There is always some debate over which type of beer glass you should choose. And honestly, does it really matter. Well, science says it does. Yeah science! According to the BeerAdvocate.com, the foam created by pouring a beer acts as a net for many volatiles in a beer – compounds that evaporate from beer to create its aroma, such as hop oils, all kinds of yeast fermentation byproducts like alcohol, fusels and fruity esters, spices or other additions. The glass can help to create a full head maximizing the volatiles and increasing the fullness, flavor, color and aroma.
Different glasses complement different styles of beer for a variety of reasons, including showcasing the appearance and/or having an effect on the beer head. Several kinds of beer glassware have a stem which serves to prevent the body heat of the drinker’s hand from warming the beer.
Pilsner Glass: Used primarily for light beer including pale lager and pilsner
Snifters: Primarliy used for serving brandy or cognac, beer lovers use these for double/imperial IPAs and Belgian ales
Weizen Glass: This glass originated in Germany and is used to serve wheat beer. It is slightly wider at the top allowing for what beer’s thick, fluffy head
Stangen: Traditionally used for Kölsch
Goblet or Chalice: These large, stemmed, bowl-shaped glasses are used for serving heavy Belgian ales, German bocks and other big sipping beers. The distinction between the two glasses is typically in the glass thickness with the goblet being more thin and delicate while the chalice is heavy and thick.
Tulip Glass: Recommended for serving Scottish ales, America double/imperial IPAs, barleywines, Belgian ales and other aromatic beers.
Pint Glass: Pint glasses hold an imperial pint (568 ml or 1.2 US pints). They come in different shapes and sizes some with handles some without. Conical pint glasses are shaped like a cone, Nonic pint glasses bulge out a few inches from the top and Dimple Mugs are short, fat mugs with dimples and handles.
Helpful Tips & Beer Myths:
1. Never drink beer from a chilled glass. (Gasp!) That’s right, we’ve been doing it all wrong. Chilling the glass causes condensation to occur and dilute your beer. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
2. Make sure the glass is clean. That may sound silly but if your beer glass has greasy residue, bits of food or lint left over from your towel, it’s going to alter that taste of your beer. Always hand wash your beer glass with a clean cloth or sponge and let it air dry on a clean rack.
4. Beer is best served ice cold. Not true. You lose aromatics when you serve beer too cold. In general, beer is best consumed between 46℉ and 50℉.
5. Bottled beer is better than cans. So. Not. True. According to Charles Bamforth, Ph.D., author and professor of malting and brewing sciences (I didn’t see those classes when I was in college!) at the University of California-Davis, “With time, oxygen coming in under the bottle cap will make your beer taste like cardboard, and light coming in through the glass will turn it skunky.” the worst bottles are clear or have twist-off caps. Nothing hold in freshness like an air-tight can whose contents have never seen the light of day.
