Pie's First AG Brew 20 Aug 2006

[eskimobob]

Nice looking head - does it remain?

[PieOPah]

Nope. Gone after a couple of minutes

Great for topping up the pint, bad for the image though. I have never been able to pour a pint where the head lasts more than a couple of minutes and nobody has been able to tell me what I need to do (dispensing from Budget Barrel and bottles!)

[eskimobob]

I've been trying to figure this out too. According to Graham Wheeler, flaked barley aids head formation and retention however I used 1kg of it in my stout and the head still dissipated too early

I really want a pint like Guinness where the head stays all the way down the glass

[jasonaustin]

The only way you are going to get a good artificial Guinness-like head is by carbonating/dispensing with mixed gas and then dispensing through a good quality creamer disc. Nitrogen creates much smaller bubbles when it come out of solution so you get the tighter, creamier head that lasts much longer.

[eskimobob]

I see, I have a Guinness tap with integral creamer disk and this gives a really nice head on the pint however it doesn't stay to the end of the pint. Perhaps as you say I would need mixed gas for that whereas now I use only CO2.

[PieOPah]

I'm not really looking for a guiness like head, just a head that will stay most of the way through the beer. So far I have had no joy doing this.

I have only tried Oats and/or Carapils are supposed to be good for head retention, but neither have helped. Both have helped with head formation as these are now brilliant for the minutes that they last!

[Horden Hillbilly]

QUOTE I have never been able to pour a pint where the head lasts more than a couple of minutes and nobody has been able to tell me what I need to do

Do you wash your glass out with washing up liquid? I was told at a home brew shop many years ago that any remaining traces of detergent on glass is almost guaranteed to destroy a head. If I use washing up liquid on my glass/tankard I always give it a thorough rinse with cold water afterwards, also when I sterilise my fv I put my glass/tankard in to clean them.

[jasonaustin]

Haven't tried it myself, but I hear that one of the best ingredients for head retention is wheat malt - not too much, say 3%.

[Vossy1]

Lovely looking brew pop B)

[mysterio]

Good article about beer head: http://www.byo.com/departments/1410.html

Wheat won't do much unless you address some other things. Once I sorted out pitching rate (good healthy well aerated starter), aeration, and keeping the fermenter cool when using a quick English yeast, I've noticed much better head retention.

[BlightyBrewer]

That's interesting mysterio. I too am having trouble with keeping my head!