How to Clean a Beer Glass

Beer experts will all agree that there is a big difference between a "clean" glass and a "beer clean" glass. The smallest amount of oil or soap residue can dramatically effect the quality of a beer. An unclean glass restricts the amount of foam a beer will produce, which ultimately diminishes the taste of the beer. Beer glasses should not be cleaned with commercial dish washing detergents because many of them are petroleum based and leave a thin film that cannot simply be rinsed off. Taking the time to properly clean a beer glass will improve your beer drinking experience.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Salt
• Small bowl
• Water
• Bottle brush
• Dish rack

Instructions

1. Mix 2-tsp of baking soda, 1/2-tsp of salt and 4-tsp of water in a bowl to make a paste. The texture should be a little thinner than the consistency of toothpaste. Add more baking soda to make it thicker or more water to make it thinner.

2. Coat the inside of the glass with the paste. If you cannot do it with your hands, try using a small spatula.

3. Scrub the glass with a bottle brush to remove any oils or beer residue. The firm bristles of the brush and the coarseness of the salt will remove anything sticking to the sides.

4. Rinse the glass with cool, filtered water. Make sure all of the paste is out of the glass. Tap water, especially hard water, can leave a thin film or mineral deposits on the glass.

5. Put the glass upside-down in a dish rack and let air dry. A warm room with circulation will reduce the chance of the water drying too slowly and leaving water spots.

Tips & Warnings

• Shake salt along the inside of a damp glass to tell if it is clean. If the salt sticks to the sides, then the glass is clean.

• Do not use a towel to dry the glass. Towels are likely to leave debris on the glass.

References

• Cleaning a Beer Glass
• How to Tell if a Glass is Beer Clean