How to Clean Beer Glasses

Pouring a perfect beer doesn't start with your draft. It starts with a clean glass. If the glass is dirty, it can make your beer go flat quickly and lose its distinct aroma. Plus, it inhibits you from having a 1/2" to 1" thick head on top, ultimately wasting product.

To achieve the perfect pour, your glass needs to be "beer clean." This industry term means that it's clean from impurities that give C02 a place to cling to. Once the spots are removed, the beer can pour better for its best look and taste. 

A standard half barrel keg with 15.5 gallons of beer should yield approximately:

• (124) 16 oz. glasses
• (142) 14 oz. glasses

However, with a proper cleaner and washing system, you'd only need to pour 14 oz. into a 16 oz. glass because of how the product head is forming. This could give you up to 18 more glasses per keg. If you're not seeing results like this in your bar, it may be time to take a look at your cleaning process.

Once you've selected the chemicals you want to use, it's time to create your warewashing system. You should follow directions on your cleaning chemicals for mixing it, however below is a guideline of what your process should look like for a clean beer glass.

1. Start with a clean stainless steel sink. Use a little bit of bar glass cleaner and a clean brush.
2. Fill the bowl with hot water almost to the top of the brushes. Add mineral solvents to prevent hard water spots while the glass dries.
3. Measure the proper amount of glass cleaner mentioned on your packet and add it to the first sink, sprinkling over the brushes.
4. Fill the second bowl with clean hot running water to rinse the detergent off glassware coming from the first bowl.
5. Fill the third bowl with about 3 gallons of hot water. Add the proper amount of sanitizer and test that it's the proper concentration.
6. Wash the glass in the first sink, making sure all parts of it come in contact with the brushes. If using a 3-brush manual system, clean with the center brush.
7. Rinse glass in the second bowl placing the bottom of it in at an angle and then withdrawing at an angle to prevent air from forming, for a thorough rinse.
8. Repeat this process in the third bowl, dipping the glass into your sanitizing solution. Follow any local and/or national sanitation guidelines for proper sanitizing.
9. Air dry the sanitized glass upside down, on a corrugated drain board to allow for maximum airflow around the glass and optimal results.