Guide to serving the perfect pint

There are a few crucial factors that help ensure perfect pints are poured time and time again. So, without wasting any time, let’s get straight to it and start by taking a look at what makes a great pint.

What does the average consumer look for in a pint?

While ideas surrounding the perfect pint vary due to preference, there are a few core factors that I’m sure we can all agree are important when it comes to serving beer.

Great taste. Nobody wants a pint that tastes off or tainted by other products, right? Taste is definitely an important factor when it comes to beer.
Ever been served a flat and lifeless pint? It can be frustrating when your beer doesn’t taste or look just as it should.
Clean glasses. Glasses can affect the quality of a pint. For example, a dirty glass can actually lead to flat beer.

What can be done to ensure perfect pints time and time again?

Complete cellar checks

It’s important to carry out regular cellar checks to maintain the quality of your beer. With the Clear Brew beer line cleaning service, you will receive checklists that can be displayed and referred to on a daily basis. To get you started, here are just a couple of aspects that we recommend you or your team include as part of your daily cellar checks:

At the start of the day, it’s good practice to open the cellar door for 10 minutes to vent the area and then check over the cellar condition.
When it comes to stock, make sure you check the dates on the casks/kegs and allow fresh deliveries 48 hours to reach cellar temperature. You can also rotate older stock and use that first.
At the end of the day, remove any empties and clean up spillages. TOP TIP: Ensure the cellar fan is left ON as turning it off can cost more in the long term.
Turn off the gas at the end of the day to stop the over carbonating of kegs and prevent excessive use of gas.

Master the perfect pour

Pouring a pint is the last stage of the brewing process, however dirty glassware or incorrect pouring techniques can ruin all the hard work. There are certain practices that you should adopt when it comes to pouring a pint. Here are just a few:

Use a clean, undamaged glass for every order.
Ensure that the customer receives the correct measure, 95% should be liquid.
Store glasses upside down on sheets of plastic lattice, allowing fresh air to circulate and the dry the glasses.

Of course, while it’s important to ensure that these points are taken into account, it’s also crucial to eliminate any bad habits. Here is a quick outline of what not to do when it comes to pouring the perfect pint:

Don’t refill a glass as this is unhygienic and reduces head retention.
Using warm glasses straight from the glass washer cause fobbing.
Equally, using glasses that are still wet inside will cause the beer head to rapidly collapse.

Take good care of glassware

If glassware is not maintained to the highest standard, the quality of the drink can be negatively affected. For example, excessive fobbing or a flat pint can both indicate that glassware is not being maintained in the correct manner. Here are just a couple of must-have products to help with the maintenance of glassware:

Complete Glasswash Detergent & Rinse Aid – This pack is specially formulated for constant use and ensures glasses are always in pristine condition WITHOUT THE NEED TO RENOVATE separately (making it one of our most popular products!)
Quash Lipstick Remover – The Quash System is designed to effectively remove grease marks and lipstick from the lip area of all types of glassware. Quash should be part of your regular glass washing practice and is safe, simple and hygienic to use!

Be consistent

While it is important to consistently check physical elements of the cellar and bar, it is also important to think about aspects that you can’t see, such as temperature. Ensuring that the cellar temperature is between 11ᵒC and 13ᵒC helps to ensure beer quality is maintained. If it’s too cold, ale may become hazy and flat. Too warm results in fobbing, wastage and poor product quality.

Outsource tasks behind the scenes

There are certain tasks that can be outsourced to help ensure quality pints. For example, by using the Clear Brew beer line cleaning service, you can rest assured that your dispense system is well maintained and great pints are ready to be served. There are 4 key aspects to the service that help ensure your beer lines are kept in tip top condition. These are: