ThirstyforKnowledge

An encyclopedia of drinks — mixed, poured, brewed and whisked

No. 002 Beer · Beer

A pint of keg lager

Pouring draught lager from the tap: a beer-clean glass at 45°, the tap fully open and a neat head.

Recipe card

ml oz

Makes 1 drink · about 2 min to make

Ingredients

  • Lager keg, 5–8°C 568 ml

Ounces are US fluid ounces (29.57 ml), rounded.

Method

  1. Check the glass is 'beer clean' (water should sheet off it evenly).
  2. Hold the glass at 45°, about 2.5 cm below the tap, without letting the tap touch the glass or beer.
  3. Open the tap fully in one movement; a half-open tap makes the beer foam.
  4. Pour down the side until the glass is about half full, then gently bring it upright and pour down the middle to form the head.
  5. Close the tap as the foam reaches the rim.
Glass
Clean, dry pint glass
Technique
Poured
Difficulty
Easy

Printable recipe card

About the A pint of keg lager

Keg beer is chilled and carbonated, so the skill is controlling the foam: open the tap fully, pour down the side of a tilted glass, then straighten it to build the head.

Cask Marque gives 5–8°C as the dispense temperature for standard lagers and keg beers.

Tags: lager draught keg

Go deeper

  • How to pull the perfect pint Cask ale through a handpump, keg beer from the tap and stout's two-part pour: clean glasses, the right temperature and a proper head.
  • A guide to beer styles Mild, bitter, pale ale, IPA, stout, porter, lager and wheat beer: what each style tastes like, based on CAMRA's style notes.

Sources

  1. Cicerone Certification Program — Certified Beer Server Prep Talks #7
  2. Cask Marque — Beer temperature

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