Whats up with my drinking vessels?

[NickW]

Hi all,

Having real head issues I'm not getting any!

Even my wheat beer is struggling to maintains head after more than a minute in the glass. I've tried 3 different ones and all the same.

I mash with a portion of wheat to aid in head retention too.

But, I know my beer can retain a head because...

1. When I went to see pittsy, the head remained in one of his glasses right to the end.
2. There is a head in my bottle! When using third pint sized glasses, the beer left in the bottle retain's a head perfectly.

I keep telling SWMBO to not wash any beer glasses in washing up liquid but I'm sure she keeps forgetting. This is the only thing I think it can be... I have attempted to rewash the glasses with normal water but this doesn't seem to be helping...

:shock: :?

 

[iceo]

you could try Pocket beer pump (a syringe)

 

[bbslaw]

I've found using a nucleated glass helps as it causes the CO2 to rise up in streams from the bottom. You may have to 'borrow' a branded lager glass from the pub, but it'll be worth it and you could always scratch off any offensive logo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nucleatedglass.jpg

 

[NickW]

Cheers guys. I have a glass with an activator but still having issues. I would like a syringe but I feel I shouldn't need to use one.. if you see what I mean?

 

[Bowl sprayer]

Neck it quick, while it still has head on it!

I think you are right about clean glasses. The bloke in a micro brewery near me explained that even very small quantities of a detergent will affect/destroy head retention. Wash it/rinse it in water that you know has no detergent then dry it with a cloth that also has no detergent on it. Then leave it to dry completely. I have found that a recently rinsed/dried glass affects the head (but that may just be me being a dipstick somehow).

 

[SpamNMash]

Hmm, I've been washing my pints glasses normally (i.e. in the dishwasher with detergent etc.) for years and have never noticed a problem.

I understand the logic behind the assertion: for bubbles to be produced, the dissolved CO2 must have a "nucleation site" i.e. a rough patch on which a bubble can form. Normal imperfections in a glass are usually fine for this, although this can be enhanced deliberately with something like the nucleated glass bbslaw posted. A coating of detergent would make the interior of the glass very smooth, and seriously inhibit bubble formation.

HOWEVER any normal person/dishwasher rinses their dishes after washing to remove left over detergent, so this shouldn't be a problem.

I'm not convinced on that one.

 

[NickW]

I think I'll have to do an experiment tonight on the beer then. One just washed using washing up liquid, one new glass straight out the box. And one thats had a thorough clean with near boiling water. I'll will report back after I drink beer in the name of science :drink:

 

[Edindie]

Do these glasses have the same problem with commercial beers?

 

[NickW]

I'm unsure...! I will check. Very good point

 

[morethanworts]

I think I'll have to do an experiment tonight on the beer then. One just washed using washing up liquid, one new glass straight out the box. And one thats had a thorough clean with near boiling water. I'll will report back after I drink beer in the name of science :drink:

That would make a nice experiment on here. Post us some pics!

 

[pittsy]

The beer you're drinking Nick is it AG and is any of them brewed not using bottled water ? I'm thinking it'll be your brewing water , i still have a bottle of your wheat which in the interest of science i shall open now

 

[pittsy]

freshly poured it has a head worthy of a decent ale , a little low for a wheat but still over half an inch (15 mm) , had a sip and now after 3 mins still has a 4 mm head on it . I think you could improve but it's mainly your glasses

 

[nobyipa]

Maybe not big enough

 

[NickW]

freshly poured it has a head worthy of a decent ale , a little low for a wheat but still over half an inch (15 mm) , had a sip and now after 3 mins still has a 4 mm head on it . I think you could improve but it's mainly your glasses

Did it hold on til the end?

 

[pittsy]

it's still got a 3 to 4 mm head on it yep

 

[NickW]

Poured three glasses..

One minute later after 1 sip of each

The other twos head had disappeared completely after that.

Just at the end of the fresh unused glass...

We have a clear winner....

But where do I go from here? Use a new glass for every beer I drink? :lol:

 

[chrig]

I'm afraid you are going to have to try another one which is rinsed in cold water then left to dry... and another with cold water then dried with a clean paper towel or something.

I have the same issue with my glasses, I've not worked out what works best yet.. Must drink more

 

[morethanworts]

And one rinsed in Tesco Ashbeck water, to isolate your rinsing water. You could go on a while here! Nice experiment pics :thumb:

 

[NickW]

So you're telling me I'm going to have to drink MORE beer? :sulk:

 

[Cononthebarber]

When I wash glasses I wash them as I would the rest of my dishes with washing up liquid but then always give them a thorough rinse out with cold water, they then get left on the draining board upside down to dry naturally. I have never had an problem with getting head (snigger snigger :lol:)!