How to pour the perfect beer

The glass: Get a proper beer glass that is a good full shape and curves in a little at the top to trap the beer's aromas. Make sure it is clean. Chill it in the fridge for an hour or so.

The beer: Beer is never better than when it is delivered from the brewer. It does not improve with age.

The temperature: Varies with personal taste and with the style of beer. For most lager-style beers, something around typical household refrigerator temperatures is fine.

Pouring: Puur some beer into the bottom of the glass to form a head. Gently pour the beer directly onto the foam to break any large bubbles and pack the head. Leave for a short period then tilt the glass and fill carefully. Straighten the glass as it fills and keep pouring until the head just froths over the rim of the glass.

Bitterness of the hops tends to be most concente in the foam of the head. If you like a good hit of hops to jolt the tastebuds, give yourself a more generous head and sip the beer through it.

Savouring the beer: Inhale gently to take in the aroma of the beer. This will awaken your tastebuds to the flavours that are to follow. Then sip, letting the cool beer flow over the tongue so you savour the full complexity of the flavour.