The art of pouring beer should be a basic skill of every bartender or beer lover. Although it may seem easy, bartenders spend many hours practicing to pour the perfect beer, especially as there is more than one way to do so. Read our article to find out the basics about working behind the bar.
The art of pouring beer should be a basic skill of every bartender or beer lover. Although it may seem easy, bartenders spend many hours practicing to pour the perfect beer, especially as there is more than one way to do so. Read our article to find out the basics about working behind the bar.
What should you know about pouring beer?
The method of pouring beer depends on several factors. The first is the type of drink. You should pour porter differently than lager or wheat beer. Another important aspect is what you intend to serve the drink in. Both of these issues are closely related, because many types of beer are served in dedicated mugs or glasses. For the purpose of this guide, we will focus mainly on the most popular type of beer in the world, i.e. a lager in a tall glass, also known as a pilsner glass.
Before you open the beer tap or the bottle, there are a few things you need to know. One of them is the right temperature of the beer. It varies depending on the type of drink, so it’s always worth checking what it should be. A slightly chilled beer tastes much better than too cold or too warm. The second thing is how you should hold the glass while pouring. A general rule is that the lower part is for the bartender and the upper part for the customer. Holding the glass at the bottom doesn’t make the contents heat up as fast, and is also more hygienic.
Pouring beer from the tap
Pouring beer from the tap is the most common method of serving beer in bars and pubs. Professional dispensers with several taps are usually used in such places, in order to serve a large number of customers at the same time.
You can also find smaller dispensers, ideal for private use at garden parties and much more. Most are designed to handle popular 5-litre kegs. Using this type requires having the right pressure, and home-use models are equipped with CO2 cartridges. This allows you to pour beer from the tap and also protects against oxidation. If you want to know how to attach a beer keg , read our article on the topic.
Let’s move on to how to pour the beer in order to achieve just the right amount of foam:
- Rinse the inside of the glass with cold water. This will not only clean the glass but also cool its surface, which will allow you to maintain the right temperature of the beer for longer. In addition the moistened glass walls will prevent excessive foaming.
- Place the glass under the tap at a 45° angle. Remember that the tap should not touch the walls of the glass. The sound of clinking glass during pouring is a sign for customers that they are being served by an inexperienced bartender.
- Pour the beer down the wall of the glass until you reach about 3/4 of the glass capacity. This ensures that only a minimal amount of foam will appear. Do not dip the tap in the drink, as this could cause beer residues to settle on the tap after use, which could then end up in the next beers you pour.
- When the glass is filled with the appropriate amount set it at an angle of 90° and pour the remaining beer from the top, slowly moving the glass away from the tap. This will allow you to obtain the perfect amount of foam.
This method is popular due to fact that it lets you quickly serve well-poured beers. Experienced bartenders will be able to pour a few beers in a couple of minutes, and each will have exactly the same amount of foam. Drinks poured in this way have a lot of gas, which, depending on the drinker, may be perceived as both a pro and a con.
Pouring beer from a bottle
Regardless of whether you are pouring beer for a customer or for yourself after a hard day’s work, you should know how to pour beer from a bottle properly. You definitely need to make sure the beer is of the right temperature. Unlike taps, which have a cooling function, you will need a beverage cooler for bottled beers. This will not only provide optimal conditions for storing the bottles, but also allow you to present the contents in an attractive way thanks to the glass door, which lets you display what’s inside. Every tasty, cool beer should be topped with a head of foam! With this 10 piece Beer Charger from Liss and a corresponding beer dispenser from Royal Catering, this can be achieved in no time at all.
The general rules for achieving the right amount of foam when pouring beer from a bottle are similar to the tap method. However, there are a few differences to bear in mind:
- Set the glass, previously rinsed in cold water, at an angle of 45° and pour the beer down the wall.
- After you reach 2/3 of the height of the glass, pour the rest of the beer from the top, as with the tap method.
While pouring, try not to let the bottle go inside the glass or touch the sides of the glass. With wheat beer, stir the rest of the beer in the bottle at the end of pouring in a circular motion in order to collect the yeast sediment from the bottom of the bottle.
Pouring beer Czech-style
Drinking beer in the Czech Republic is deeply rooted in their culture and tradition, so bartenders serve the drink with great care and respect. This lead to the introduction of several pouring methods that are unthinkable in other countries. One of them, the so-called Czech-style pouring method, is based on adding more drink to the same glass several times. How is it done?
- Rinse the glass with cold water.
- Pour the beer from the top at an angle of 90° until the glass is filled to the brim with foam.
- As the foam falls, gradually add the rest of the beer.
What are the pros and cons of this method compared to those previously described? A disadvantage is undoubtedly the long pouring time, which is why it is not a good idea if fast service is required. Other than that, this method has many advantages. First of all, the foam looks nicer, and is also thicker and creamier. It also lasts much longer, which is of great importance when it comes to keeping your beer fresh after being poured. This is because the foam inhibits the oxidation process that negatively affects the taste of the beer once in the glass. Another advantage is it helps to get rid of excess carbon dioxide, which reduces the risk of belching from too much air in the drink.
Another typically Czech method of pouring beer is “mliko”, the name of which is derived from the Czech word for milk. This drink primarily a consists of a thick and creamy foam that is poured to the brim of a mug. The longer it stands, the more foam turns into beer. Mliko is usually served as the last drink before leaving the pub or bar. Traditionally, beer should be drunk at one go.
Pouring beer from the bottom
Among novelties for beer lovers, the innovative method of pouring beer from the bottom is becoming increasingly popular. However, it requires the use of a special distributor and designated glasses. The advantage of pouring beer from the bottom is the short serving time and process automation. This allows the bartender to accept payments at the same time as refilling the glasses.
Since this is a fairly new method and requires appropriate equipment, the initial costs of introducing the bottom-pouring method could be quite high. It is therefore worth carefully considering the purchase of such a dispenser beforehand.
How to pour the perfect pint
Pouring beer, despite being a generally simple process, requires practice if you want to obtain the perfect amount of foam or to serve it quickly. It is easy to make mistakes that will reveal your lack of experience as a bartender. Touching the tap with the glass, or touching the glass with the bottle, or even dipping the bottle in the beer, are just to name a few. Setting the glass vertically too quickly in the traditional pouring method is another give-away sign.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll know what to pay attention to when serving customers behind the bar. Choose your favourite pouring method, master it to perfection and delight everyone with an ideally served foamy beer.
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