No head.

[d_banger]

I have made two batches now (tried the second tonight) and neither of them have had a good head on them. First batch was that munich one that comes with the kit. Second one was black rock dry lager but I used 1kg of the corn syrup/malt mix and I added 500g dextrose to make it a little more alcoholic. Both beers taste great. I have only used carb drops but will be attempting racking next batch.

[ptygmit]

Could be greasy residue (from dishwater), or detergent left in your glass. Clean your glass with hot water and get it nice and cold in the fridge. Might help.

[Throsby]

I agree - generally the problem is a detergent-based one. I've never had a problem with carbo drops - they always provide good head in my experience.

That said, I had a similar problem with a whole batch though when I had cut some corners on bottle-rinsing. I can only presume the cleaner-residue in the bottle affected the batch. Have always rinsed well since and no problems!

[rwh]

Do a search on head retention, there are about 100 threads on this.

[drsmurto]

As rhw said, search and you'll come up with many threads on this topic.

I always cringe when people blame detergents and washing glasses for lack of head on beers. This is the cause sometimes but i think more often than not the fault lies in the beers.

I always found that lagers (and the odd ale) made from kits that i added brew enhancers to suffered form a poor head. All malt helps overcome this as does the addition of crystal malts, carapils is used by AG brewers for this reason (and a little bit of body).

Never used carb drops but mates that did always have issues with inconsistent carbonation. Bulk prime with dex and this at least is solved and takes one of the variables out of the equation.

If you have ticked all these boxes look at how you clean your glasses. I put mine in the dishwasher, apparently a big no no, and have never had a issue. As long as you rinse well i dont see this as too much of an issue. Some people advocate special glasses. I dont.

My 2 c
DrSmurto

[Boonie]

I thought mine was the Detergent issue when I first started brewing.
Then my mate and I decided it was the bottling sugar, not enough we thought ...no bombs though, but a bit like Schweppes Beer, very effervescent.

Then I logged on here and went all malt. This was the answer......what a difference. We were using Plain sugar and the BE1 and BE2's , liquid sugar....etc. Shite beer and Shite head
Then I found racking and bulk priming. More consistent bubbles (Bulk Priming), clearer beer faster and dry hopping(racking).

I've never used carb drops either, but I have no heard great reports about them due to inconsistency.

Dextrose IMO is the best bottling sugar, whether bulk primed or spooned/measured in.

With the greasy glass theory, I have noticed that if I am eating greasy food and having a beer, the head disappears very quickly. I then simply get a new glass after eating and all is good.

So in summary.
Go All Malt
Dex for Bottling
Bulk Prime if possible (170-180g or less, per 23 Litre batch)
Rack, only if you want to, very debatable subject. Search for Racking and you will see what I mean

Cheers

Boonie

[rwh]

I put mine in the dishwasher, apparently a big no no, and have never had a issue.

Dishwasher detergents normally contain alkaline salts, which are exactly what you want to be using. They do contain some other things that may affect head, though they're going to be a million times better than hand dishwashing detergent.

[rwh]

I have noticed that if I am eating greasy food and having a beer, the head disappears very quickly.

I take it that you never attended finishing school then? One of the things they get you to do when drinking wine with a meal (and I'm suggesting you should do when drinking beer) is wipe your mouth on your napkin before taking each drink from your glass. It's to keep the food from getting onto the rim of your glass (which I guess looks less refined). Why am I even telling you this?

But yeah, getting another glass works too.

[bellboys backyard brew]

Have heard from a mate that worked at a pub that if ever some cocktail with milk was served in a beer glass, the glass would never get a head on beer properly again. Didn't matter how many times it was washed.
There's a few drinking glasses at my place that never get a head on them, I suspect they've had milk in them at some stage.
New crystal beer glasses solved that problem.

[drtom]

Just went to Cedar Catering Supplies (in Sydney Rd) today to look at beer glasses. They've got quite a nice range, but all in boxes of 24. They had nice 14oz pilsner glasses, but at nearly $11 each, I wasn't about to by 24 of them, nice though they were.

T.

[rwh]

How much was a box of cheap pint glasses? Might be just the thing for a housewarming present for a mate of mine with a kegging system...

[drtom]

I paid $2.50 each at Northern Catering Supplies. That's more than Cedar was charging (I forget exactly, but closer to $2), but Cedar only do boxes of 24, whereas at the place that I bought them they were happy to break open a box and just sell me half a dozen.

T.

[Kevnlis]

I picked up a heap of pots at the local Dimmeys. They were 3 for $2 and they are very good glasses! They give the beer a nice head and they are reasonably heavy glass.

[drsmurto]

Have heard from a mate that worked at a pub that if ever some cocktail with milk was served in a beer glass, the glass would never get a head on beer properly again. Didn't matter how many times it was washed.
There's a few drinking glasses at my place that never get a head on them, I suspect they've had milk in them at some stage.
New crystal beer glasses solved that problem.

Might be good if you could let us know the name of this place that cant/doesnt clean glasses properly. I certainly wont be going there......

That the biggest loads of bollocks i have heard in a long time. There is very little that cant be cleaned out of a beer glass (assuming you use it for drinking fluids and even then i reckon i could clean it properly).

Rant over.

[Boonie]

I have noticed that if I am eating greasy food and having a beer, the head disappears very quickly.

I take it that you never attended finishing school then? One of the things they get you to do when drinking wine with a meal (and I'm suggesting you should do when drinking beer) is wipe your mouth on your napkin before taking each drink from your glass. It's to keep the food from getting onto the rim of your glass (which I guess looks less refined). Why am I even telling you this?

But yeah, getting another glass works too.

What's a napkin

I actually do wipe my mouth rwh. Should I wipe the inside of my mouth too to ensure no Greasy Fish and Chips touch the beer .....or avoid all touching of the glass and pour it in ......

My mother would be shocked to hear you say that rwh . I was raised the old fashioned way, you know, Dinner at the table, no TV , excusing to leave the table, no scooping food, please and thankyou, wipe your mouth before drinking with a Cloth Napkin.

**The above paragraph was sponsored by Mrs Mum Boonie.

Cheers

Boonie

[rwh]

[gregb]

Sleeve ok?

Cheers,
Greg

[drsmurto]

Isnt that why table cloths are longer than necessary......

[gregb]

Sit near the window and use the curtains.

Cheers,
Greg

[bellboys backyard brew]

Might be good if you could let us know the name of this place that cant/doesnt clean glasses properly. I certainly wont be going there......

That the biggest loads of bollocks i have heard in a long time. There is very little that cant be cleaned out of a beer glass (assuming you use it for drinking fluids and even then i reckon i could clean it properly).

Rant over.

Apologies Doctor, I wasn't suggesting it was gospel, A friend who's worked in a pub pouring thousands of litres of beer told me, so I thought I'd put it out there to see what the consensus/science of it was. Not being a milk/beer scientist I can't really comment. (although apparently beer is more nutritious for you than milk) I'll pass your constructive comments in relation to bollocks on to him though.