Choosing the Right Beer Glass
Just as fine wines and elegant cocktails all have their de facto glasses designed for greater enjoyment of their distinctive characteristics, so too does beer have its array of vessels that enhance the profiles of its myriad styles. So, leave us drink on MacDuff.
Imperial Pint
De rigueur for English Ales, this glass has a bulbous bulge from about the upper middle of the glass to the top in order to allow proper head development, minimize carbonation loss, and to concentrate aromas for a fuller flavor profile while drinking.
The Pilsner Glass
Used for Pilsners and lighter lagers, which are marked by stronger carbonation, light straw overtones, and a crisp finish, this tall and slender glass is tapered along straight lines from top to bottom. Its design provides an excellent presentation of the color, clarity, as well as a better view for watching the bubbles in the beer. Although they typically have a thick base, some models are stemmed.
Weizen (wheat beer) Glass
With its thinner walls and luxurious curves, the Weizen glass design accentuates the larger heads produced by these types of beer to heighten the visual appeal and to concentrate aromas. Taller than a pint glass, and curvier than a Pilsner, its shape originated as a way to trap residual yeast at the bottom of the glass.
Tulip Glass
Designed specifically for Scottish ales, abbey ales in the Belgian-style, its bulbous body and flared lip allows for proper head development and retention while concentrating aromas to allow the proper mix of liquid and air during drinking, showcasing the complexity of the ancient brews. The stem is there to keep hand warmth from raising the ales temperature. The Thistle Glass is its Scottish sibling.
Beer Mug
Available in a range of sizes and decorative motifs, this handled, heavy beer glass is as iconic a beer drinking glass as there is. Its large mouth is perfect for releasing the aromas of English, American, and German lagers.
Beer Stein
Perhaps even more identifiable than the beer mug, the beer stein, with its heft and pewter lid is more closely associated with the gemütlichkeit of beirgartens and Oktoberfest than with a particular beer. The lid, by the way, was added during the Middle Ages as a way to keep diseased flies (or any flies, really – I mean does it matter) from falling into the brew.
Shaker, or American, Pint
This standard glass in many American bars, restaurants, and pubs, is not designed for a particular type of beer, but is a multi-purpose tumbler that can accommodate a number of styles. Most places order them specifically, emblazoning them with logos and designs for promotions, advertising, or giveaways, but they are also available for purchase by anyone.
As your appreciation of the offerings from the beer world continues to expand, adding each of these types of glasses to match the style of beer you are sampling will help you enjoy them even more. To gain an even greater appreciation about how the glass and beer interact, try serving in a glass for a style different from what you are drinking and note the differences.