Absolutely No Head

[rodwha]

I've been brewing jalapeño ales that, despite carapils/carafoam (5%), just won't hold a head longer than 5 seconds.

Asking about this a got a response that suggested it's possible jalapeños have an oil. I didn't find anything that verifies this, but I noted the habanero beer I made had no issues, though there were far less and in a stronger beer.

I'm wondering if there is any way around this. Can I force it to keep a head using a lot of wheat?

 

[Homercidal]

You think that's bad, try being married for 20+ years!

Ba dum tsh!

But seriously folks, I don't think I had a problem with habaneros, but I only used about a total of 6 GRAMS. I wouldn't expect jalapenos to have much oil, but I don't really know.

 

[Jimbodaman]

Is it possible dish soap was used to clean something and not rinsed thoroughly enough? I've had that problem before.

 

[rodwha]

I quit using dish soap a couple of years ago (PBW or OxyClean).

 

[Queequeg]

Well malted barley is about 2-3% fat, jalapeños are about 0.4% fat. So i think its not fat. Either is something else in the chillies or something else in your process

 

[rodwha]

I will be conducting an experiment here soon comparing the use of jalapeños in the boil vs using them as an extract in liquor and "dry peppered." Not what I was wanting to compare but maybe something will show up concerning head retention.

 

[rodwha]

"You think that's bad, try being married for 20+ years!"

I hear you! This was a part of an extreme bribe along with nice rye whiskey and 5 cigars! She knows my weaknesses!

 

[rodwha]

My process has been to roast the boiled jalapeños at 350* for 30 mins and slice thin. The others are left raw and sliced thin, and placed in liquor for a few weeks and used as a "dry pepper" for 7 days.

I had used 2-row but now use 6-row along with a little crystal and carafoam.

 

[rodwha]

Hold on a second! I'm at a food truck park Red Solo cupping it and I have minimal head retention. It's not much, but it's there.

I use to wash my glasses with dish soap until I found out it was bad. I salt scrubbed them and have been using a jar of old Star San to clean them.

What gives? And how do I start over with my glasses (it's been a couple of years since I had soap)?

 

[HBWarke]

That's what she said.

 

[rodwha]

At the bar last night and talked with the bartender about my jalapeño beers not holding a head and the possibility of oils being the killer so he muddled a piece and put it in beer. It did reduce the head a little where it went through, but didn't destroy it like mine.

It seems the only other thing might be extracting in liquor or "dry peppering" it for a week.