Dirty Glass!

If you’re like us, you’re triggered by a beer in a dirty glass. We always want to join the Facebook chorus and yell “Dirty glass!” Every time we see one. But now we don’t need to, because we’re offering you this post.
Drinking beer from a glass should touch on a magical sweet spot of what it looks like when it’s poured, what it tastes like when you lift the glass to your mouth,

and what it tastes like when you tap it back in to taste it. This multi-sensory ritual is one of the most satisfying moments for any beer drinker, whether casual beer drinker or serious connoisseur.

But one often overlooked factor dirty that can negatively impact this beer sensory experience is the health of your beer glass – especially its cleanliness.

If your glass is not in “beer-clean” condition, then it’s not the best representation of the beer it holds in terms of clarity, head dirty retention and carbonation. It won’t look as good when you’re shooting that epic beer video for your social event under the lights.

So you want to make sure your beer glass is as clean as possible so that your beer looks and tastes as good as possible.

Bubbles, Lace and Salt: How can I tell if my beer glass is clean enough?

While you may think your beer glass is clean, there are three quick and easy tests you can do that may indicate you are not. So, the next time dirty you plan to drink beer from a glass, follow these steps to determine how clean your beer glass really is.
The bubble test

The most obvious signs that your glass is not clean are bubbles inside the glass and a weak or absent foam “head” of beer. The picture above is dirty an example of what it means that your glass is not “beer clean” and you need to change your cleaning method.

Lacing Test

Lacing refers to the random foamy residue left on the head of your beer glass that covers the inside of your glass after you finish your beer. What we like about this test is that it requires you to drink the beer in order to fully conduct the experiment!

So after drinking, if your beer glass is dirty full of lace residue, then it’s clean. If you don’t see much lace or it’s very patchy, then you need to rethink your cleaning strategy.

The Salt Test

This one isn’t as fun, but if you’re really keen to take the salt test, you can try it. First moisten the inside of the glass with water and then take some salt and sprinkle it in the glass.

If the salt does not adhere evenly to dirty the inner surface of the glass, then your glass is not “clean”. The salt will not adhere to any dirty parts of the glass.

Tips for keeping your beer glass clean

Keeping your beer glasses clean is not just about rinsing them with soapy water or putting them in the dishwasher. We recommend following a strict and specific cleaning procedure that includes an alkaline cleaner, followed by rinsing and drying.

These tips are necessary if you fail dirty any or all of the above cleaning tests, but even if your current cleaning methods are good, you can still learn some new strategies from the following points.

This detailed regime may not be for the average gambler, but it’s worth considering if you really want the best beer and a clean glass.

Always wash beer glasses by hand. While you can easily throw them in the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes, they usually leave a film/coating that is invisible. Over time, frequent use of the dishwasher may cause your glasses to begin to become fuzzy or cloudy and difficult to remove.

Don’t use the same cleaning sponge that you use for your other dishes; make sure you have a sponge or cloth for beer glasses only.

Wash your beer mug first and then separate it from the rest of the dishes. If you wash them with the same cloudy, greasy water you used to wash other dishes, they will dry and leave a thin film of oil.

An effective cleaning strategy for “broken” glasses is to soak them in white vinegar, then put them in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly.

Dish soap can be used to clean beer glasses, but you need to be sure to follow a careful rinse and drip dry procedure, as dish soap contains oils that can create suds that stick to the glass and prevent the beer from lathering.

When washing beer glasses by hand, an alternative to washing them with soap is to sprinkle a little sodium bicarbonate on them, scrub them, and rinse them off.