Does Super-Clean Glassware Affect Head Retention?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by NickSMpls, Sep 17, 2015.

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  1. NickSMpls

    NickSMpls Grand Pooh-Bah (3,176) Nov 11, 2012 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    When reviewing a number of beers, I've noticed other reviews saying, "Thick head with great rentention..." or words to that effect. But when I pour the same beer, the head quickly vanishes.

    My wife worked at a pizza place that served tap beer. The owner swore that hand washing glasses promoted a foamy head while extemely clean glassware from their commercial dishwasher would actually hinder things.

    We use tulips and Sam Adams Perfect Pints and some nonics and run them through a dishwasher that gets them sparkling clean. I guess doing some handwashing would be a good experiment.

    Any comments?
     
    #1 NickSMpls, Sep 17, 2015
  2. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Many detergents used in dishwashers can leave a residue that "kills" the head and retention. Hence the suggestion of hand washing with something other than dishwasher detergent.

    Similarly drying the glasses with many dishtowels can leave behind small particles of cloth that "kill" head retention. Hence the suggestion of air drying.
     
    #2 drtth, Sep 17, 2015
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  3. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    DO NOT put your glassware through a dishwasher. Not only it ruins it, it leaves nasty residue behind.
     
    #3 BMBCLT, Sep 17, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2015
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  4. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,191) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    How are you pouring :wink:

    I always hand wash..
     
    #4 Smakawhat, Sep 18, 2015
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  5. NickSMpls

    NickSMpls Grand Pooh-Bah (3,176) Nov 11, 2012 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    We pour down the side for the first third or so then into the glass with a bit of vigor. We know some
    beers like hefe's will have a higher head than, say, a pale ale and adjust accordingly. If the beer
    foams over the glass, not only is that bad form, licking it off the table is just a pain.:confused:
     
    #5 NickSMpls, Sep 19, 2015
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  6. NickSMpls

    NickSMpls Grand Pooh-Bah (3,176) Nov 11, 2012 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for the comments. We'll start with new glasses and start the handwash and report if the thread stays alive.
     
    #6 NickSMpls, Sep 19, 2015
  7. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    I know this is rarely possible in residential settings, but a quick blast of filtered water is a great way to prepare a glass for beer. Even the cleanest, hand-washed glassware can accumulate some dust and debris sitting around on a shelf. A nice clean rinse before pouring works wonders.
     
    #7 SCW, Sep 19, 2015
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  8. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Rinse with distilled water (for steam irons)?

    Inexpensive, available many drugstores and grocery stores.
     
    #8 drtth, Sep 19, 2015
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  9. NickSMpls

    NickSMpls Grand Pooh-Bah (3,176) Nov 11, 2012 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hmmm....we actually have a charcoal under- counter water filter so will give that a shot. I spent some time in the Netherlands in the '90s. When you ordered a Heinenken (there was no other choice of course), the barmaid would briefly invert the glass over a spout-like contraption which would shoot a blast of water into the glass when pressed down, draining immediately being upside down. She would then shake out the remaining water, fill it with beer and swipe away the now-generous head with a flat blade. The Dutch are a very practical people.
     
    #9 NickSMpls, Sep 19, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2015
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  10. SLewis

    SLewis Pundit (901) Jun 17, 2014 North Carolina

    nevermind
     
    #10 SLewis, Sep 19, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2015
  11. ssam

    ssam Pundit (997) Dec 2, 2008 California

    Nope
     
    #11 ssam, Sep 19, 2015
  12. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Formation, definitely, but not retention. If the beer is near freezing the CO2 will tend to stay dissolved and not break out to form a head. Retention has more to do with how the beer is made (proteins, water chemistry, etc.).
     
    #12 TongoRad, Sep 19, 2015
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  13. SLewis

    SLewis Pundit (901) Jun 17, 2014 North Carolina

    That's what I meant. Guess I was overthinking it.
    My fridge in college was super cold and couldn't be adjusted, could freeze milk, and a head never really formed on a beer until I had let the bottle warm up some.
     
    #13 SLewis, Sep 19, 2015
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  14. Monkeyknife

    Monkeyknife Grand Pooh-Bah (5,873) Jan 8, 2007 Missouri
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hand wash, hand wash, hand wash.
     
    #14 Monkeyknife, Sep 19, 2015
  15. pinyin

    pinyin Savant (1,119) Sep 19, 2013 New York

    sounds like a sanitizing/priming solution.

    i always handwash glassware with a gentle cleanser.

    before bottling homebrews, i run all the bottles through a 3 hour sanitization and heating cycle in the dishwasher with no soaps.

    never had a bottle bomb or infection, no need for starstan.

    most bars and restaurants in the US are required by local health departments to use a sanitization solution(acidic rinse) for all reuseable flatware and glassware.
     
    #15 pinyin, Sep 19, 2015
  16. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    ALL glasses in UK pubs are machine washed. This is a typical pint;
    [​IMG]
     
    #16 marquis, Sep 19, 2015
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  17. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Next time you use Oxi-Clean unscented do your glassware in it. Rinse extremely well. Your glasses will sparkle like never before.
     
    #17 cavedave, Sep 19, 2015
  18. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    I rinse my clean glass with cold running water from the tap before every pour.
     
    #18 fx20736, Sep 19, 2015
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  19. hophugger

    hophugger Grand Pooh-Bah (3,434) Mar 5, 2014 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah

    Def soap residue or anything in the glass or sides will affect head
     
    #19 hophugger, Sep 19, 2015
  20. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    I thought oils from the hands were a problem. Anyway I hand wash and I do use soap to remove the oils from my hands on the glass. Then I thoroughly rinse the glass then air dry. I don't put them thru a dishwasher, but I doubt it would cause a problem. Just my opinion, I watch how bars wash and rinse their glasses and if that's ok then what I do is certainly ok.
     
    #20 nc41, Sep 19, 2015
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