STEPS TO A PERFECT PINT
HOW TO POUR THE PERFECT PINT.
Pouring beer is an art, and definitely part of the overall tasting experience. We always suggest that you drink a beer out of a glass, and recommend that you read Glassware for Beer. It’s a great primer to understanding why, and a guide to pairing a beer to its appropriate glass.
The following demonstrates the most common pouring technique which can be applied to most beers and glassware types. You’ll also find that most bartenders pour draught beer as follows too.
STEPS TO A PERFECT PINT
1). Start with a clean glass. Using clean glasses may seem like a no-brainer. However, busy nights can wear down even the experienced bartender, and leftover residue can leave an off-taste and ruin the beer drinker’s experience. Then there’s the other culprit – the low-temperature dishwasher. Glassware washed in a low-temp machine is sanitised with chemicals rather than high heat. This type of sanitisation process does not always remove grease or fingerprints. What’s more, it can leave chlorine deposits on the glass that will kill the beer’s foamy head. The take-home message here is to make sure your bar glassware is always rinsed completely clean, and use a high-temp dishwasher if you use one at all.
2). Hold the glass at an angle. When pouring a beer, either from the tap or from a bottle or can, hold the glass at an angle – experts suggest about a 45-degree angle. Open the tap quickly and fully, allowing the beer to flow freely. The beer should hit the middle of the glass, allowing the beer to slide down to the bottom. This prevents too much head from developing too quickly. Once you get about half to 2/3 of the way full of beer, straighten the glass out and hold it upright.
3). Look for the right amount of foam. A little head on a beer is a good thing. It can help the beer drinker notice the flavors and aromas as he or she takes the first sip. You should aim for about a half-inch of head in a pint glass. By adding distance between the tap and the glass, you can help create more of a foamy head.