Why does pouring beer onto the sides of the glass prevent it from foaming, as opposed to pouring it straight down the middle?

Question

Why does pouring beer onto the sides of the glass prevent it from foaming, as opposed to pouring it straight down the middle?

In: 83

Answer 1

Agitating the beer causes the carbon dioxide to activate. Like shaking a cola. You do want some foam on a beer though. If you pour it so it doesn’t foam at all you’ll almost assuredly get a stomach ache.