Day #26: Lacy things

I’m not one for lacy things. Too girly.

But tonight at our weekly “writing group” at the local brewery (more talking than writing), I learned about beer lace.

I was drinking a mug of one of their craft beers, and my friend Victoria commented on the “lace” left behind. I’d never heard of such a thing. So I Googled it.

Visiting VinePair.com, I learn that “Lacing is the residue left from the foam beer head as you drink your beer. The foam is all at the head with a full beer, then with each sip, the head moves down the glass a bit. Some residue from the head stays at each section of the glass that the head rests at. The slower you drink a beer with a healthy head, the more lacing you’ll see.”

Guinness apparently leaves a “mark at each point” as you’re drinking down the beer. (I love Guinness, but can’t say I’ve noticed or paid attention. “Other beers that could result in impressive lacing are IPAs, other nitro stouts, some lagers and ales, and any beer with a noticeably high hop level,” according to this same website. Mine was an IPA, so that makes sense.

If the glass isn’t well cleaned and rinsed, though, even the above mentioned beers, anything greasy or leftover soap will interfere with lacing. “Beer glasses that are thoroughly hand-washed and air-dried are best,” VinePair.com said.

“When it comes down to it, lacing adds more to aesthetics than anything else.”

So there you have it. I learn something new every day.