There are three camps of beer drinkers. Those who will only drink beer out of a bottle, those who will only drink beer from the appropriate corresponding glass, and those who don’t care where they drink beer from, as long as the beer is cold and tastes good.
For that second group of beer lovers, pairing the right beer with the right glass is as important as the quality and flavor of the beer. Here is a list of every type of beer glass that you'll ever need.
Stemmed Pokal The wider top and narrower base helps to promote a nice head of foam while the stem prohibits your hand from altering the temperature of the glass. The top portion of the glass varies in shapes; some glasses are curved like a wine glass where as other look like a pint glass on a stem. Beers like Weisenbock, Red Lager, and American Malt Liquor are often served in this glass.
Nonic Imperial Pint Spelled either nonic no nonick, both versions mean the same thing: no nicks. Because the glass curves inward at the top, it is less likely to catch little nicks and then become unusual. Some of these glasses curve out near the top and then back in, others only have a curved ridge about an inch from the top of the glass, and do not curve inwards. The belief behind this nonic glass is that it’s easier to hold on to and less likely to slip from your hand, causing nicks or worse, shatters. Beers commonly served in this glass are American and British pale ales, rye beers, and spiced beer.
Handled Glass Stein Made with thick glass, a handle, and a pattern of indentations of various shapes and sizes, the beer stein’s original design dates back to the 1500s. Stein comes from the German word Steinzeugkrug, which means stoneware or tankard (a mug made from silver or pewter. Typical beers served in a stein are American, English, and German lagers.
Snifter Although snifters are typically used for rich wines like brandies and cognacs, snifters are also perfect for serving richer, stronger ales such as Belgian dark ales and Gueuze. It’s not uncommon for people to pour only a portion from the beer bottle and into the snifter to allow room to swirl the beer.
Weissbier Vase This beer glass is often referred to as a vase due to its size. It’s a tall glass that quickly slopes outward about half an inch from the base. It’s good for containing a lot of head and when necessary, hosting a bouquet of flowers. Some of the beers served in this glass are Hefeweizen, Dunkelweizen, and Belgian wheat beers.
Pilsner Flute The Pilsner flute is the most elegant of the beer glass family. The vessel is tall and slender, and good for compartmentalizing the head and the color of the beer. It’s also a great glass to showcase the sparkling elements of beers. Some beers served in this glass are German pilsner, bock, and doppelbock , though it was originally created strictly for Pilsners.
Tulip Glass This tulip shaped glass is know to support the head of the beer while also holding in the aromas of the beer. The curve of the glass above the stem resembles the tulip flower. Duvel beer is often served in a tulip glass and the company keeps many American bars well stocked with its branded glassware. Other beers often enjoyed from this glass are Belgian IPA, Scotch ale, and American Imperial IPA.
Mugs and Goblets Mugs have handles, and goblets do not, but these two types of glassware have ornate designs in common. Goblets are more common in Europe for Belgian and German beers, whereas mugs are very popular in the United States for serving American beers. Beers like English porter, Irish dry stout, Baltic porter, and Vienna lager are good fits for this glassware.
Stemmed Abbey Goblet Stemmed glassware, including wine and champagne glasses, is less likely to be effected by the temperature of you hand. Stemmed glasses are often brought out for light beers such lagers, or for fruit beers and Belgian Iambics.
American Pint Glass The pint glass is the most common type of beer glass in bars and restaurants. It’s easy to clean, easy to stack behind the bar, and easily replaceable when it inevitably breaks. The American pint glass is commonly used for any type of beer, as well as other beverages that restaurants and bars serve, such as water, soda, and iced tea. Bartenders frequently use the glass too, as it fits into a martini shaker perfectly.
Did you know: If you put a little bit of water in the base of the beer glass, it keeps the beer from foaming too much? Discovering your favorite type of beer glass can be just as rewarding as finding your favorite type of brand of brew. Try using a few different styles to discover which kind of beer camp you belong to.