How to pour the perfect pint

POURING the perfect pint is part science and part art. Components such as foam and the type of glassware used, both impact the final taste of the beer in your glass said Anton Erasmus, Trade Brewer at SAB.

“A slightly roughened surface at the base of a glass allows for the carbon dioxide-filled bubbles to form at a faster rate, which makes more foam and helps the head last longer,” he said.

According to Erasmus, knowing which glass to use stems from a knowledge of what beer is made up of.

“Beer is naturally carbonated which means that there are minuscule bubbles of carbon dioxide that form during the fermentation process. Once the beer is formed, this gas is released and forms bubbles, which in turn help form the foam, or the head of your beer. If poured correctly, this foam plays a vital role in the taste of your beer. It is made up of millions of tiny bubbles filled with the scent of your beer which are delivered straight to your nose the second your lips touch the glass. This makes your beer taste even better,” Erasmus said.

A step-by-step guide to pouring the perfect beer:

1. Hold the glass at a 45-degree angle, about 2.5cm below the bottle or can.
2. Let the beer flow down the side of the glass until it is half full.
3. Gently tilt the glass upright and pour down the centre to create about a 2.5cm head of foam on the top. If you have more foam than expected, let the beer rest until the head calms down and then resume pouring.
4. Once the foam is in place, stop pouring, sit back and enjoy.

Beer has laid claim to its place in the world of gastronomy and is being appreciated as more than just an enjoyable thirst-quenching beverage.

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