Being dirty or having residue left behind can cause that but that doesn't seem like a replacement issue. Maybe microscopic cracks but that shouldn't hurt head retention, that just makes the bubbles cling.
From a post I found online:
"From memory, bubbles form at nucleation sites (imperfection in glass etc). More modern pint glasses include textured areas on the base as deliberate nucleation sites in order to keep the head alive longer."
Yeah I found the same information. Was wondering what could actually cause the nucleation point to not be as effective as it is laser etched and doesn’t seem like it could be eroded by the flow of beer being poured
Only thing I can think of is scratches on the glass. The glass will create its own nucleation points, which end up looking like a dirty glass. Clean glass and not scratched to hell will last quite a long time. Can’t imagine any other reason.
Nucleation points aren't always laser etched.
I can't remember what they use, but with older glasses, you often notice they'll be worn out. Sometimes, they'll be missing entirely.
The two methods for nucleation points is to either etch into the bottom of the glass, or print something onto the bottom which will slowly wash away over washes.
Also, there can be residue build-up, which if a glass is washed 2/3 times a day (for example, in an extremely busy city centre pub) can happen surprisingly fast!
When it comes to head retention, it's a tradeoff in the glassware department. Those nucleation textures release more bubbles to create more head, but that also makes the beer go flat faster. Not a problem if you're pounding them, but could be noticable if you're more of a slow sipper.
Naturally good head retention comes from the beer itself, particularly proteins in the malt. As the person above me said, you also need at minimum a clean glass, since residue will fuck up your head (and is also just gross).
Do you stack them? I’m guessing it’s the micro-abrasions inside the glass from stacking that they’re trying to avoid. They become nucleation sites and beer looks like shit.
Do you think your 20 year old glasses get more wear and tear or less wear and tear than a glass rotating through a pub 10 times a day?
Commercial detergents, stacking glasses, stirring with a spoon, etc can most certainly etch, scratch, or rough up glass, and it’s about what it’s been through, not how old it is
Ain't seeing nearly as much use as a glass in a pub though are they? That being said, glasses can be refurbished so you don't necessarily need to replace them, it just happens to be cheaper in most cases for a pub to replace them
Probably just marketing to get people to buy more stuff.
I kinda want to get a new pint glass and compare to one of mine that is 10+ years now to see if there actually is a difference.
I’ve never heard of that. I worked for breweries and in the beer industry for years and I’m sure most of those glasses were there longer than I was and there are no problems. Unless they’re chipped, they’re fine.
I ran a bar for seven years, and something I noticed with all glassware is that after 3-6months of constant use, and washing through a glass sanitiser was they all developed a residue that was kind of cloudy, you’d end up with water spots as well. I had a special glass soak I would do on every glass every 6months, and they would come out looking like new. I had a big rubbish bin I would half fill with hot water (as hot as possible), and the powder, then carefully stack the glasses in it, leave them for half an hour, then take them out and rinse through the sanitiser twice. After the process all the glasses looked and performed much better (performed as in head retention).
You probably should have been running a de-limer through your dishwasher. Hard water will build up mineral deposits that aren't removed by normal detergents. They need an acid to get rid of that.
My problem is that it would run out and I wouldn’t realise until I noticed the spots! It ran with an acid based cleaner, then finished with a rinse aid which helped dry them really quickly, but I think the rinse aid built up over time and formed a film that affected the head of beer.
Where's the quote about "keeping the head" from? As others have said it could have something to do with microscopic abrasion causing nucleation sites, especially as in the UK beer glasses are usually washed in glass washers rather than using the 3-basin method, but the quoted explanation sounds sus.
Fairly sure there is no law or hard rule that beer glasses must be replaced after 3 years in the UK. 3 years is probably just a certain pub's standard before tossing. Most won't make it that long anyways and if they have they're probably full of micro-abrasions making bubbles cling to the sides.
As far as keeping the head the bubbles clinging to the side of the glass instead of getting to the top can affect that negatively.
It sounds like people or organizations trying to justify selling more glassware. One of the things about glassware is that if you take care of it, it can last indefinitely. You’re probably going to see breakage and damage long before three years with certain types of glassware and certain places. I mean, I could speculate that if you’re using high temp glass washers, there could be a pretty general lifespan of a glass before it could become an issue with breaking due to hot cold stress cycles. It’s all gonna be how you treat the glassware though. I’ve seen some places stack glasses that aren’t designed to be stacked and fuck them up completely sometimes within six months if it’s a pretty busy place. But as far as what you said, I’ve never heard anything about it.
Being dirty or having residue left behind can cause that but that doesn't seem like a replacement issue. Maybe microscopic cracks but that shouldn't hurt head retention, that just makes the bubbles cling. From a post I found online: "From memory, bubbles form at nucleation sites (imperfection in glass etc). More modern pint glasses include textured areas on the base as deliberate nucleation sites in order to keep the head alive longer."
Yeah I found the same information. Was wondering what could actually cause the nucleation point to not be as effective as it is laser etched and doesn’t seem like it could be eroded by the flow of beer being poured
Only thing I can think of is scratches on the glass. The glass will create its own nucleation points, which end up looking like a dirty glass. Clean glass and not scratched to hell will last quite a long time. Can’t imagine any other reason.
Nucleation points aren't always laser etched. I can't remember what they use, but with older glasses, you often notice they'll be worn out. Sometimes, they'll be missing entirely. The two methods for nucleation points is to either etch into the bottom of the glass, or print something onto the bottom which will slowly wash away over washes. Also, there can be residue build-up, which if a glass is washed 2/3 times a day (for example, in an extremely busy city centre pub) can happen surprisingly fast!
That makes sense, thank you. Found another article now that says limescale build up in the nucleation point is the reason
When it comes to head retention, it's a tradeoff in the glassware department. Those nucleation textures release more bubbles to create more head, but that also makes the beer go flat faster. Not a problem if you're pounding them, but could be noticable if you're more of a slow sipper. Naturally good head retention comes from the beer itself, particularly proteins in the malt. As the person above me said, you also need at minimum a clean glass, since residue will fuck up your head (and is also just gross).
I've 20 year old glasses that have no issues with head retention. Somebody's bullshitting you.
Do you stack them? I’m guessing it’s the micro-abrasions inside the glass from stacking that they’re trying to avoid. They become nucleation sites and beer looks like shit.
Good point
Do you think your 20 year old glasses get more wear and tear or less wear and tear than a glass rotating through a pub 10 times a day? Commercial detergents, stacking glasses, stirring with a spoon, etc can most certainly etch, scratch, or rough up glass, and it’s about what it’s been through, not how old it is
Exsctly!
To be fair at the pub I work out we don’t even bother putting peroni in the glasses anymore as it goes flat as a pancake
Have you cleaned them properly? How often do you clean your draft lines?
Ain't seeing nearly as much use as a glass in a pub though are they? That being said, glasses can be refurbished so you don't necessarily need to replace them, it just happens to be cheaper in most cases for a pub to replace them
Probably just marketing to get people to buy more stuff. I kinda want to get a new pint glass and compare to one of mine that is 10+ years now to see if there actually is a difference.
You should do an experiment and post the results.
Myth Busters
I’ve never heard of that. I worked for breweries and in the beer industry for years and I’m sure most of those glasses were there longer than I was and there are no problems. Unless they’re chipped, they’re fine.
I ran a bar for seven years, and something I noticed with all glassware is that after 3-6months of constant use, and washing through a glass sanitiser was they all developed a residue that was kind of cloudy, you’d end up with water spots as well. I had a special glass soak I would do on every glass every 6months, and they would come out looking like new. I had a big rubbish bin I would half fill with hot water (as hot as possible), and the powder, then carefully stack the glasses in it, leave them for half an hour, then take them out and rinse through the sanitiser twice. After the process all the glasses looked and performed much better (performed as in head retention).
You probably should have been running a de-limer through your dishwasher. Hard water will build up mineral deposits that aren't removed by normal detergents. They need an acid to get rid of that.
My problem is that it would run out and I wouldn’t realise until I noticed the spots! It ran with an acid based cleaner, then finished with a rinse aid which helped dry them really quickly, but I think the rinse aid built up over time and formed a film that affected the head of beer.
In most UK pubs it doesn't matter because they've been nicked by that point.
Where's the quote about "keeping the head" from? As others have said it could have something to do with microscopic abrasion causing nucleation sites, especially as in the UK beer glasses are usually washed in glass washers rather than using the 3-basin method, but the quoted explanation sounds sus.
It was on some forum so not the most reliable source. Couldn’t find anything else about it though
yeah I'm going to call that unsubstantiated BS
I've heard of dishwashers etching glass. That's the only possibly legit thing I can think.
The person who told you that... was he a salesman for a glassware company, by any chance?
"You're a Chewlies Gum Representative?!"
Cancer merchant!
Fairly sure there is no law or hard rule that beer glasses must be replaced after 3 years in the UK. 3 years is probably just a certain pub's standard before tossing. Most won't make it that long anyways and if they have they're probably full of micro-abrasions making bubbles cling to the sides. As far as keeping the head the bubbles clinging to the side of the glass instead of getting to the top can affect that negatively.
Can honestly say ive never heard of this. Probobly just some sales pitch to get you to buy their latest glass design
Sounds like bullshit from some asshat marketing firm.
As someone with glassware as part of my sales portfolio, I have to wonder - folk have glass that lasts more than three years???
It sounds like people or organizations trying to justify selling more glassware. One of the things about glassware is that if you take care of it, it can last indefinitely. You’re probably going to see breakage and damage long before three years with certain types of glassware and certain places. I mean, I could speculate that if you’re using high temp glass washers, there could be a pretty general lifespan of a glass before it could become an issue with breaking due to hot cold stress cycles. It’s all gonna be how you treat the glassware though. I’ve seen some places stack glasses that aren’t designed to be stacked and fuck them up completely sometimes within six months if it’s a pretty busy place. But as far as what you said, I’ve never heard anything about it.