How can I get I really nice head on my beer.
I like ipa but want a nice thick head any tips

Oatmeal, carapils, carafoam

cleaner glasswear...there is a difference between a clean glass and a 'beer clean' glass. soap residue and the like are the worst things for a nice thick head. my beer glasses never go through the dishwasher, and honestly, very rarely even see soap of any sort. just rinse really well directly after use with VERY hot water, and let them dry. any soap residue will kill a head quicker than you will even realize...

I used to have a problem with lack of head (maybe I should see a marriage counselor) and I started adding 1/2 lb to 1 lb of malted wheat to most of my mashes. Now I have great head.

I add a large tsp of Cream of Tartar for 10 min in the boil. It seems to work very nicely.

Keith, there is a automatic circuit breaker that engages when you my an engagement ring (hence the name) that prevents good head.

Ok back to beertalk-

What if my pints have all gotten cloudy with soap residue from the dishwasher? Any good way to remove it?

oxyclean and sanstar, just like you would do to your glass carboys should do it.

It has been my experience, females with removable dentures provide better head. You just have to get over the visual part.
Tom

You might be a redneck if you pull out your teeth to give head.

+1 Keith C. - I just did an IPA with 1 lb. of wheat with the purpose of a bit more bite on the tongue and it has one of the creamiest heads I've ever seen on an IPA. Not too thick but about 1/4 inch. I didn't know exactly what contributed to it, but it very well may be that. That and honey malt were the only specialty grains I used on this batch different from before.

Thanks Animal... I think I'm going to give that a try

You can try all the tricks but good brewing procedure will give your beer good head. I've done 100% 2-row beers with high alcohol levels and low levels with great head (no wheat, low hops, etc. on the things to create better head). The one thing I've noticed that helps with head and beer is lots of hops. My IPAs always have a nice frothy head that leaves lace. You should have no problems with your IPA, Hopheaded. If its a problem look at your procedure before all the tricks.

actually, most if not all my beer has a thick head, but it's probably due the high gravity of my brews

One Hoppy Guy, its probably good brewing procedure. Alcohol has a tendency to break down head... well in beer anyway.

Regarding wheat, it's a bit of a half-truth. There are certain proteins required to form head and wheat has them in abundance. However, normal brewing with barley provides more than enough without any additional wheat. As Denny said: "Duvel...nothing but pils and sugar and about the best head and retention of most beers around!". So yes, wheat can help on some level but is unlikely to solve any big problems.

I'd second Jeff and AZBrewman. Good brewing practices and beer-clean glassware are the first things to take care of.

Here's a good article on the subject: http://www.tastingbeers.com/school/beer_production/12009207.html