why do canadians add salt to their beer, in bars in british columbia?

Question

I lived and worked in B C for 5 years in the 70's and I was surprised to see canadian boozers adding salt to their beer.

Answer 1

Two reasons; firstly to add "head" to the beer (the salt lets the Co2 come out of solution and turn back into a gas = head - also works with sugar or black pepper, thats why nowadays we have sand blasted logos in the bottom of pint glasses, it disturbs the Co2 into gas - Ravenhead (glasswear) called them "headkeeper" glasses)
also because people got used to the taste of the beer with a little salt in it.

Answer 2

I've worked in Pubs in B.C until just recently, from 1990 until May 2006. Very few drinkers here add salt to their beer. I served people who salted their beer less than a dozen times in 16 yrs. Usually it was an older person, perhaps a hold over from the era when beer was more bitter.

Answer 3

It is not just Canadian and not just salt I have seen pepper used as well. It is to release the carbon dioxide in the beer. This does two things a little more head which can make the beer taste better it also means you have less CO2 in your stomach to get rid off which is why most people do this.

Answer 4

I have lived in america all my life and I add salt to my beer now. it tones down the bitterness of beer. gives it a better taste.

Answer 5

This is a comment not an answer.in Mexico we have this "Michelada" it's: your brand of beer with ice,lots of lime juice and salt on a salt rimmed glass.Very good drink!

Answer 6

Makes the punters drink more of the beer. Same theory as salty snacks in bars

Answer 7

not only Canadians! And in Europe sometimes we make this combination. Change the taste of beer.

Answer 8

There is a rumor that adding salt cretes a head.

it only makes the beer salty

Answer 9

I told a bar man in Thailand my beer was warm, he shoved a handfull of ice cubes in it!! Salt cant be as bad as that?

Answer 10

They add salt and sometimes hot sauce and/or lemon for flavour or to mask off flavour in BEER. This is something of the past.
Nowadays, they save the salt for the good steak.