Yeah, I have run across that with soda before, people that intentionally let it go flat because they prefer the flavor without the dissolved CO2 and warm. According to my friend that was living in Japan at the time (who we were visiting on that trip), the large head of foam on the beer in Japan is mostly an aesthetic choice.
Having a head of foam absolutely impacts the flavor of beer as it helps slow the beer from oxidation by acting as a barrier to prevent ambient oxygen molecules from interacting with the beer underneath the foam. However, a much more modest 1/2 to 1 inch head serves that purpose pretty well. The desire for such large piles of foam is all about the style it is perceived to have.
I personally am not picky enough about what I eat or drink to really notice these things, but having so much foam does make drinking it a bit messier as it gets all over your upper lip/nose as you drink it.
Yeah, I have run across that with soda before, people that intentionally let it go flat because they prefer the flavor without the dissolved CO2 and warm. According to my friend that was living in Japan at the time (who we were visiting on that trip), the large head of foam on the beer in Japan is mostly an aesthetic choice.
Having a head of foam absolutely impacts the flavor of beer as it helps slow the beer from oxidation by acting as a barrier to prevent ambient oxygen molecules from interacting with the beer underneath the foam. However, a much more modest 1/2 to 1 inch head serves that purpose pretty well. The desire for such large piles of foam is all about the style it is perceived to have.
I personally am not picky enough about what I eat or drink to really notice these things, but having so much foam does make drinking it a bit messier as it gets all over your upper lip/nose as you drink it.