Who likes head?

So... Who likes head and why? I've read a lot on these forums questions and answers on how to get good head. What I don't understand is why? Maybe I'm showing my inexperience with beers or maybe just my preference showing but the only thing I find head good for is a good white mustache, and my immaturity from LMAO off while writing this in seriousness.

I love any head its all good.

Head is a good thing. A day without good head is like a day without......

EdWort said:

Head is a good thing. A day without good head is like a day without......

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.....Apfelwein

Head is good...in all senses of the word...

As far as beer goes, it is certainly an aesthetic aspect of a properly poured pint. Moreover, it usually indicates a beer with good body and mouthfeel that has been crafted well. In my experience, a beer that pours with no head often tastes a bit flat or thin on the palate. I don't think anyone likes a mouth full of foam, but bit of froth shouldn't be objectionable.

I think I read somewhere that good head on a beer keeps the aromas from escaping all at once.

stout55 said:

I love any head its all good.

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I agree with this answer too though.

To me, it just is a good indication that it's well carbonated. I'd also agree that it adds to the overall mouthfeel.

bad head is better then no head

i like a good belgian lace along the side of the glass. perfect head holds until the last drink. mouthfeel is definitely key

I don't have any use for a head on beer. I figure in a brewpub, it's just that much less beer and for my own stuff, why bother? Any carbonation that goes into forming the head is lost to mouthfeel.

I do like some foam on my egg creams though.

Maybe it is just purely psychological but seeing a head on a pint of beer just completes the picture. And it is a pretty groovy picture at that.

I have to agree, head is pretty aesthetically pleasing on a beer. Maybe its because I feel in love with dark beers first that I just don't enjoy a good head, beer head...

Speaking of head... heres a funny joke my GF told me the other day.

"I will go down on you and make you extremely happy,
then I will come back up and F**K the S**T outta you.

Sincerely,

Gas Prices"

That's sad, funny and unfortunately true!

ok. here's a story... a lil'over 20 yrs ago i start a 18mo tour in germany in the army. a few of us are talking beer and bragging about our drinking skills and acohol tollerances. (we were all lieing our 18 yr old aces off) one of the guys that had been in country a while said "oh? you guys can drink huh? let's go get some ALT" he informed us that it was 25% alcohol. which was, you know..... wrong. any way, we head in to town (mainz) and go into a local bar who's name translates into "uncle willie's pub", and like every one else i say "ein alt bitta". the heads on all the alts reached above the rim of the strait necked glasses the alt was served in, but when the bar keep gets to mine, the head reaches atleast a full 2" above the rim. a few of the locals actualy applauded. our "guide" informed us that the higher the head above the rim, the better the bartender. concidering this guy wasn't correct about the alcohol content of alt, who knows if he was right about that. but from the locals reaction of the bar keeps foaming feat i can only conclude one thing....

germans really appreciate a good head.

I hate too much foam on top. It gets in the way of the beer that I should be drinking. Screw the Germans, I'll drink my beer how I want to!

I do like head though.

What about adjuncts that can diminish head retention? If the mouthfeel and carbonation levels are all 'right on' but because of the addition of chocolate, or walnuts, or whatever(oils/fat) a good head doesn't last - are they worth adding? Basically, flavor you want vs. visually pleasing head. Which would you choose?

head isn't just visual. it maintains carbonation in the beer (freshiness if you will) and gives a lot to mouthfeel. But, again, it depends on the beer.

for example:
Hefeweizen - good 1/4" head
Stout - 1/8" head is fine
Belgian Triple - 2-4" head ideally

head retention is always a must in my opinion. despite the size, i like the head to be there at least half-way through the beer.

some well-carbonated beers, due to adjuncts, cannot maintain head retention. can they still be good beers? sure. but you lose the mouthfeel and the visual aspect.

And although it's not the only thing, visual IS still important. I like my beer to have a good head on it's shoulders