We’ve been buying boxes of the little Cascade packs with Dawn in them from Costco. I’m thinking that something there is minimizing the head on my beers. I say that because the second pour always has a bigger head holds the head longer.
So what works well as a general dishwashing detergent that plays well with beer?
I think drying agents are a problem and cascade uses them to keep glasses from spotting. Of course, spots are not good either. Maybe an oxyclean rinse?
Have you tried putting the second pour in a new glass? Just making sure it’s the detergent and not beer that’s been sitting in the line.
i always handwash (super hot water and this stuff Amazon.com) then airdry on a rack.
never had any luck with anything in the dishwasher. >:(
We use these finish powerball tabs: http://www.amazon.com/Finish-Powerball-Dishwasher-Detergent-60-Count/dp/B002ODE412
My beers, homebrew and commercial, seem to have ample amount of head when poured into glasses cleaned with these tabs.
If you are using the same glass on the second pour, then anything lacing remaining on the side of the glass will cause more head then if the glass were clean.
I use regular Cascade powder, also available at Costco. I haven’t noticed any head suppression with the powder but I’ll pay more careful attention from now on.
I use those Finish power balls. Used to be called Electrasol, I believe.
They don’t seem to impact head formation or retention. Maybe sometimes, but I don’t usually rinse out glasses before pouring beer and don’t seem to have a problem.
Did you ever notice that the next beer in a glass that had a nitrogenated beer in it also looks and tastes as if it was also nitrogenated? Pour a widget-released Guinness in a glass, drink it and then pour a non-widget beer into the same glass. It will have all the lacing and look of the Guinness. I’ve always wondered why that is.
I use those Cascade ones as well and I don’t seem to have head retention issues. I do recall the last time I purchased them that there were several variants on them: regular ones, “Complete”, “Platinum”, whatever. I go with whatever the cheapest ones are because I’m worried the other ones have more stuff in them that might kill head retention (and the ones I’m using do a sufficient job of cleaning the dishes).
Maybe it’s my water rather than (or in combination with) the detergent, but I find that it leaves enough of a residue to affect the taste of my beers. It has gotten better since i started using LemiShine along with the Finish, but still enough to be distracting.
My beer glasses are hand wash only. I use Palmolive and a bottle brush, then rinse in hot water until there’s no suds or smell. Then I rinse it a couple more times for good measure and air dry.
It might be that it is just that the glass is wet from the last beer. Try a quick rinse with water right before filling. For science, you’ll need to rinse one and let it dry, then rinse another and fill both. Compare the head. Then drink both. For science.
Well OK. For science.
Something that works well if you’re experiencing glassware problems is a salt scrub. Wet the inside of the glass and pour salt over all the surfaces. Scrub with a paper towel. Works great!
I used to use salt to clean flower vases in college. :
it’s amazing how dirty those flower vases got back in college isn’t it?
Fixed it for ya
Outstanding!
I stumbled onto the best detergent ever for cleaning anything beer related. Its called Planet. Its about $3 a bottle and available in most grocery stores. I highly recommend it. Takes very little soap and has no fragrance, rinses off very easy.
We use the regular powder Cascade in the dishwasher too and doesn’t seem to affect the head. That being said I have also done the salt scrub Denny mentioned and really that works the best!
From pg 48 of the Draught Beer Quality Manual
Testing for “Beer-Clean” Glass
Beer poured to a beer-clean glass forms a proper head
and creates residual lacing as the beer is consumed.
After cleaning, you can test your glasses for beer-clean
status using three different techniques: sheeting, the
salt test, and lacing. Let’s review each technique.
Sheeting Test: Dip the glass in water. If the glass is
clean, water evenly coats the glass when lifted out of
the water. If the glass still has an invisible film, water
will break up into droplets on the inside surface.
Salt Test: Salt sprinkled on the interior of a wet
glass will adhere evenly to the clean surface,
but will not adhere to the parts that still contain
a greasy film. Poorly cleaned glasses show an
uneven distribution of salt.
Lacing Test: Fill the glass with beer. If the glass is
clean, foam will adhere to the inside of the glass in
parallel rings after each sip, forming a lacing pattern.
If not properly cleaned, foam will adhere in a
random pattern, or may not adhere at all.
By the way, what is this “dish washer” you guys are referring too?
Doesn’t 2 and 3 result in glasses that need washing again?