Pour the beer delicately and move the glass progressively away from the bottle while it fills up in order to create a proper head of foam. The head must be 3 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) on average.

The head is essential for two reasons. First, one can only fully appreciate the aroma of a beer when the head of the beer lets escape the aromatics and other perfumes that make up its bouquet.

Secondly, the head is essential to protect the beer from the air so as to counter the effect of possible oxydation on the flavour of the beer. Once the head is formed and according to the style of the beer, tilt the glass to make the liquid go up and verify the thickness of the head, which should persist to the end.