Pouring Beer Matters

FREEDOM!!!

Let me say that again, as it bears repeating… pouring beer matters. I’m not talking about the correct way to pour beer versus the incorrect, and I’m not necessarily referring to the perfect amount of head versus the less-than-perfect. For the purposes of the title of this blog, and the lead sentence for that matter, I am stating this in the simplest terms… pouring beer matters. As in pour your beer into a frackin’ glass and drink it correctly!

Now, before I explain myself, let me back up and lay down a few caveats.

1) I am absolutely not talking about industrial, mass-produced, yellow, fizzy, corn-beers. All the reasons to drink beer out of a glass are exactly the reasons why you don’t want to drink THAT beer out of a glass. In fact, you probably shouldn’t be drinking that beer in the first place.

2) This is not a snobbery manifesto, although I can see why it would be perceived that way (hence this particular caveat). I’m not appealing to our 21st century post-modern human penchant for narcissism and self-loathing, but rather a basic primal discussion of right versus wrong. There is a right way, and there is a wrong way. This post is intended to present the right way and explain why it’s right. Some of you will read these words and correct your behavior, or it may reinforce already existing behavior. Others will read these words, disregard them and continue to ignore the facts out of spite, willful ignorance or a perception that you know better. What can I say? Some people still think big beer is better than craft beer. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

The reason why drinking beer out of glass is better than out of a bottle or can is simple... aroma. Science has already explained that 90% of our sense of taste is tied directly to our sense of smell. If you don’t believe me, try eating while holding your nose closed and note the difference.

Our sense of taste and smell are both sorted out in our brain by chemoreceptors, of which there are two classes: 1) olfactory receptor neurons in the olfactory system (where our sense of smell comes from) and 2) taste buds in the gustatory system (where our sense of taste comes from). They are designed to work together to process chemical reactions from the molecules they encounter and give us the perceived taste and smell of said molecules.

See? It's all connected.

Now let me ask you this, when you drink beer out of a bottle or can, can you smell it? The beer is completely contained within the vessel until the moment you tip the vessel, causing the contents to pour into your mouth. Those molecules that are supposed to be smelled never have the chance to get to your nose. They go from being completely contained in a bottle or can to being completely contained in your mouth. Unless you pour the beer into your mouth and keep it open while you swallow it, or gargle with it, you will not have the chance to smell it while you drink it.

Bottles and cans are very effective to their purposes, which are the transportation, storage and marketing of beer. They are not meant to be used for serving beer.

Get your nose in that beer!

Contrarily wise, beer drank from a glass allows those smell molecules to escape, and when you tip that glass into your mouth to drink the beer, your nose physically goes into the glass as well. You can smell the glorious aromas that the brewer (and nature) intended for you to smell and your drinking experience is enhanced. Clearly, beer from a glass is correct. Ever wonder why beer always tastes better on draught?

I could go into further details regarding the correct method for cleaning glasses, matching glassware to beer styles or pouring beer so that the head is perfect and maximizes the aroma character of the beer, but I don’t need to. I’ve already shown that the simple act of pouring beer into glasses in the first place is correct and drinking beer out of a bottle or can is incorrect. Unless you are drinking garbage beer for some reason, and then by all means… minimize your exposure to the aroma and taste.

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!