Ever wonder what the big deal is with drinking beer from a glass? While most nights, adding another glass to the dirty dish pile might make you opt to skip any extra frills, we promise that drinking beer from a glass is well worth the extra effort. With a few pouring pointers, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying your favorite beer at its best. Beyond the obvious perk of making you look like a pro, perfecting your pouring skills means getting more out of every beer you drink. More flavor, more aroma, more of that beautiful color. Here’s what you need to know to:
1. Use a Clean Glass
We can’t stress this one enough. Glasses that have dust or greasy residue in them can mess with the proper formation of head and ultimately the flavor and aromas that impact your enjoyment. Once you’ve picked out your glass, give it a quick rinse with cool water to reduce friction when you pour and obtain a more fragrant head.
2. Check Bottom of Bottle for Sediment
Avoiding extra sediment that may have settled at the bottom of a bottle or can is yet another great reason to enjoy your beer in a glass. Don’t risk getting to the end of your perfect pour and having a glob of something land in your glass.
3. Pour at a 45-Degree Angle
Now on to the main event! For the first half of your pour, hold the glass at a 45-degree angle as you slowly pour your beer. Aim for the middle of the side of the glass. At this point you’ll really start to get to know your beer – its smell, color, and thickness can all give you a sense of the treat you’re in for!
4. Turn the Glass Upright
Once your glass is roughly halfway filled, turn it upright and continue to pour into the center of beer already in the glass. Turning the glass before you hit the halfway mark will result in too much foam and can also deplete the beer’s carbonation, causing it to go flat faster.
5. Aim for 1 to 2 Inches of Head
The head on a beer is essential for releasing each brew’s unique aromas and adding to how you experience its overall flavor. That being said, you certainly don’t want a glass filled with 100% head. The ideal range for head on most beers is about 1 inch. If you’re drinking a wheat or a Trappist, aim for 2 inches because of the higher carbonation level.
Enjoy!