Why Is The Head On Beer White, When The Beer Itself Isn't?

If you've ever drunk a glass, schooner, or, more properly, pint of beer, at some point you may have wondered why the head of the beer appears so much lighter than the beer itself. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

While beers vary and maltier, darker heads are possible, as a general rule the foam is lighter than the drink itself, and often looks white. This is despite the amber, or even dark brown/black appearance of the beer (or, to fend off the beer fanbase, stout, ales, pilsners, lagers etc etc).

So why is this? First up, what gives beer their usual colors? That is the result of caramelization, or the breaking down of sugars and reformation into complex compounds due to heating, and Maillard reactions.

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