Craft Beer Blog

How to Pour the Perfect Beer in 3 Simple Steps [With Video]

Posted by Sarah Bedrick on Apr 18, 2012 9:02:00 AM
Find me on:

Pouring the perfect beer is considered an art. And, rightfully so because it takes passion,how to pour the perfect beer
understanding and knowledge of how to do it as well as persistence. And fortunately, the secrets to pouring the perfect pint are only three steps away.

However, before we give you the details on how to pour the perfect beer, it is important to note that there are many different styles of beer and many of them have a specific way to pour, this article details how to get the perfect pour for a pint of beer.

 

 

 

1. Start with a clean glass:

This cannot be stressed enough. A clean glass will ensure that there is nothing to contaminate the beer - and will produce the brewers intended flavors. And plus, a dirty glass just gross. 

2. Hold the beer glass at a 45-degree angle. 

Hold the beer at this angle, and target the middle of the glass edge as you pour. This allows the ideal amount of oxygen to reach the beer oxidizing it perfectly. Also, we find that many people are afraid to pour too quickly into the glass, but don't worry about this. It is good to have oxygen and foam (or head) on the beer. 

Depending on the type of beer (like Stella), some brewers actually recommend sacrificing a little beer before pouring it into the class making sure the first beer into the glass comes from the tap, rather than hanging out in the 

3. When you've poured about half, turn the class upright.

After the glass it upright, begin pouring directly down the middle of the glass. This will allow the foam head to build. The beer's natural aromas and flavors are released when there is a foam. Additionally, many believe it adds to the aesthetic appeal of the beer. The perfectly poured beer will have a head that is about 2 fingers width. 

A side-note on foam: If the foam has larger bubbles and dissipate quickly, it can be a sign that the glass it not completely clean. Or, if the foam is thick, it can indicate that the gas pressure is too high and the beer is over-carbonated. 

Final note:

Depending on the type of beer, many conditioned beers will have a significant amount of yeast in the beer bottle. If this is the case, keep an eye out as you pour because many prefer to keep it as clean as possible. Although, if you enjoy the nutrients and vitamins found in the yeast and prefer to keep it in your beer, that's fine too - as many brewers actually prefer you do this as it will highlight the flavors. 

  free-beer-guide

Topics: beer, how to