Why does tap beer give me a headache?

Tap beer has MUCH more carbonation in it, Carbonation comes from CO2, which de-oxyginates the blood.

Headaches are caused by lack of hydration & oxygenation to the brain. Beer causes dehydration and when you throw in the extra amount of CO2 provided by tap beer, you are garaunteed a headache.

It does the same thing to me too!

Draft Beer Headache

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RE:

Why does tap beer give me a headache?

I can drink beer from a can or bottle and I am fine, but if I drink beer from tap it gives me bad headache, even after only 2 or 3 beers. Brand doesn't seem to matter, all tap beer gives me a headache, why is that?

I think there is something to be said for some of these comments - CO2 volume (and the fact that you stick your nose in the bubbles, which you don't via can or bottle) is a good one. Try blowing on the top of the beer before you stick your nose into the glass.

The oxygen comment is way off - the military uses oxygen to cure headaches.

The cleaning fluid seems likely to me, though it's out of the pipes pretty quick.

The improperly cleaned glass issue is definitely true - some places don't change out their rinse water. So if the head on the beer disappears quick, the glass wasn't rinsed well. If there are lots of bubbles coming from the sides, it wasn't washed well.

Other effects could be tyramine (see below) or sulfites (if you're only drinking McBeer or widely available commercial beer). When you say "no matter what beer", does this include Microbrewery beer too? I'm betting it doesn't...

Nitrogen Beer Tap

Some beers use nitrogen to keep them under pressure and give the beer a creamy head. Nitrogen can cause headaches in some people (similar feeling to an ice cream headache)

It is possible you are allergic to the cleaning fluid used to flush the pipes in bars and clubs. although the system is cleaned thoroughly and rinsed there is a possibility that reminants of the cleaning fluid are effecting you.

Alternatively, perhaps you are just dehydrated before you start to drink and if this is the case I recommend you drinking a shandy first (lemonade and beer) to prepare yourself for the other drinks that will follow.

Good Luck!

If any alcohol gives you a headache, perhaps you re chronically dehydrated. If you drink a lot of caffeine, and you don t drink a lot of water during the day, this might be the case without you realizing it

tap beer has a lot more crap in it.

it has a much shorter shelf life.

a lot more oxidation,which means for carbonation

more gas.

that;s what usually causes a headache.

There is high likelihood of the alcohol in the beer dissolving lead compounds or other organic toxins from the tap.Go for a toxicity test-sooner the better.