Written by Recently we did a little post here on beer glass styles where Bob the Brit shared some of his more interesting beer drinking glasses. He’s got everything from regular pint glasses, to leather vessels, to a sterling silver beauty from the 1700′s! If you missed the post and all the cool pictures, check it out!
My beer glass collection on the other hand, is a bit more basic. I have a few pint glasses, a few lager glasses and a couple of tulips!
It seems, particularly with the Belgian beers, there is a glass for every beer. Not just every beer style, but each brand! This chalice, that chalice – WTF?
In the USA, some interesting and notable examples of brand-specific beer glasses are the funky Sam Adams glass (on the left), and the Dog Fish Head Glass. (below) I think its a trend that is taking off. But why?
So, being someone who is looking to learn – I put this question out to you.
Do different beer glasses
If you were to drink a glass of Chimay in a Westmalle chalice glass, would you be missing something from the experience? OR, what if you were to drink something like Coors Lite in a Dogfish Head glass (with the nucleation thing for bubble-making) would the Coors taste a lot better?
I’m just throwing out examples here, but I’m really wondering if special beer glasses actually make a particular beer taste better than if the same beer were drank from another glass? Or, is it more of a marketing gimmick and conversation piece?
Don’t get me wrong, I like the variety and the statement that a cool looking beer glass glass can make (even though I don’t own any!). I also can see the branding that gets reinforced by serving a particular beer in a particular glass - but, does the glass make a real difference when it comes to a beer’s taste?
I’d also like to thank Royce from F*ck if We Know for the inspiration for this post, and getting me to ponder this question. He had mentioned that there was a restaurant near his home that had 3o-something beers, each served with their own special glass! Hmmmm. Over the top, or refined beer-drinking technology? What say you?
Way over the top. Due to a lack of glassware, I always drink out of a beer mug or pint. I will admit that this could be too limited. More than once I’ve been told that I need a glass with a wide brim to get the full aroma of big beers. I think you probably need 2-3 types of must-have beer drinking paraphernalia in your arsenal and anything above that is overkill.
-Lost
.-= Lost´s last blog ..Cisco Indie Pale Ale =-.
@Lost – that’s kinda where I’m at too. I’ll drink my ales from a pint glass, lagers from a lager glass and some beers from my tulip glass. More for nice pictures than taste, but I could be wrong, and that’s what I’m trying to find out. Hoping to hear other opinions on the matter.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Beer Glass Styles =-.
I have to say that I do believe that some glass (tulips, goblets, etc) help release more of the aroma from the beer. I personal have that DFH glass there and it is awesome. It absolutely helps you get more of the aroma. It has a little DFH logo etched on the bottom of the inside of the glass that allows bubbles to flow. It will also leave a tiny DFH logo in the head of the beer after a bit. It’s really freaking cool.
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Legbiter =-.
Ditto what Mike said.
The more you smell something the more you can taste it. You wouldn’t eat filet mignon with a close pin sealing up your nose would you? Of course not…
I prefer tulip. For A big barleywine I like a brandysnifter.
That being said, I don’t have a massive collection. All my glass wear is from the thrift store and probably only cost me $.50 / glass.
.-= nate´s last blog ..Doing the Right Thing: Bell’s Brewery, Inc. =-.
Okay, I concede that maybe my collection is more than a little over the top – what can I say? I’m a beer geek! And yes, as @lost suggets, I could survive with maybe three or four glasses. One for Wheat Beers, one for Pilsners, one for aromatic Belgian ales, and a tasting glass for the Brewclub reviews.
But there’s a certain pleasure to be had from drinking the right brew from the right glass, and if a bar takes that much trouble, then respect to them.
And I can’t describe the buzz I get from drinking from that silver tankard… how many people have drunk from it? And where? That tankard was 45 years old when George Washington took his Presidential oath! What toasts caused that dent on the side? Whose health were they drinking to?
.-= Bob Massey´s last blog ..Hanging on the Telephone =-.
Very cool, Bob. I agree totally.
There is a LOT to be said for ambience. I hope to have a collection like yours someday!
.-= nate´s last blog ..Doing the Right Thing: Bell’s Brewery, Inc. =-.
I do think that glasses matter for certain beers as previously mentioned. I’ve been using the Spiegelau Lager glasses vs. a normal pint glass here for a bit of time and even with that, I notice a difference in the beer. My wife thinks I’m crazy, but the hops smell brighter and the carbonation seems to release more balanced.
It might just be me, but I really do think a good glass affects the beer. Then again a good beer is going to taste good in whatever you drink it from.
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Beer Review #56 Tire Bite Golden Ale =-.
Great replies!
@Mike – See, I would buy the DFH glass just for that! That is pretty cool!
@THFB-Nate – I agree that smell enhances taste, but is it the width of the mouth on the glass, or the shape itself? I suppose this is silly, but drinking beer from a bucket would give you more beer surface area and more aroma, no?
@Bob the Brit – You have a great collection indeed, ESPECIALLY the silver tankard. That thing must have some stories to tell. (If only I spoke sterling!)
@Nate – My lager and tulip are also Spiegelau, and I think they are great looking glasses. I really need to do a side-by-side with some beers as you have.
So far, it seems most people think there is a difference!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Rogue Brewery Dead Guy Ale =-.
Scott, the unique shape of a tulip glass helps maintain the head longer than a pint glass or a bucket, for that matter
Both Tulip glasses and brandy snifters, while offering a space to open up the flavors, also have a curved shape that literally traps aroma (SNIFFter) so that a beer/brandy lover can dig their nose right into the pocket of aroma.
.-= nate´s last blog ..Doing the Right Thing: Bell’s Brewery, Inc. =-.
I like Bob am becoming a bit of a freak with collecting glassware. I now have a few different styles of pint, pilsner, tulip, snifters and goblets.
.-= Mike – MikeLovesBeer.com´s last blog ..My Plans for Philly Beer Week 2010 =-.
I’m something of a beer-glass junkie myself, never missing an opportunity to add a new or unique one to my growing collection. (I wouldn’t call myself the world’s most preeminent glassware fan or hoarder, far from it, but I am enamored enough with them that I decided to go through my collection and do a write up on each one; that effort has stalled a little bit of late but hopefully not for too much longer.)
I do have a handful of glasses that are my favorites and that I find to be pretty versatile for most styles. These tend to be round pieces of stemware, with a good width-to-height ratio, tapered at the top — for example, the New Belgium balloon glass and the Delirium glass have proven themselves to be regulars in my usage rotation. I like these glasses in particular because they seem to do a good job of gathering up head and aroma and therefore, I believe at least, enhancing the beer’s smell and taste about as well as you can expect glassware to do so.
But I do like the novelty and ceremonial aspect of breaking out some of my more little-used glasses, especially if it’s historically connected to a style I don’t drink as often or when I have on hand the actual beer itself a particular glass was branded for. If you have options, you might as well mix it up, right?
.-= Brad´s last blog ..Beer Cocktail Bandwagon? =-.
@nate – thanks for the clarification!
See, I didn’t know that! BUT- what about a bucket with a curved lip? I bet there would be a demand for such a thing. Maybe one with an etched batman logo inside so people get the batman sign in the beer head when they’re enjoying their beer bucket!
@Mike – I definitely feel an inclination to start my own beer glass collection, even if ‘m not fully convinced of the concept. The variety IS cool! Like nate, I’m keeping a lookout for interesting glasses in antique or thrift shops, but so far nothing special!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Helios Ale – Victory Brewing Company =-.
I tend to agree with what most are saying and I feel that it depends more on the beer style/quality than anything else. Prime example… I don’t think I’ll be pouring that Cantillon Lou Pepe into a pint glass, but this is the exception, not the rule.
I drink my beers out of plastic cups when I’m too lazy to wash a glass, it doesn’t effect the taste or enjoyment.
@Matt – Thanks! I do that too if it isn’t something I’m taking a picture of, or if I’m out of whatever glasses. I think my only personal rule is that I won’t drink any beer right from the bottle (I do have some standards!)
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Delirium Tremens – Belgian Beer Review =-.
Interesting placement of the * in the F*uck if We Know name, Scott… usually the asterisk replaces a letter in the word, not serving just as a mid-word addition haha
An interesting discussion about the beer glasses. It does seem like there’s some consensus that some of the different shapes can help the aroma. I do agree that your basic two or three styles will get the job done though. Like I say, for my part the Sam Adams class kind of combines the hefeweizen/pils glass with the tulib bulb head, giving the best of both worlds to some degree.
I want to give a special mention to etching in the glass that can make the head hold for longer, or add more carbonation, or whatever. That does seem like a physical attribute some glassware could add to a beer.
Beyond that having a collection of glasses is just fun. It can sure make the drinking scene look more interesting!
.-= Royce´s last blog ..Music Tuesdays via Grace Boyle – F*cked From Above 1985 by the Bloody Beetroots =-.
@Royce – good catch! Maybe I had too much beer aroma when I typed it! Sorry bout that, and thanks for the inspiration!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Stone Pale Ale =-.
@Brad – thanks for commenting and sharing that! Going over to check out your glasses now!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Delirium Tremens – Belgian Beer Review =-.
I do think it makes some difference, and there are even some studies out there showing that a glass that really shows off the beer’s aroma changes how people judge that beer. Nate’s comment about the filet mignon is spot on. That said, I see some companies charging a fortune for glassware. That is just a load of bs. Does a $100 pilsner glass make the beer taste 10X better than a $10 glass? No way. It’s one thing if you want to get into collecting glasses, which I’m getting more and more into, but overpriced glasses aren’t going to make a bad beer taste good. It’s always about the beer first. .
.-= Billy Broas´s last blog ..The 5 Strongest Microbrews – In a Can =-.
@Billy Broas – thanks for the comment! I hadn’t even considered price, but its worth thinking about now that you’ve mentioned it. You mention studies being done – if you ever come across something that you could link to, I’d be very interested in reading it! That’s what I’m looking for – something a little more scientific, you know?
Nate is correct with the assertion that aroma enhances flavor, (both food and beer) and we’ve both gone to extremes to illustrate our points
but, as each person experiences food and drink differently, its really hard (I think) to quantify the value of a ‘special’ glass. I’d love to read some of the science on this!
In conclusion, you’re absolutely right – its always about the beer first!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Rogue Brewery Dead Guy Ale =-.
I was just going to write about this – I have a bar that I frequent that serves each beer in its own special glass, but honestly I could care less. I really like beer, but I enjoy drinking it without having to worry about having the right glass, or any glass for that matter. I will admit having the glass and letting the beer open up does matter for some (Oskar Blues Old Chub for example), but again, it doesn’t ruin my enjoyment of a good beer.
Scott – we are running a contest this month – leave a comment and win a 6 pack of that beer. You posted in Hell or High Watermelon.. is that really your choice? I have a review of Founders Breakfast Stout coming so you may want to wait!
http://www.myweeklybeer.com/june-contest-win-a-6-pack/
.-= Dan-MyWeeklyBeer´s last blog ..Matchbox Capitol Hill – Washington DC =-.
I enjoy the various glassware as art, but sorry, I don’t buy into the hype that the specific glasses are necessary for the enjoyment of a given type of beer. It’s an individual thing though.
I think the Sam Adams line of beers are great, some of my favorite commercial brews actually without much of the b.s. that accompanies some of the ‘cult’ beers out there…that is, except for these glasses that the Sam Adams folks are pushing. Unfortunately, these glasses are finding their way into a lot of bars.
Why unfortunate? One of the troubling things is that many bars are selling these as “pints’ at pint prices (much like the ‘cheater’ glasses that look like shaker pints and which are sold as pints, but capable of holding only 14 oz and taking into account the picturesque head on the beer, usually deliver only 12 oz!!) I’m surprised that there hasn’t been more rumblings about this smarmy practice, one that is becoming more widespread.
Sorry for getting sidetracked…but to the original topic: my preferred glass is either a dimple mug or a classic ‘nonick’ or barring those, a straight sided, thin walled glass.
I concede that I’ll sometimes pull out a snifter for my Scotch ale or well aged barleywine. That, though, is mainly to slow me down and remind me that some beers are better in small sips and savored
Other than that, I consider the current trend of gimmick glassware to be just that. VERY nice to look at though, and I appreciate the design artistry. To each his own.
Cheers.
Great thoughts @Professor! I typically pour my own, so I’m not as concerned about an ounce or two in a glass – but for those who hit the pubs more frequently, perhaps this should be kept in mind! Those ounces add up! ($$$)
@Dan – didn’t know about the contest, but I’ll be over for sure when you post review the Founders! I do think letting most beers open up a bit is helpful as is not having them too cold.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Stone Pale Ale =-.
I think Dan made a nice point right there… I don’t like having to worry about things when I drink my beer. Things like, “did I make the wrong glassware choice?” So to that end, have a limited glassware rotation (to steal a sports term) makes choices a no brainer.
However, I also agree with the Professor that sometimes it’s good to enjoy certain beers with the same respect and deliberation as you would a whiskey… I know that’s how I would treat the Tactical Nuclear Penguin or a beer of that ilk, for instance.
What a great question! While I have a bunch of different glasses I rarely use more than two or three; pilsner style glass, Sam Adams glass and my Guinness pint glass. I am sure if you ask these brewers if this or that glass affected how the beer tasted and smelled I’m sure the answer is yes. But can the average or even the above average beer drinker notice the difference? Doubtful.
I do think that certain styles of beer do better in certain glasses. And this only because of how the beer behaves in the glass. For IE: They say a hefeweizen needs that tall glass to allow the head to form properly. Could this be accomplish with another type of glass…probably. And Belgian’s say their beer needs that chalice style glass to help release the smell of beer. And they are right to a point, that large opening in the glass gives more surface area for the beer allowing you to smell much more of the beer while you are drinking it. But the need for every beer to have its own glass…that’s just good ole marketing.
FWIW, I will say that beer in the Sam Adam’s glass tastes Distinctly different then the same beer poured into a standard pint glass. Plus I pretty much have to use those glasses…they are too expensive not to.
.-= Scott – TheBeerCritic´s last blog ..Summer Ale – Shipyard Brewing Co. =-.
@Scott – Great thoughts! Yeah, I guess if you shell out the $$$ for the glass its got to make the beer taste better!
I think there have been some really interesting opinions regarding beer glasses here. Thanks!!!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Samuel Smiths Organic Lager =-.
I think the glassware you use to enjoy your beer in does make a big difference in the drinking experience. I am a huge fan of the Samuel Adams Glass and I have different glasses for different types of beers. To me beer is all about taste and presentation. Some beers just deserve a nice glass, for example Guinness, and Delirium Tremens, others are just fine out of the bottle or in a regular Pint Glass, such as Coors Lite, Miller Lite etc.
.-= The Brave Little Toaster aka Pedro´s last blog ..A Very Special Birthday Post… =-.
@Pedro – good to hear from you again! I agree that presentation can make a good beer experience a better beer experience. One of these days I’ll get my own SA glasses and see what the deal is!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Dale’s Pale Ale – A Beer Review =-.
well i only use a pilsner glass and a 22oz mug……the do me just fine…i refuse to enjoy my brews from the can or bottle…..its a matter of class to me..not taste or aromatics…..lol
@Bud-is-wiser. There ya go! For the most part, I drink my beers from a standard pint glass, or if I’m feeling fancy my Chamay goblet. Like you, I can’t drink it from the bottle or can, no matter what the beer is! Its got to be a glass or nothing at all!