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My wife and I are new at brewing (only up to brew 18 ) in Queensland, using mainly Coopers Kits. My problem is poor head retention. The beers we're making (both in kegs and bottles) have good carbonization, excellent head on pouring (from both tap and bottle), but loose their head quickly. Still great drinking. We have clean glasses so it's not that, a neighbor has suggested adding salt. Any advice?

http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... +retention
http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... +retention
http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... +retention

i did an experiment last night.. washed one glass with clean hot water, and one with water and detergent. difference was phenomenal, a minute after pouring there was NO head left on the detergent'd glass, and still 1.5 inches of head on the other glass. this was a home-brewed dark ale with 1kg dark DME.

What are you using for brewing sugar

if you are using the coopers brewing sugar you may not get a good head

I suggest you use brew enhancer 1 or 2 to make your beer

Carbonization! Sounds dangerous! I'll stick with good 'ol carbonation thanks

My first brew which i am enjoying now was the one out of the coopers box and made with the brewing sugar. Bugger all head at first, but have had some in the fridge for a few days now and surprise it has a fantastic head!! Not sure wether the fridging helped it or not as i was under the impression it was impossible to get a good head with the sugar that came with the kit.

I've been shot down for this but I still stand by the use of Dextrose when priming as a great means of head retention.

Sure, your main head will eventually go, but your still left with that fine white foam around the edges and spread across the top sporadically.

Plus, the use of specialty grains doesn't go astray.

Plus everything else everyone else has mentioned.

Gday,
As stated, glasses have a lot to do with head retention, on both home brew and commercial. I use a bucket of hot sanitizer, when I've finished one I throw it in and grab another out of the freezer. If you have enough beer glasses you can rotate if your having a session .

Cheers
Tadge

Um, doesn't body of the brew basically = head retention?

as in anything partially non-fermentable put into your brew improves the head

There are a lot of variables. I've noticed that yeasts play a role as do the kits. But as a rule I ussually add 1 cup dex. to the whole batch and I've mostly had no probs. Some take longer than others but hey. Last one I added some Crystal Malt and it made a big diff.