Head retention

Lack of head retention could mean a dirty glass or soap scum inside glass. Some adjucts and flavor additives, like chocolate or coconut, can make head retention difficult to achieve. And agree with @Sweatshirt, many styles aren't made to be judged by head or retention.

 

I always mention head retention, and lacing, as key in Appearance. However, Taste and Mouthfeel are my deciding factor, not Appearance or Aroma. There are some nearly-flat, no-head beers like HopDoom I rated quite good overall. I may be alone in this, but I like my beer very cold, which definitely reduces head. I also pour my beer knowing its head capacity, and will change from edge-pouring to the final center-dump sooner if I know a beer has less head -- and conversely later for heady beers -- in an effort to handicap beers by headiness, and make sure I always get that pleasant dollop of foam on the tip of my nose in the first swig (always using the same 16-oz tulip glass for everything). In any discussion of head, pour is not just something, it's everything. Though Stella's ad agency certainly finds it quite correct for head to flow over the top, I somehow feel my pour failed if I go to center-dump mode too soon and a teaspoon of precious brew ends on my countertop. I don't plan to buy a beer foam scraper anytime soon. Another note: fresher beer has more head, less-fresh beer has less head, so I take that into account.

 

Sure. It just stands there. Does nothing and lasts a fantastically long time. It's made to do that. I actually admire how ST put this beer together to accommodate the stadium experience and the beer drinker. It never falls leaving you plenty of time to get back to your seat and still have a head on your beer. It's soapy and oily looking from the oats.



It's not the best light or photo but see how it looks dirty form all the malts. Not really white or a smooth cream color and my impression is that there are darker flecks in it although I am sure many people would say they do not notice it.

 

If the style is known for having good head retention and is poured into the proper glassware to accentuate it then I'll factor it into my review, but if not then I may mention it but it won't factor into the score. A saison or Tripel should indeed have a towering pillar of mousse that never really recedes, but I don't expect a 9% DIPA or a BBA stout or a wild ale to look the same way and to me its not fair to expect that since the beer just isn't designed that way.

 

High quality malt will not be the best for head retention , the advice I've often seen when using it is to add some wheat flour to the grist to assist retention.
In these parts we don't regard a large head as a sign of quality and a very large head is little more than a nuisance. Having measured pints of course means a large head short changes you.Though a top up is normal where the head is too big.
Not having the benefit iof gas , our cask ales have to rely on skill. But even a cask session ale can give quite good head retention;


Having said that, the best pint of Bass I've ever had came from a gravity pour , it was as still as a mountain lake yet seemed to have put on weight

 

Oh yeah, they really do have that down pat. The latest Narwhal I had looked like it had a chocolate milkshake sitting on top of it.

 

When I review, I comment on 3 head characteristics - volume, retention and lacing. When I assign the appearance score, those characteristics contribute about 60% of the weight.

 

yeah, I think lacing is an important aspect for me

 

Retention & lacing are huge factors for me. The most impressive that I've seen recently belonged to Kindest Find from Smuttynose.

 

I always mention the head in my reviews.

 

I always enjoy some good head with my beer....


But seriously, dependent on the style as others have said and if unusual for the style or it is vastly different from others in the style I factor it in. clean glassware is a must, soap residue can drastically affect head and retention.

 

I am not really sure of the science behind it but I have found that any beer poured into a teku has better head retention. I have tried pouring the same beer into several different glasses with the same beer a bunch of times and the teku always wins.

 

Finally get to try their stuff on my trip to Florida this winter, and all those CC brews, too. I'm gonna one broke s.o.b. by the time that trip is over.

 

I always mention head in my reviews but seriously my least favorite part of the drink. However I do feel as though it is the barometer of the beer itself from a freshness stand point. Otherwise, when you're done looking pretty I need to drink the hell out of you & keep the line moving.

 

I almost always remark on head retention and lacing as I think that's an important thing to have right for the style. That said, the "Appearance" score is weighted at a mere 6%, according to the explanation in the Help section.

 

I am not impressed with head retention because sometimes I think the head can get in the way of drinking the beer. I have had some Belgian Strong Pale Ales with huge heads that keep me from enjoying the beer. However, a nice creamy, frothy head does look appealing but I'm looking forward to tasting beer not looking at it. I would put lacing in front of head retention.

 

Sierra Nevada and most Belgians and Belgian styles are kings of head retention. Germans, too.

 

I had Ommegang Hop House head retention down to the bottom of glass as mentioned in my review. As i mention HR in all of my reviews

 

This head lasted a while. Got sloppy with the pour, but man, it was nice.

 

I read your review. I am glad you enjoyed it. Hop House is a nice beer. You will not be disappointed with something like Abbey Ale, Hennepin, or Three Philosopher's. Or Rare Vos.