How to serve craft beer correctly?

Glass, temperature, and foam

Serving craft beer correctly is almost as important as brewing it. Good service enhances the aromas, brings out the flavours and allows you to fully enjoy the brewmaster’s work.

At La Fábrica de Cerveza, we not only brew quality craft beer, but we also teach you how to enjoy it as it deserves to be enjoyed through our tastings and pouring workshops.

In this article, we reveal some tips on how to serve craft beer correctly, paying attention to three key factors: the glass, the temperature and the head. Basic knowledge to impress your friends… For the practical class, we’ll be waiting for you at our pouring workshops.

The right glass: much more than aesthetics

One of the most common mistakes when serving craft beer is not choosing the right glass. Each style of beer has a glass designed to highlight its qualities: aromas, carbonation and foam. Some common examples:

• Pint glass: ideal for hoppy beers such as IPAs or Pale Ales.
• Tulip glass: perfect for aromatic beers with a higher alcohol content.
• Wide glass or chalice: recommended for Belgian beers or special beers.

Beyond its shape, it is essential that the glass is:

• Clean and free of grease
• Rinsed with cold water before serving

A clean glass promotes consistent foam and prevents unwanted flavours. At our craft beer tastings, our master brewers can help you identify which glass corresponds to each style and why it has such an impact on the experience.

The ideal temperature: neither too cold nor too hot

Temperature is key to fully enjoying craft beer. Unlike industrial beer, craft beer should not be served excessively cold, as cold temperatures block aromas and nuances.

Approximate temperatures according to style, in Spain:

• Light or refreshing beers: between 2 and 4 °C
• IPAs and Pale Ales: between 4 and 6 °C
• Toasted, dark or high-alcohol beers: between 6 and 8 °C

Serving craft beer at the right temperature allows you to better appreciate the balance between malt, hops and yeast. In our pouring workshops, we show how the same beer can change radically depending on the serving temperature.

The perfect head: the hallmark of a good beer

Foam is not just an aesthetic detail. Good foam is synonymous with:

• Proper carbonation
• Good glass cleaning
• Adequate service

Ideally, you want to achieve a white, creamy, persistent head approximately two fingers thick. This layer protects the beer from contact with oxygen and helps preserve its aromas. If there’s no head, it’s not beer… it’s a disappointment!

How to achieve the perfect foam?

• Tilt the glass at a 45-degree angle.
• Pour the beer gently.
• Straighten the glass at the end to create foam.

In our guided tastings, we teach professional pouring techniques and explain how to identify defects in the foam.

Learn how to serve craft beer like a master brewer

Give the gift of experiences: Surprise someone with our gift vouchers

And if you have a friend who you think might be interested in learning how to serve beer, why not give them one as a gift?

With our gift vouchers, surprise your loved ones with the chance to attend any of our beer pouring workshops and put into practice everything we’ve told you here.

Gift vouchers do not expire, so they can be redeemed and reservations made at any time in our Events of the Month section.

Tags: conciertos Málaga, craft beer, eventos Málaga, La Fábrica, restaurantes Málaga