Should cider have a head?
Cider usually should not have a lasting head. Sparkling cider can form a brief foam, or mousse, when poured, but it should fade quickly; the BJCP cider guidelines treat gushing, foaming and hard-to-manage heads as faults. Still cider has no head at all, and traditional Spanish cider gets a short-lived froth only from being poured from a height.
Updated
Key facts
- A brief mousse is fine. BJCP 2025 says "At the higher carbonation levels, the mousse (head) may be retained for a short time." [1]
- A big head is a fault. It adds: "However, gushing, foaming, and difficult-to-manage heads are faults." [1]
- Still cider. "Little to no carbonation is termed still", so a still cider has no head. [1] See the glossary entry for still.
How much head do different ciders have?
| Cider | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Still farm cider | No head [1] |
| Sparkling or bottle-conditioned | A short-lived mousse [1] |
| French cidre | A brief foam stand at higher carbonation [1] |
| Spanish sidra natural | "A head may appear after the pour, but is not persistent." [1] |
For Asturian cider, the regulatory council describes good traditional sidra natural as cider whose froth "disappears quickly". [2] That is why it is poured from a height; see how to pour Spanish cider and the glossary entry for escanciado.
How do I pour cider without too much foam?
- Chill it. Cold cider holds its carbon dioxide better; see should cider be served cold.
- Tilt the glass and pour gently down the side, then straighten it.
- Leave the sediment. For bottle-conditioned cider, stop before the yeast at the bottom.
- Pick the right glass. See what glass for cider.
How much sparkle a cider has is covered in is cider carbonated; to describe it when tasting, see the guide to describing cider.
Related answers: is cider carbonated · what glass for cider
Find it on Cider Radar
- Rate a cider in Cider Radar on sweetness, body, tannin, turbidity and funk, and note how it pours.
- Guide: how sparkling is it? · Glossary: sparkling
- Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android
Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.
Questions
Why is my cider foaming too much?
Too much carbonation, a warm bottle or over-priming in homemade cider are common causes. BJCP says "gushing, foaming, and difficult-to-manage heads are faults". [1] For homemade cider, see how to carbonate homemade cider.
Does French cider have a head?
It can, briefly. BJCP 2025 says for French cider that "Higher carbonation levels may create a brief foam stand similar to soda", but at higher levels "it must not gush or foam". [1]
Sources
- 2025 BJCP Cider Style Guidelines, version 2 (PDF) — BJCP
- Natural cider — Consejo Regulador DOP Sidra de Asturias