Draft Beer Bubbles in a Glass Tell All
The next time you’re served a cold draft beer, study the glass and observe the bubbles before taking the first sip. The bubbles in a glass of beer will reveal many interesting things. Bubbles show attributes of the beer style being poured. The cleanliness of the glass will provide a good indication of the condition of the beer dispensing system.
The process starts when the tap is opened, and a glass is filled with beer. The sudden change in pressure from the dispensing system to the glass causes dissolved carbon dioxide to escape from the beer as the glass fills. Ideally, the result is a (1/2 inch to 1 inch) thick head of well-knitted bubbles, otherwise known as foam. Foam is essential to delivering the true flavor and boutique of the brew. Each type and style of beer has its own taste and aroma characteristics. Foam accentuates the aroma and enables the beer to taste as the brewer intended. The gas within the bubbles also insulates, thus keeping the beer in the glass colder longer.
The head on the beer should remain until the last drink is taken. Foam (bubbles) should cling to the glass sides with each drink; this is called lacing and is an indication that the beer glass has been cleaned properly. A creamy head on a beer suggests that the beer dispensing system is in balance and that the carbonation brewed into the beer is being maintained to the brewer's specification.
A head of foam on the top of a beer is ideal; however, bubbles forming on the sides or bottom of the beer glass and then rising to the top may indicate the glass is not “beer clean." Bubbles form at the sides and bottom of a glass, where residue or microscopic cracks serve as starting points for carbon dioxide molecules to gather. When the carbon dioxide at a collection site reaches critical volume, a bubble detaches from the glass and launches itself toward the beer's head. A clean beer glass should not have bubbles anywhere but in the head on top of the beer or lacing on the side of the beer glass.
An exception to this is laser etched glassware. Brewers are now marketing glasses where a logo or insignia is laser engraved into the glass's bottom. This forces bubbles to form around the etching, highlighting the Brewer’s logo. Eventually, the bubbles grow large enough to rise to the top of the glass, helping maintain the foam's head. This is done to enhance the beer drinking experience and to differentiate the beer brand.
Another interesting characteristic of beer bubbles was studied by a chemist, Richard Zare, the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor in Natural Science, who published a seminal paper on the "fizzics" of beer. Zare's beer science pointed out that beer bubbles got larger and rose faster as they floated to the top of a glass. The reason that bubbles expand and accelerate as they rise is that bubbles themselves act as collection sites. Each attracts more escaping carbon dioxide – or, as Zare puts it, "bubbles collect on bubbles."
The absence of bubbles usually indicates a dispensing system problem. The beer on tap may have lost carbonation and will taste flat. This results from the dispensing system not being set up properly or dispensing with the wrong gas. Beer bubbles provide many insights into the beer style and quality, glassware cleanliness, and dispensing system condition. When served the next pint, inspect and insist on properly performing bubbles in your beer.
Click here to visit the Micro Matic glassware cleaning supplies section, where you can find premium products specifically designed to clean beer glasses.
Raise a Glass to Draft Beer Sales!
For over 60 years, Micro Matic has been recognized as one of the world’s leading suppliers of draft beer equipment. Specializing in keg-to-glass technology, we offer a total solution for meeting your draft beer equipment needs. Our dedication to customer service is supported by four regional sales and distribution centers, the Micro Matic Dispense Institute for training and education, and a Certified Installer Network for draft beer installations. Want to speak with a “perfect pour” expert? Contact Micro Matic today.