more bitter, pale ale beers and drink them more often than those who stick to a more safe, patterned schedule. To determine this, Penn State sensory researchers compared results from a blind taste test (of a lager, one strongly bitter IPA and one moderately bitter IPA) and personality assessments for 109 subjects.
“We found that increased bitterness perception does not always lead to decreased liking and intake—rather, it’s a positive attribute in some products for some consumers,” lead researcher Molly Higginsexplained toScienceDaily. “These data suggest liking and intake of pale ales is positively related to sensation seeking and bitter taste perception.”
Previous researchhas found a link between spicy foods and a risk-taking, open personality. The researchers hope other scientists can use their findings to help find new ways to promote healthy foods that are naturally bitter, including kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,green teaand grapefruit since all of the above offer antioxidants that might prevent chronic diseases.
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