In our last post, we offered some tips for managing cellar and stock levels which was positively received by many of you.
We thought we would continue our series of cellar and bar management with a look at the glassware in any establishment. When employing new staff it’s important to give them the benefit of your experience and ensure that their standards meet yours. Have you checked that your staff are meticulous in keeping the glassware top notch?
1. The glassware should never be washed with utensils or dirty crockery. Specially designed detergents should be used, never the regular household variety as the additional perfumes and other chemicals added will affect the flavour of your beer.
2. Glasses specifically for beer should be stored at bar/counter height or below, particularly in areas close to the kitchen to prevent grease and other contaminants collecting.
3. Never dry the glasses with a towel – they may not be as clean as they appear and you never know if they have been used for something else, mopping a spill for example. They can also deposit lint on the inside of the glass.
4. Glass temperature is an important factor in imparting the beer’s flavour and depends on the product you are selling – room temperature is best for craft beers but lagers need something cooler to prevent foaming.
Testing for cleanliness
1. The Lacing Test – Pour your favourite pint and after each sip you should see foam adhering to the inside of the glass, forming a beautiful lace pattern.
2. The Sheeting Test – The glass is evenly coated when lifted out of water if the glass is clean. If droplets break up on the inside surface, there is still an invisible contaminant to be removed.
3. The Head Retention Test – A poorly cleaned glass will show discernible large bubbles that causes the head to disappear quickly while a clean beer glass will be clear with a head that is thick, creamy and remains to the end.
4. The Salt Test – Not one for every glass! If you want to check the effectiveness of your detergent and dilution, try sprinkling salt on to the interior of the glass, it should be distributed evenly if the glass is clean. Where residual grease is present, the salt will not adhere.
Beer Piper distributes a range of glass cleaning fluid that will ensure you always serve your beer with perfect glassware, take a look at our range of Bactosol products.
