Pouring And Enjoying The Perfect Beer

Pouring and enjoying a perfectly poured beer is an art. This is definitely a part of the overall tasting experience when you have one at the local pub or party. You will always achieve praise when you pour that perfect beer, as if you were an artist that just painted a masterpiece. There are many theories to pouring the perfect tap, but there is only one real tried and true way used by professional beer pourers everywhere. I have learned this process over my bartending days and use it on a regular basis.

A perfect pint of beer starts with a just-rinsed, beer-clean glass. A beer-clean is a glass that doesn't contain, oils, dirt or residuals from a previous beer, for this may inhibit head creation and flavors to be truly appreciated. You don't necessarily need to use glass to do this, because keg parties are usually limited to plastic but try your best to use glass. Wax lined paper cups or Styrofoam cups should not be used. The inside surface of the container is usually coarse, or may have a residue from the manufacturing process that will conflict with the beer, resulting in excessive foaming. Now that you have found your perfect glass you will need to fill that glass with the golden and sometimes dark nectar of the grain gods.

To dispense the beer, hold the glass at a 45-degree angle about one inch below the beer faucet, known also as a tap. Place your hand low on the tap, near the faucet, and quickly snap the handle towards you with one motion, until it stops and the faucet is open and pouring beer. This is because Beer faucets are designed to be opened all the way every time. If you open a faucet only partway it makes the flow turbulent, supplying nucleation sites and making the beer fizz up. As the glass fills, straighten the glass to an upright position, and close the faucet by snapping it back to the closed position. Positioning a hand low on the tab knob just above the faucet, this is a technique that minimizes the distance your hand must travel to open or close the faucet. If you do this it allows you to open and close the faucet abruptly, which improves the excellence of the pour.

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