Beer Foam: What’s the Purpose?

Beer foam, whether you’re a fan of it or not, is a staple of many brews. But what exactly is this foam? Many beer drinkers actually don’t know too much about it. As it turns out, there’s quite an interesting science behind the foam on your beer…

Beer Foam: The Science Behind It

How it forms

Beer foam, as you might think, mainly comes from when the beer is brewed. More specifically, it’s due to the creation of bubbles. These bubbles are made through a process known as nucleation. Still, even this process isn’t completely well known.

In general, it mainly comes down to how different proteins react with each other. There is a specific protein in the barley, which has a very high rate of water-resistance. As a result, it tends to cling to the carbon-dioxide bubbles, and rise to the top. Over time, this turns into the foam found on the top of beers.

Foam and flavor

Beer foam can have a pretty notable impact on the beer’s flavor and taste. One the one hand, this is due to the compounds which make it up. However, it is also due to the “effect” it creates when you drink it. It’s this effect which can really make or break a beer’s first impression on you.

Think about when you have something minty and it creates a “cool” sensation. Or, if you have something spicy and it makes a “hot” sensation. The foam can create a similar sensation, depending on the flavors of the beer. It’s more creamy texture can help “soften” your pallet before tasting the beer itself.

Foam variety

Still, not all beer foam is the same. Some beers have a lot of foam, whereas others tend to have little to none. There’s a lot of different factors which can impact the amount of foam that your drink has. For instance, the amount of alcohol in the drink itself can influence the foam it has.

However, there’s some more, even more interesting factors which play a role. Things like glass choices, as well as its temperature, can impact the foam levels. Even things you might not consider, like the food you eat, can influence if the foam on your beer stays or lowers. 

Alcohol Headaches: Potential Reasons

Alcohol has many different effects on the body, and not all of them can be pleasant. One of these unpleasant feelings can come in the form of headaches. However, what is it that causes you to potentially develop alcohol headaches? As it turns out, there’s a few potential reasons…

Alcohol Headaches: What’s The Cause?

Dehydration

One of the more common reasons people experience alcohol headaches is due to dehydration. Now, most people associate their headaches with the dreaded hangover. Having a bit too much to drink the night before means you can expect a headache in the morning. Still, there’s a specific reason why hangovers and headaches tend to go hand-in-hand.

This is because alcohol has a dehydrating impact on the body. Alcohol is a natural diuretic. This means that as your liver and kidneys process it, it draws out water, salt, vitamins, and minerals from your body. This can cause dehydration, and in turn headaches.

Impurities

The contents of your drinks can cause alcohol headaches. The content in question is the about of impurities, or congeners, in the drink. Congeners are the byproducts which are created during the fermentation process of alcohol making. As a result, this means that they’re mainly found in red wines and dark liquors.

However, clear liquors and white wines have very little congeners in them. Therefore, if you want to avoid headaches, it’s best to pick drink options like these. This is because the producers of these drinks distill them and don’t let them ferment as much as their counterparts.

Avoiding headaches

There are ways in which you can reduce your chances of getting alcohol headaches. For starters, it’s always important to keep hydrated while drinking. In fact, you’d want to make sure you’ve been properly hydrated even before you drink. This can help you keep enough water in your body despite your drink intake.

You can also opt for drinks with less congeners in them. Still, those might not be your preference. However, there are some potential purifiers out there which have been picking up traction. Wine purifiers especially have become more popular for those who wish to avoid headaches.

Healthy Mixers: Changing Your Usual Order

When it comes to drinking, we all have our go-to drink. Yours might be rum and coke, vodka Sprite, or something of the like. However, you might be starting to wonder if there are ways that you can cut down on that sugar intake without skipping the bar altogether. That’s where healthy mixers come in… Choosing a healthy (or healthier) mixer can be a great way to make your drinking feel just a tad bit more guilt-free. So, let’s lay out the options and see what might just work for you… 

Healthy Mixers: Saying ‘so long’ to added sugar 

Sparkling Options 

One of the main appeals for your vodka Sprite might be the carbonation. People tend to either love it or hate it. But, if you fall into the former category, then you might be trying to think of ways to embrace healthy mixers without losing out on the fizz. We have a suggestion: if you love vodka sprite, try vodka soda with a lemon/lime. It won’t be quite as sweet… but that’s the whole point. 

Another sparkling option is tonic water. It’s sparkling, quite similar to soda water, but it does still have quite a bit of sugar, sodium, and calories. So, while it isn’t as bad for you as a Coke or Sprite…it still doesn’t quite make the difference we were hoping for in swapping in healthy mixers. If you’re a fan of seltzers sweeter cousin… try diet tonic instead. It limits that sugar, while still giving you what you’re looking for. 

Juice

Something to keep in mind when it comes to juice as healthy mixers, is that juice still has quite a bit of sugar. Not to mention, it can be hard to find juices that don’t come from concentrate and additives without breaking the bank. However, some juices have a lower sugar content— especially if you take the time to make them yourself. But, if you don’t want to take the time to do that— look into unsweetened, additive free, fruit juices and purees. Purees or pure juices will be much stronger, so you can use less. Furthermore, you can dilute it with a little sparkling water to make it a spritzer. 

Look into ‘light’ juices

There are plenty of brands out there nowadays that have acknowledged a need for lower sugar juice options and healthy mixers. Therefore, many of those brands have begun to deliver. Keep an eye out in your local juice section for light juices. But, remember to check those ingredients… They can often be misleading.