How to Pour a Pint of Beer

A certain amount of finesse is needed to achieve a decent head on a beer.

Whether it's a light and crisp lager, or a heady and complex ale, a properly poured pint of beer gives great satisfaction to the drinker. A certain amount of finesse is needed to achieve a decent amount of head or foam that creates a frothy top of the cold beverage. Once learned, friends and family will be asking you to pour their beers so that they too, can get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of their pint.

Instructions

1. Tilt a clean, dry, room-temperature pint glass at a 45-degree angle in one hand.

2. Hold the beer bottle or tap handle in the other. Pour the beer in the center of the angled side of the pint glass. When the glass is half full, tilt it right-side up at a 90-degree angle and continue pouring in the center of the glass.

3. Increase the distance between the bottle or spigot from the glass to create more foam at the top of the beer. Ideally you want 1 to 1 1/2 inches of foam on top of the beer. Decrease the distance if the head gets larger than 1 1/2 inches.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use a chilled beer glass as this can reduce the flavor and head of the beer.

References

• Draft: How to Pour the Perfect Pint
• Slash Food; "How to Pour the Perfect Pint" Nicole Weston; 2006
• Beer Advocate: How to Pour Beer