weak head

[goodly dudscrew]

I have just done a kit brown ale, the taste is very good indeed, it has just a we bit of home brew twang, wile it is very lively gas wise, to the extent that its a problem pouring it, it wont keep the head for very long at all.

A friend of mine had a few pints with me the other night, and wile he did enjoy the drink, and he agreed it tasted like a good brown ale, Gas wise it reminded him of drinking fissy pop, could anyone tell me what caused that to happen and how i can stop it happening next time, thanks.

 

[jonewer]

Is it in a keg or bottled?
How much priming sugar did you use?

If its in a keg, its normal for it to be rowdy at the start as the pressure will be very high.

 

[goodly dudscrew]

Sorry i should have said it was in 2ltre pop bottles or PET bottles may be more accurate.

It was very lively indeed, but it was a thin foamy head, instead of a good thick creamy head that lasts to the bottom of the pint. I cant remember how much sugar i put in the bottles now, but it was per the instructions on the tin.

The taste was that good by the way, he has decided to start brewing his own, which means mine will last longer in future. :grin:

Of course i have told him about this about this brilliant forum and he will be joining shortly.
The kit by the way was a Muntons Nut Brown Ale – 1.8 kg tin and we both thought it was pretty close to being as good as a Newcy Brown and a lot bloody well cheaper.

Just out of interest the landlord at the local pub was going to charge 3.50 per bottle of Newcy Brown to take out just a couple of weeks ago, but no one would pay it, we all did with out. Its home brew for after hours at home in future.
:

 

[leondz]

Just out of interest the landlord at the local pub was going to charge 3.50 per bottle of Newcy Brown to take out just a couple of weeks ago, but no one would pay it, we all did with out. Its home brew for after hours at home in future.

Best of luck to you! :

 

[goodly dudscrew]

Any ideas about the weak head anyone?

A beer that tastes this good deserves a really good creamy long lasting head,and i aint got one, i hope i can get some advise before i try knocking up another brew, and this one is going pretty quickly.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jamesb]

Ok, I'll bite.

I've never had good head from a kit. You're never going to get the type of head that you get in a pub from a kit. If you really want, you can use heading liquid, or gas up the bu**er with nitrogen.

Or go all grain

 

[goodly dudscrew]

Thanks James, sorry to be so late in replying.

 

[Moley]

Ok, I'll bite. I've never had good head from a kit. You're never going to get the type of head that you get in a pub from a kit.

Sorry James, I have to disagree.

I've brewed EDME Bitter and Stout from kits and they have both kept good heads (after a proper period of maturation).

Goodly, how old is your brown ale?

However, I have brewed a Cooper's Dark to 5% abv and another of the same to 6% abv.

The 5% one holds almost a Guinness type head (lots of tiny bubbles) to the end of the pint, but the 6% one (which was fed with extra sugar) has a Cola type fizz and the head is gone.

All of the above are now 3-4 months old.

I have gone AG now, so the question should be largely irrelevant, but I'm still curious to know why.

 

[The Seer]

I was told a Guiness Suger does wonders for our homebrewed beers? :wha:

 

[ano]

I was told a Guiness Suger does wonders for our homebrewed beers? :wha:

What's that exactly?

 

[The Seer]

I was told a Guiness Suger does wonders for our homebrewed beers? :wha:

What's that exactly?

It's one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUINNESS-SURGER-K ... 286.c0.m14

I was told by the two chaps at The Homebrew Shop in Clacton-on-Sea. They couldn't praise it enough. I haven't got one yet since I'm aware of what price they should go for.

The metal base when switched on via 240v supply will send a soundwave up through the filled pint glass giving an excellent head. :shock:

 

[ano]

I see.

 

[Aleman]

A slightly cheaper alternative is a 5ml syringe . . . half fill it with air then suck up 2.5 ml of beer . . . Then inject beer back into glass with some force . . . It will (If the beer is carbonated) create a nice head.

How long the head remains for depends on the conditions at mashing . . . if too much beta glucans have been stripped out then it is likely that the head will be poorly lasting. . . Grease/oils also destroys head, as does detergent and higher levels of alcohol.

FWIW I too have suffered poor head from kits where you add sugar, but all malt kits have proved fine . . . indeed as does using malt extract instead of sugar.

 

[The Seer]

A slightly cheaper alternative is a 5ml syringe . . . half fill it with air then suck up 2.5 ml of beer . . . Then inject beer back into glass with some force . . . It will (If the beer is carbonated) create a nice head.

How long the head remains for depends on the conditions at mashing . . . if too much beta glucans have been stripped out then it is likely that the head will be poorly lasting. . . Grease/oils also destroys head, as does detergent and higher levels of alcohol.

FWIW I too have suffered poor head from kits where you add sugar, but all malt kits have proved fine . . . indeed as does using malt extract instead of sugar.

Agreed, I too have suffered poor head retention with most kits. But the malty the wort the better the head.

Still think the Guiness Surger may be the way forward and much more sophisticated than a plastic syringe.

 

[ano]

Still think the Guiness Surger may be the way forward and much more sophisticated than a plastic syringe.

I think the way forward is to brew better beer rather than spend money on ridiculous gimmickry.

 

[goodly dudscrew]

quick rethink its more trouble than its worth, i must learn to read things through before i open my big mouth.


http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/1442/ ... evice-pint