
Proper beer glassware is a treasured part of beer culture.
The right glass makes all the difference and can be the center stage for a wonderful beer-drinking experience. From the many specific shapes of Belgian breweries to the new American styles tailored to make drinking those craft beer hazy IPAs an out-of-this-world experience, here is what you need to know about beer glasses.
Did you know glassware affects the taste and appearance of your beer? And there are many so types of beer glasses!
Why Does the Type of Beer Glass Matter?
There are so many reasons why the type of beer glass matters. First, in some countries, the glass is chosen by the brewer to bring out the best experience possible. So what does the proper glass do?
First, how the glass feels in the hand is important. An outward tapered glass, or ridges, prevents the glass from sliding out of your hand. For larger vessels, a handle might be required.
Next, a beer glass, just like a wine glass, can be designed to bring out the aromas of the liquid. In the general narrow top and wider bottom help most. However, you might spot a classic Pilsner glass that has an outward taper. This is done to affect the foam.
The tapered shape serves as a “wedge” and gives the head of the top of the beer some additional support. An inwardly tapered beer glass forces the head in on itself.
Don’t think the rim doesn’t play an important part, because it sure as heck does. Whether the rim is flared outward or inward, it will change the part of the mouth in which the beer is delivered.
A flared rim will distribute the liquid more widely across the mouth, not just on the center of the tongue.
Finally, when it comes to size, that is also an intentional choice. I mean, are you really going to expect a 10% ABV Barleywine craft beer to be poured into a 32-ounce beer stein? No.
Instead, beer glasses range from a few ounces to a full liter in capacity! Typically, you’ll find the beer will be matched to the glass with stronger beers being served in smaller glasses.
STANDARD BEER GLASSES
GOBLETS AND CHALICES
Goblets and chalices are the ultimate beer glasses for drinking Abbaye or Trappist beers. This shape makes the foam disappear quickly so the drinker can better enjoy the taste. The chalice beer glasses are usually heavy and thick and used for drinking double, triple and sometimes even quadruple beers. Trappist beers like Orval, Westmalle and Chimay all have this style of glasses with their name.
THE TULIP BEER GLASS
The tulip beer glass was made popular by Duvel, whose brewers were one of the first in Belgium to use a glass like that. It is a round-shaped glass with a wider opening. This shape allows the beer to keep its foam and locks in all the aromas and flavours.
THE FLUTE BEER GLASS
The flute is a long beer glass designed for highly carbonated beers. It is perfect for serving lambics, gueuzes, german lagers or flanders oud bruin beers. Champagne glasses were an inspiration for creating the flute beer glass.
THE TEKU BEER GLASS
Teku is quite a different beer glass and looks more like wine could be served in it. The reason is that it was designed for beer tasting by an Italian. The name comes after the nickname of the designer. So if you go for a proper beer tasting, you can notice Teku beer glasses that are all about perceiving aromas and flavors.
UNIQUE BEER GLASSES
While some beer glasses look classy and make sense, then others make you wonder. Here are some bizarre-looking beer glasses that you might have seen around.
BOOT SHAPED BEER GLASS
This boot-shaped beer glass is called “Das Boot” in German. There are several stories around the glass, but no one is exactly sure about the origin story. We do know it comes from Germany. It is a glass that you can bring out during Oktoberfest to fit in a pint of beer.
HOURGLASS-SHAPED BEER GLASS, KWAK
This beer glass has an amusing origin story. It is said that a man named Pauwel Kwak invented the beer glass. Pauwel felt sorry for all the coachmen who had to stay with their coaches to watch the horses and luggage during a stop while the clients could enjoy themselves. Thus, Pauwel came up with a glass with wooden support that helps the coachmen not spill the drink. Then the coachmen could enjoy a drink while waiting in the coach.
HORN SHAPED BEER GLASS
The horn-shaped beer glass has a dark history. It is said that during the thirty years of war, a hundred villagers were hanged in a horn-shaped forest. They were mistaken to be French. One of them was a brilliant beer brewer, who buried the recipe under a tree before being hanged. Following the story, a horn-shaped beer glass was created that serves a few selected beers.
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