National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => All Grain Brewing => Topic started by: auralabuse on August 21, 2015, 01:36:37 PM

Title: Stout Head Retention
Post by: auralabuse on August 21, 2015, 01:36:37 PM
I have a stout on tap and have noticed I'm losing the head pretty quick. Get a great creamy head on a double pour but after bout 15 mins it's gone. I'm wondering if this is just the heat or should I add something like lactose to the next brew. It's being served with 50/50 mix and is at 2° in the corny
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Leann ull on August 21, 2015, 01:41:55 PM
75:25 and what did you use in recipe for head?
http://beersmith.com/blog/2008/06/25/enhancing-beer-head-retention-for-home-brewers/
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Eoin on August 21, 2015, 02:05:26 PM
Have you recently filled the rinse aid in your dishwasher?
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: auralabuse on August 21, 2015, 02:33:36 PM
Ciderhead, yeah 're: 75/25 but can't get hold of that so easy so have had to work with 50/50. The recipe is an all grain mash kit from hbc. Have brewed it before and had no probe so I'm guessing it's either ambient temperature or eoins suggestion. Although I don't think I filled rinse aid but the missus may have. Btw, no criticism of the hbc mash kit, have brewed a few in my quest for all grain knowledge and they are excellent
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Eoin on August 21, 2015, 03:03:21 PM
Try rinsing the next glass with warm water before filling it with beer, see does that make any difference.
Rinse aid is a terrible head killer.

Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Qs on August 21, 2015, 08:00:45 PM
What did you wash your keg with, how are your lines, are you always eating peanuts?
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Drum on August 21, 2015, 08:36:47 PM
Peanuts? whats that about?
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Leann ull on August 21, 2015, 11:15:03 PM
Oils from your nuts suppress head ...wait for it
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Eoin on August 21, 2015, 11:23:31 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on August 21, 2015, 11:15:03 PM
Oils from your nuts suppress head ...wait for it
That's what she said...
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: auralabuse on August 21, 2015, 11:40:13 PM
Haha, no peanuts. Lines and corny have delivered fine head retention before so no probs there. Will try eliminate rinse aid and stay away from the peanuts
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Sorcerers Apprentice on August 22, 2015, 10:25:18 AM
Another less advertised fact is that laundry conditioners are made up from rendered animal fats. Where possible allow glass ware to drip dry rather than use a tea towel which may have been washed with conditioner
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: auralabuse on August 22, 2015, 01:29:57 PM
Interesting, thanks
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: cruiscinlan on January 24, 2017, 02:43:14 PM
For some reason I've run into an issue with head retention on an Extra Stout.  I opened a few bottles and although it tastes great to me, no off-flavours, the head disappears in under a minute.

Recipe is Gordon Strongs Leann Follain clone in BYO
62% pale
16% flaked barley (subbed chit malt)
14% chocolate
4% brown
4% wheat

Yeast WLP011
Ferm temp of 20C ambient

Bottles are always washed with soap and water after use and left to drip dry.  Then before filling are washed again with hot soapy water, rinsed with hot water, then starsan.

The above process is the same as for all the beers I make and have no issue with lacing/head retention on ales/pilsners.
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Leann ull on January 24, 2017, 03:07:25 PM
Serving temp?
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Bubbles on January 24, 2017, 03:37:10 PM
Quote from: CH on August 21, 2015, 11:15:03 PM
Oils from your nuts suppress head ...wait for it

You're supposed to DRINK it!

:P
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: Leann ull on January 24, 2017, 03:57:49 PM
And there it is...
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: DEMPSEY on January 24, 2017, 04:01:09 PM
Not surprised as that recipe is from the night we met the brewer from O'Hara's and the Leann Folann samples also had their heads fade quickly. I quizzed him on this and he looked at me and said,huh :D
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: cruiscinlan on January 24, 2017, 06:53:13 PM
I've tried both room temperature (16℃ in this case) and from the fridge and there's no difference.
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: DEMPSEY on January 24, 2017, 08:12:32 PM
Was your water hard
Title: Re: Stout Head Retention
Post by: cruiscinlan on January 24, 2017, 08:17:41 PM
Not in particular, about 120ppm as bicarbonate hardness.