Special # 11 | How-to | Cleaning Glassware
One year ago: New Belgium La Folie
I know it’s not rocket science and I know we all have one way or another that we like to clean our beer glasses. However, believe it or not I see a lot of people talking about it. There are many ways one can go about this, like simply putting them in the dishwasher. But Like Tim Pratt will tell you, “there’s a difference between clean and beer clean.” So, here is how I like to take care of my glasses so they are “beer clean” and devoid from any detergent residue. If you find that you like to clean yours another way and get great results, please feel free to leave us a comment and share with the rest of our viewers. Happy Friday everyone – hope you enjoy this special one-off session.
Up Next: Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary (Fritz & Ken’s Ale)
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
On the iPod: The New Mastersounds “Hole in the Bag”
Thank you for your continued support. Please rate this review below…
Posted by theReaper16 on December 10, 2010 at 10:35 AM
My process is pretty much the same, except I don’t use detergent of any kind. Instead, I use iodized salt.
Posted by thehopry on December 10, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Does salt break down the glass over time?
Posted by theReaper16 on December 10, 2010 at 12:58 PM
It likely does, but in such an infinitesimally small amount that I would never notice a wearing away of the glass in my lifetime.
Plus, I have a LOT of glassware. Even amongst my regular-use glasses, the rotation goes deep. I don’t have any one glass that receives a daily cleaning, say.
Posted by builderofcoalitions on December 10, 2010 at 1:54 PM
I think the cold rinse before pouring is probably the most important step. I vary my routine up to that point, but the cold rinse assures me the glass is completely clean of soap residue and dust.
I once fantasized that if I were rich, I’d keep a keg of Bud Light (or some other equivalent macro) just for the purpose of rinsing my glasses. Nothing rinses the glass better than beer.
Also, I assume you also keep the water temperature in your house low b/c you have kids and not so much for conservation. It didn’t seem to me that conservation was your biggest concern with the number of times and amount of time you ran the water to get just one glass clean.
Posted by thehopry on December 10, 2010 at 2:48 PM
It’s primarily set lower to conserve energy, but it’s also because I don’t want to take skin off my hands if I forget and wash my hands after using hot water. Really that’s beside the point and perhaps a piece of the video that could have been left out.
Aside from that, the process I show here takes a quarter of the time when I do it normally. This just took longer because I wanted to speak in detail about the process.
Posted by builderofcoalitions on December 10, 2010 at 2:53 PM
Oh, I figured as much. It was just a thought that made me chuckle a bit. IMHO, the cold rinse is where it’s at.
Still, I think the ideal (but completely unrealistic) way to insure that a glass is beer-ready is to put a beer in it, hence my Bud Light idea.
Posted by Big Mike on December 10, 2010 at 3:08 PM
Great video Mark. I really like these how-to sessions. I hope you keep incorporating them. It’s a nice change of pace and great info.
Posted by builderofcoalitions on December 10, 2010 at 3:15 PM
I agree, but how many topics are left? I can think of storing beer & glassware, a proper pour, tasting (although you do a pretty good job of that in your reviews), beer hunting, hangover cures…I honestly can’t think of much else outside of homebrewing and that would be a strange direction for this blog. What do you anticipate for this series in the future?
Posted by thehopry on December 10, 2010 at 3:21 PM
I don’t currently have any more “how-to” specific shows lined up, but they will always be filmed if they come to mind and I have the time. I will have more “beer culture” videos in the future, and in fact I have a new segment for the show up my sleeves.
The thought is to break up the reviews with other things, though I have to admit that I still want the majority of this website to be about reviews.
Posted by builderofcoalitions on December 10, 2010 at 3:29 PM
Yeah, the reviews are the most important part, but these little diversions are fun. Some seem to think the review is dead, but I like your take. It’s like sitting down with a fellow beer geek and getting his take on a beer. Definitely don’t stray too far from the reviews. They are way more interesting than the typical written review. Watching you experience the beer on camera and give your initial impressions is what separates your site from others.
Posted by thehopry on December 10, 2010 at 3:34 PM
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Posted by Big Mike on December 10, 2010 at 6:28 PM
This method really works. I used to let the glasses air dry because I was afraid to get lint in the glass. This way works much better. I’m getting alot more lacing tonight then usual due to the extra cleanliness. Thanks for the tips.
Posted by thehopry on December 11, 2010 at 3:33 AM
Good to hear, Mike. Did you do the cold water rinse before you poured your beer? This helps a lot.
Posted by Big Mike on December 11, 2010 at 6:51 AM
Yea, the cold water rinse is where it’s at
Posted by HopJ on December 12, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Good stuff. keep um coming.
I often get teased because I am a bit obsessive with my glassware. Soap never touches my wine glasses or beer glasses. I have lint free towels are washed with very light detergent and given an extra rinse. The have zero smell.
My final check is a always smell my glass before anything is poured into. That is at home and at restaurants. Well unless I am getting something on tap. Haven’t had the never to ask to smell my pint glass before they fill it.
With beer I do the cold water rinse but not with tap water. I can smell our water so I use purified water that I keep in the fridge.
Cheers!
Posted by Kevin on December 20, 2010 at 1:48 PM
awesome, love your how-to bits.
since we took a trip with you to your store, how about a video of your glassware!
keep it up!
Posted by Craft Beer Dude on December 24, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I was hoping you’d cover how to sterilize the smaller bottles you use to save the beer from the larger bottles. I mean you don’t want the beer to get infected while your saving it right?
Posted by thehopry on December 31, 2010 at 9:18 AM
Using very hot water and soap is really all you need to save this beer for a day or two. If you want to take it a step further you could just purchase some sanitizer from a homebrew shop, but I think it’d just be a waste of money for this purpose.
Posted by Marylou Spencer on December 25, 2010 at 7:03 PM
Does salt break down the glass over time?
Posted by Paulette Lott on December 28, 2010 at 9:57 PM
My process is pretty much the same, except I don’t use detergent of any kind. Instead, I use iodized salt.
Posted by Craft Beer Dude on December 31, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Yeah, that’s about what I was thinking.
Thanks,
CBD
Posted by Nate on January 19, 2011 at 6:28 AM
So…you turned your hot water heater down to save energy and yet run several gallons of water down the drain waiting for the right temperature, rinsing, etc. for one single beer glass?
hmm…
Posted by thehopry on January 19, 2011 at 6:46 AM
Hi Nate – This is an instructional video. The dialogue and the walkthrough draws this process out. The water was hot when I started the video and I could have started using it immediately. But with talking, etc… It normally doesn’t take as long or the amount of water used in the video. With the exception of the 3 rinses before drinking, it really does take minimal water and time.
Posted by Adam on January 19, 2011 at 1:51 PM
How do you dry the inside of narrow flutes and pilsner glasses that your hands won’t fit into? I’ve always wondered how to do that.