Part I, Section F: Serving Bottled & Draft Beer

Question 1

What is the proper angle for
storing a bottle of beer?

BES Card #62

Answer 1

Store bottled beer upright

Question 2

What is the proper temperature for storing bottled beer?

BES Card #63

Answer 2

Lagers: 35° F (1° C)

Ales: 45° F (7° C) (slightly warmer for English ales)

Real Cask Ale: 50-55° F (10-12° C)

Otherwise, 43° F (6° C) or less.

Question 3

What are 2 visual signs of bad beer?

BES Card #64

Answer 3

1. White flakes
2. A ring of gunk inside the bottleneck

Question 4

For what style of beer should you include any yeast sediment on the bottom of the bottle?

BES Card #65

Answer 4

Weissbier is traditionally poured with the yeast included.

All other bottle-conditioned beers should be poured to agitate the yeast as little as possible, and leaving the last bit of beer in the bottle to keep the yeast inside the bottle – unless the customer asks for it.

Question 5

How should yeast be poured with the beer?

BES Card #66

Answer 5

Sometimes these beers are stored on the side, the bottle gently rolled on a flat surface prior to opening, or a small amount of beer is left in the bottle to gently agitate and liquify the remaining yeast to help include it in the pour.

Question 6

What are the 5 basic types of bottle seals?

BES Card #67

Answer 6

1. Twist-off crown
2. Pry-off crown
3. Mushroom cork (and wire cage)
4. Crown plus cork
5. Wax dipped crown

Question 7

What size bottle opener should be used for pry-off caps?

BES Card #68

Answer 7

Enough length for good leverage

A flat slot for the bottle opener

Question 8

What are 3 considerations when opening a bottle that is sealed with a mushroom cork and cage

BES Card #69

Answer 8

1. Handle gently to not rouse the yeast or
   make the beer volatile.
2. Remove the wire cage and keep a thumb over the cork at all times until it has been safely removed by twisting.
3. Point the cork away from people at all times

Question 9

How should you remove the cork from a bottle
that is sealed with a cap and cork?

BES Card #70

Answer 9

1. Handle gently to not rouse the yeast or
   make the beer volatile.
2. Lift and remove the cap with a bottle opener
3. Use a corkscrew to remove the cork as you would a wine bottle
4. Make sure that at no time the bottle is pointed at people

Question 10

What should you do with the cork or cap
after opening a bottle of beer?

BES Card #71

Answer 10

Always present the cork to the customer.

Present the cap to the customer when serving a
rare, unusual, or new beer.

Question 11

What are 4 things you should look for in the lip of the beer bottle?

BES Card #72

Answer 11

1. Broken or damaged glass
2. Rust from the cap
3. Dried beer
4. Yeast

Question 12

How should you hold the glass while pouring beer from a bottle?

BES Card #73

Answer 12

Hold the glass at a 45-degree angle and pour down the side until half full, then bring it upright and pour down the center

Question 13

What is the proper thickness for the layer of foam or head?

BES Card #74

Answer 13

1 inch (2.5 cm) of foam;

2-3 inches (5-8 cm) for Weizens or Belgian ales.

Question 14

At what angle should you hold the glass under a draft faucet pressurized by CO2?

BES Card #75

Answer 14

Hold the glass at a 45-degree angle until half full,
then hold it upright.

Question 15

How should you draw a beer using nitrogen in the propellent?

BES Card #76

Answer 15

Hold the glass at a 45-degree angle until three-fourths
full, then let it sit for 1-2 minutes.

Then pour straight down the middle of the glass to form the right amount of foam.

Question 16

How far from the tap faucet should you hold the glass?

BES Card #77

Answer 16

Hold the glass about one inch (2.5 cm) below the
faucet.

Question 17

How far should you open the tap?

BES Card #78

Answer 17

Open the tap completely open

Question 18

When should you let the faucet touch the glass?

BES Card #79

Answer 18

Never let the faucet touch the glass

Question 19

When should you let the faucet become submerged in beer or foam?

BES Card #80

Answer 19

Never let the faucet touch or be submerged in beer or foam

Question 20

At what point should you shut off the tap?

BES Card #81

Answer 20

Shut off the tap when the foam gets to the top of
the glass.

Don’t let foam or beer pour over the side, it
wastes beer.

Question 21

In which direction does the coupler handle
move to disengage from the keg?

BES Card #82

Answer 21

With a D-System (American Sankey) coupler, pull the handle out and lift it up to disengage.

Other couplers in use in Europe disengage differently

Question 22

Which direction does the D-System coupler turn to remove it from the keg?

BES Card #83

Answer 22

Turn the coupler 1/4 turn counterclockwise to disengage it from the keg.

Question 23

How is a keg coupler engaged?

BES Card #84

Answer 23

1. Place the coupler on the neck of the keg.
2. Turn it 1/4-turn clockwise.
3. Swing the handle down until it snaps into place.