Glassware Care

Soap residue can kill the head pretty fast. I use soap most of the time but rinse it 10x's over with really hot water with the sprayer setting on our faucet to make sure I get it all out. If it's on a homebrewing day, I rinse my dirty beer glasses and soak them in my sanitizing solution instead and let them air dry.

 

Normal dish soap and a thorough rinse should be fine. The real thing is pouring right, if you poor aggressively pretty much any beer should get a good head. The style matters, too, and obviously so does the carbonation.

 

Some people suggest no soap or detergents what so ever. Either way, the hotter the water, the less residuals you will leave behind. Hand wash all your glasses. If you do choose the dishwasher, be sure to rinse the shit out of that in the hottest water you can. Air dry upside down in a rack of you can.

Also, don't be afraid of pouring your beer with some vigor! Either a faster pour or add some distance.

Official Bro's Video

 

I have to agree with stupac2 on this one. I run a lot of my glasses through the dishwasher and wash my more fragile glasses by hand with dish soap. Almost all of my beers have solid head retention except those with poorer carbonation. Something you might want to try when pouring a beer is pour 3/4 of it into the glass, then spin or stir the remainder of the bottle until some foam is produced then pour it vigorously into the glass, this always works for me in producing a foamy head.

 

You can pour about 1/3 of the beer quantity slow, and then pour the rest hard. Some people do half and half. Some people always pour hard, because you're getting more of the aromatics. Just experiment.

I hand wash most of my beer glasses, and use very little soap, unless I've left them overnight or something. Seems to work well.

 

I usually pour to 1/2 full then tilt; I usually pour pretty aggressive too. Over time you will generally know which beers and styles need to be poured which way.

 

+1 to that.

 

I never knew this was a thing. I blast hot water into the glass plus a couple of drops of Dawn (or whatever) and clean it with the kitchen sponge. Set on rack to dry or dry with a paper towel (if I'm ready for another beer).

Pour-wise, since it came up here as an adjunct topic: I like to pour aggressively. I wanna see what kinda head I get. As it settles (when applicable), I pour in more over time until the bottle is empty or the glass is filled with beer (as opposed to foam) to my satisfaction.
I have read that the aggressive pour and additional pours as the head settles has beneficial outcomes: creamier/smoother beer (b/c the gas is forced out?), more aromatic (as stated in this thread), and, because you have to wait, the beer has time to warm slightly (which makes beer taste better).

 

I will stay out of the soap or not to soap argument here but offer up a couple helpful hints.

White Vinegar is great to cleaning an mineral deposits from hard water, leaves your glass brilliantly clear.

Use coffee filters to dry glassware. Nonabrasive and will not attract lint and other various particles like fabric towels.

 

+1 to this! Was at a restaurant when there was a girl cleaning windows with windex and coffee filters..I was like what the hell is she doing. I remembered when I walked straight into that clear glass door.

 

If you are really concerned you can buy a sanitizing agent callled b-brite which is sold on websites where you buy homebrewing supplies. This is a powder and you can clean your glasses this way without using soaps. Best of luck to you, and welcome to the craft beer world.

 

Also, if you are looking for better head formation, serving temp can play a big part in this. The warmer the beer, the larger the head.

 

That's what she said!

 

Yeah. The beer isn't a fragile little butterfly. Let that shit flow like a cascading waterfall. Pair that with your normal pouring technique and enjoy

 

Agreed. Start Aggressive and If that's too much(and you'll know it) you can always back off.

 

I use Cascade and wash ALL of my beer glasses in the dishwasher and I never have any problems with head retention, lacing, or whatnot. I've never had an issue, so I mush be pouring good.