This is why tilting a beer glass to avoid foam actually makes you bloated (2024)

FAQs

This is why tilting a beer glass to avoid foam actually makes you bloated? ›

According to Max, carbon dioxide that has not been released into a glass when pouring a beer, which is what happens when you pour beer into a tilted glass slowly, has a disastrous effect when it settles in your stomach.

When pouring soda, or any beverage with dissolved gas, tilting the glass allows for less agitation. Less agitation means that less CO2 will come out of solution—the rate at which the CO2 is coming out of solution is lower when poured down the side of a tilted glass.

Don't waste a great beer on a subpar glass. Tilt the glass 45 degrees. This will allow the beer to slide down the edge of the glass and prevent too much foam, also called head, from forming.

Wrong. When you don't let any foam loose during your pour, the CO2 stays dissolved in the beer itself. Then, once you drink the beer and proceed to eat something - say, a nacho or a chicken wing - the foam explodes into a barrage of bubbles in your stomach. That's what causes bloat.

“Get a beer, pour it down the side [of the glass] with vigor, and you're breaking that CO2 out … granted, people say that looks like a lot of foam, but foam always turns into beer.” After drinking beer that's been allowed to foam, you should be able to eat food without the belly bloat.

But too little will cause problems in your stomach. You see, if there's no foam the CO₂ stays dissolved in the beer. If you then eat something, the foam erupts in your stomach rather than the glass, causing beer bloat. That's why tipping a glass to avoid a frothy head is a rookie error.

Besides being aesthetically pleasing, the foam releases volatile aroma compounds, which enhance the flavor perception of the beer. Foam also contributes to the beer's mouthfeel and texture, while serving as a protective, insulating layer over the liquid to maintain its carbonation level, body, and temperature.

Overindulging in alcohol can also make you throw up foam. Excess alcohol can irritate your digestive system, resulting in gastritis, vomiting, pain, and indigestion.

Lastly, rinsing the glass acts as a sort of lubricant. That extremely thin layer of water reduces the friction between beer and glass. Less friction means less foam—and less chance of a foam over—resulting in less spilled beer and a better looking beer for you!

Find something oily like a french fry or a slice of pizza. Even your oily nose will work in a pinch. Get a dab of grease on your finger and swirl it through the foam and watch those bubbles disappear.

What beer is the least bloating? ›

Classic choices include pale ales, lagers, pilsners, and wheat beers. These styles are crisp, refreshing, and generally less likely to cause bloating or discomfort compared to heavier, more robust brews.

Beer can cause bloating in some people due to its carbonation and high carbohydrate content. Additionally, the fermentation process in beer can produce gas in the digestive system, leading to feelings of fullness and discomfort.

For example, light beers and wines like Moscato with an ABV of around 5% may help curb acid reflux due to being light-bodied beverages, while stronger spirits like whiskey and Scotch could make your symptoms worse.

However, if you are going to drink, having red wine in moderation is a healthier choice than other alcoholic drinks. This is due to its high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been linked to better heart and gut health.

The fusion of glass consists of three separate steps which follow each other: melting, refining and the cooling down period. As its name indicates, the purpose of refining is to clean out of the fused glass air bubbles which it might contain.

Water molecules are attracted to the molecules in the wall of the glass beaker. And since water molecules like to stick together, when the molecules touching the glass cling to it, other water molecules cling to the molecules touching the glass, forming the meniscus.

Bubbles are comprised of gases, which have a lesser density than water. Since they are less dense, they get pushed up to the surface, and they rise, lighter than the liquid around them. This is just like helium in air; helium is lighter than air, so it rises, pushed to the top by the pressure around it.

If the atmospheric pressure happens to be falling as the water warms, the equilibrium between gas molecules leaving and joining the air/water interface becomes unbalanced and tips in favor of them leaving the water, which causes even more gas to come out of solution. Hence bubbles along the insides of your water glass.