ASTM E1879-22

Standard Guide for Sensory Evaluation of Beverages Containing Alcohol

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide outlines considerations for selecting assessors who will evaluate alcoholic beverages and recommends procedures for the evaluation of specific alcoholic beverages.  
4.2 This guide gives practical suggestions to maximize assessor safety and minimize the liabilities of the person or corporation responsible for administering sensory evaluations of alcoholic beverages, while recording assessors’ responses to those beverages using sound scientific principles.  
4.3 This guide provides examples of informed consent forms for both Central Location Tests and Home Use Tests (see Appendix X2 – Appendix X4).
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides guidelines specific to the sensory and consumer evaluation of alcoholic beverages, including but not limited to beer, wine, coolers, cocktails, ready to drinks, liqueurs, hard ciders, hard seltzers, and distilled spirits.  
1.2 This guide covers assessor selection, sample preparation, serving protocols, and evaluation recommendations for specific alcoholic products.  
1.3 This guide addresses safety, regulatory, and legal concerns, but does not cover all legal rules for alcohol and sensory evaluation around the world. It is the responsibility of the user to be aware of their current local laws and regulations, corporate policies and procedures, and confirm they haven’t changed since publication.  
1.4 This guide does not cover the evaluation of raw materials or specific test methods.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2022
• ICS: 67.160.10 - Alcoholic beverages
• Technical Committee: E18 - Sensory Evaluation
• Drafting Committee: E18.06 - Food and Beverage Evaluation

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1879 − 22
Standard Guide for
1
Sensory Evaluation of Beverages Containing Alcohol
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1879; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E1871 Guide for Serving Protocol for Sensory Evaluation of
Foods and Beverages
1.1 This guide provides guidelines specific to the sensory
and consumer evaluation of alcoholic beverages, including but
3. Terminology
not limited to beer, wine, coolers, cocktails, ready to drinks,
liqueurs, hard ciders, hard seltzers, and distilled spirits.
3.1 For definitions of terms relating to this standard, see
Terminology E253.
1.2 This guide covers assessor selection, sample
preparation, serving protocols, and evaluation recommenda-
4. Significance and Use
tions for specific alcoholic products.
1.3 This guide addresses safety, regulatory, and legal 4.1 This guide outlines considerations for selecting asses-
concerns, but does not cover all legal rules for alcohol and
sors who will evaluate alcoholic beverages and recommends
sensory evaluation around the world. It is the responsibility of procedures for the evaluation of specific alcoholic beverages.
the user to be aware of their current local laws and regulations,
4.2 This guide gives practical suggestions to maximize
corporate policies and procedures, and confirm they haven’t
assessor safety and minimize the liabilities of the person or
changed since publication.
corporation responsible for administering sensory evaluations
1.4 This guide does not cover the evaluation of raw mate-
of alcoholic beverages, while recording assessors’responses to
rials or specific test methods.
those beverages using sound scientific principles.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.3 This guide provides examples of informed consent
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
formsforbothCentralLocationTestsandHomeUseTests(see
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Appendix X2 – Appendix X4).
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Safety
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 5.1 MedicalCondition—Potential assessors must be in good
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the medical condition with no serious health problems. Inform
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- them that they should not participate on panels if they are
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that are
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. contraindicated when combined with alcohol. It is recom-
mendedthatwomenwhoarepregnant,maybepregnant,trying
2. Referenced Documents to become pregnant, or nursing should not participate. Recruit-
2 ing should be conducted in such a way to ensure that those not
2.1 ASTM Standards:
meeting these medical requirements are excluded from partici-
E253 Terminology Relating to Sensory Evaluation of Mate-
pation.
rials and Products
5.2 A sufficient waiting period should be arranged before
assessorsareallowedtodriveoroperateheavymachineryafter
1
sampling test product(s).
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E18 on Sensory
Evaluation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E18.06 on Food and
5.3 All products should be stored in a place where they are
Beverage Evaluation.
Current edition approved March 1, 2022. Published March 2022. Originally
only accessible to individuals of legal drinking age.
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as E1879 – 21. DOI:
10.1520/E1879-22. 5.4 Recommended Serving Volumes:
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.4.1 Alcohol is measured in units of standard drinks.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
However, the amount of alcohol in a standard drink differs
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. betweencountries,socautionshouldbetakenifsensorytesting
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E1879 − 22
3
is being conducted across different countries (1, 2). It is 5.4
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1879 − 21 E1879 − 22
Standard Guide for
1
Sensory Evaluation of Beverages Containing Alcohol
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1879; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide provides guidelines specific to the sensory and consumer evaluation of alcoholic beverages, including but not
limited to beer, wine, coolers, cocktails, ready to drinks, liqueurs, hard ciders, hard seltzers, and distilled spirits.
1.2 This guide covers assessor selection, sample preparation, serving protocols, and evaluation recommendations for specific
alcoholic products.
1.3 This guide addresses safety, regulatory, and legal concerns, but does not cover all legal rules for alcohol and sensory evaluation
around the world. It is the responsibility of the user to be aware of their current local laws and regulations, corporate policies and
procedures, and confirm they haven’t changed since publication.
1.4 This guide does not cover the evaluation of raw materials or specific test methods.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E253 Terminology Relating to Sensory Evaluation of Materials and Products
E1871 Guide for Serving Protocol for Sensory Evaluation of Foods and Beverages
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms relating to this standard, see Terminology E253.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E18 on Sensory Evaluation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E18.06 on Food and Beverage
Evaluation.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2021March 1, 2022. Published November 2021March 2022. Originally approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 20202021
as E1879 – 20.E1879 – 21. DOI: 10.1520/E1879-21.10.1520/E1879-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1879 − 22
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This guide outlines considerations for selecting assessors who will evaluate alcoholic beverages and recommends procedures
for the evaluation of specific alcoholic beverages.
4.2 This guide gives practical suggestions to maximize assessor safety and minimize the liabilities of the person or corporation
responsible for administering sensory evaluations of alcoholic beverages. beverages, while recording assessors’ responses to those
beverages using sound scientific principles.
4.3 This guide provides examples of informed consent forms for both Central Location Tests and Home Use Tests (see Appendix
X2 – Appendix X4).
5. Safety
5.1 Medical Condition—Potential assessors must be in good medical condition with no serious health problems. Inform them that
they should not participate on panels if they are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that are contraindicated when
combined with alcohol. It is recommended that women who are pregnant, may be pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or nursing
should not participate. Recruiting should be conducted in such a way to ensure that those not meeting these medical requirements
are excluded from participation.
5.2 A sufficient waiting period should be arranged before assessors are allowed to drive or operate heavy machinery after sampling
test product(s).
5.3 All products should be stored in a place where they are only accessible to individuals of legal drinking age.
5.4 Recommended Serving Volumes:
5.4.1 Alcohol is measured i
...