Glasses etched INSIDE to encourage bubble formation?

[Ike]

Yeah, I know, it's cheating. THAT SAID, in the deepest and darkest corners of my quickly-fading memory I recall hearing about beer glasses that were etched on the INSIDE to create the tiny defects necessary to create those lovely streams of bubbles that flow up from the bottom of the glass. Or, anyone ever try DIYing this? I seem to recall one of my engineering professors talking about how an acute angled defect in the glass decreased the total free energy of formation necessary for the CO2 bubble to precipitate out of the liquid phase, and that's why that constant stream of bubbles came from the same spot in the glass. I wonder if scoring the very bottom of a glass with a scratch awl would have the same effect.

I know, proper carbonation is key. Again, that said, having a little extra "oooohhh ahhhh" factor when handing a pint over to a new taster would be pretty cool.

Anyone ever heard of this?

 

[day_trippr]

If by "heard of this" you mean "home scratched glassware", then nope, that one's by me

 

[JohnSand]

I'm pretty sure my Heineken glasses have a star ground in the inside bottom.
But I haven't intentionally altered any glassware. Let us know what you do.

 

[TimmyWit]

It's called a nucleated glass. I don't see any reason why you couldn't DIY one

 

[Ike]

AHA! THAT'S the term I needed! Now that I know what to search for, they're popping up available everywhere.

I think I'll score one or two for some side-by-side comparisons.

THANKS!

 

[MaxStout]

It's called a nucleated glass. I don't see any reason why you couldn't DIY one

You could use an engraving tool.

 

[SoulToast]

If you've got one of the usual craft stores (Jo-Ann, Michael's) nearby, you can pick up a glass etching cream that ought to do the trick.

Brush it in the bottom, wait maybe 10 min, and rinse out.

As an added bonus, they usually come with some stencils, so you could do a little decoration on your fancy bubble glass.

The only downside is that it's fun, and you may find yourself etching random stuff onto every glass that has holds still long enough...

 

[Jayjay1976]

Whatever it takes to get more head, amiright?!?!

Sincerely,
Everyone

 

[Lefou]

I keep a beat up, scored 12oz mug around. It's loaded with stir marks from metal spoons. No work, foams just fine.

 

[EnglishAndy]

I have a set of these nucleated glasses. Bottom line is that they work. Big time. You can buy them on amazon.

To get the most out of them your beer carbonation and head retention must match the glass. Too much carbonation and head retention and it'll foam over very quickly. Too little carbonation and it'll bring all your carbonation out of solution and you'll be drinking flat beer. I suspect in the bars where I see these they've had the brewery's technical services out to adjust how the kegs are kept to suit the glasses.

When it's done right they look fantastic as you get a rising torrent of bubbles that never stops and a head that never disappears.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Funny...in Germany they rinse the glasses in cold water before pouring to make sure the beer DOESN'T nucleate...I still rinse all of my glasses that way.

 

[TimmyWit]

Funny...in Germany they rinse the glasses in cold water before pouring to make sure the beer DOESN'T nucleate...I still rinse all of my glasses that way.

When it's intentional, it makes for a nice presentation. I like to use a nucleated glass for stuff like pilsners:

 

[homebrewer_99]

When it's intentional, it makes for a nice presentation. I like to use a nucleated glass for stuff like pilsners:

I understand what you're saying, but why pay for AIR? I'd rather have that head space filled with beer.

 

[S-Met]

A 16oz pour in a 20oz glass sounds fair, so long as I'm paying for a pint. Good head makes a huge difference in flavor an aroma. I know I always smile after good head.

 

[bleme]

I understand what you're saying, but why pay for AIR? I'd rather have that head space filled with beer.

I charge myself the same amount, no matter how full I fill my glass, but I'm a bass-turd that way...

 

[Smellyglove]

The beer goes flat much sooner also.

A brewery in norway tried out nucleated glasses some years ago but had to pull them back since customers were complaining about the beer going flat very fast.