How to a pour a pint
How to pour a perfect pint
Pouring the perfect pint with is considered to be a perfect equilibrium of both maths and magic. Chemistry and art. However you look at it, it is a combination of personal flair and scientific know-how. The challenge lies in the pouring technique, pour wrongly and the glass will fill up with an unappealing layer of foam. Pour your beer without any foam and you risk jeopardising the beer. It's an art form that needs practice, as painstaking measures have been taken to craft your beer, you don’t want ruin it!
Pouring a pint in 4 easy steps
When using a beer pump machine or home draught system, four things matter most:
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Temperature
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Glassware
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Angle
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Pour technique
Different beers behave differently, so always allow for small variations, but these steps are a reliable perfect pint guide, especially for lager.
How to pour a pint of lager
You can use these steps as a guideline for any beer but they are specifically designed for tapping lager.
Temperature matters
Before doing anything, we need to ensure the beer is at optimum beer serving temperature. This is of course, dependent on the beer*. Ideally, beer should be cooled to 2ºC, so that when it touches your lips it's between 4ºC - 6ºC.
Use a clean beer glass
A perfect pint starts with a beer-clean glass. Any grease, detergent residue or dust particles can cause CO₂ to escape too quickly, resulting in excessive foam and flat beer.
Best practice:
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Rinse the glass with cold water before pouring
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Avoid detergents and dishwashers
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Hand wash with lukewarm water only
Rinsing the glass reduces friction and helps form a smooth, even head.
In order to enjoy a beer to its full potential, it’s important to drink the beer from the right glass. Read our detailed article on beer glasses.
Get the angle right
Tilt the clean glass at a 45° degree angle, keeping the glass close to the tap.
Remain in this tilted position and pull the tap handle down. You want the beer to pour onto the inside surface. Make sure the tap never actually touches the glass and do not let it become immersed in the beer. This is very important for hygiene and taste reasons.
Master the pour
When the glass is nearly full, gradually tilt the glass to an upright position and aim to pour in the centre. This will help with getting the correct level of foam.
The perfect head is widely considered to be 2cm, or two fingers of foam. Although, this is hotly contested, especially in the UK!
If you have a Belgian beer or German beer you must take extra care. If you straighten the glass prematurely the foam will flow over the sides. Tilt the glass upright only when the glass is almost entirely full.
Skim the head of your beer with a wet skimmer, removing any broken foam and harsh bitterness. This will help to seal the head and keep the aromas of the beer.
Pouring beer at home with BLADE & BeerTender
If you’re using a BLADE or BeerTender system, these same beer pouring steps apply. The difference is consistency. Home draught machines regulate pressure and temperature for you, making it easier to pour a pub-quality pint every time.
With the right glass, correct angle and a steady pour, you can enjoy bar-standard beer without leaving the house.