Choosing the Right Glass

Having the right glassware can enhance a beer. The fine people at the Boston Beer Company have raised awareness of this through a successful commercial campaign to sell the Sam Adams Pint Glass. A glass can change the way carbonation leaves the beer, the rate at which it heats up, it can disperse the aroma or keep it close. If you've had the same beer from two glass types you could swear they were two different beers. I first became aware of this phenomenon when I had Canadian Breakfast Stout from a tulip and it was absolutely amazing. The second time I had it was from a snifter and it was not as good. The third time was from an imperial pint glass with a more open top. The aroma makes that beer. It's best from glasses designed to help get that scent to your nose. The glass made all of the difference.

I want to detail the types of glasses I have. I want to detail which beer to drink from which glass. Please read on.

(read more after the break.)

Pilsner Glass
The Glass: Tall, long sides, the slender profile concentrates the aroma at the top the narrow glass is also shows off the clarity and pale color of the pilsner.

The Styles: pilsners, light lagers, and other clear effervescent beers.

Pub Glass
The Glass: The iconic glass of English pubs, suitable for almost any style of beer as well as drinking. It holds an imperial pint which is 20 oz. This allows you to have a pint sized beer with head and room in the glass, also holds pub cans worth of beer. Also stack able.

The Styles: Good for both pilsners & ales, dark or pale, if you only had one glass.....




Flute Glass:
The Glass: Narrow base opening up to let out the carbonation. A very deep V. Enhances the carbonation of a beer and shows it off. Releases the volatile compounds in the beer and lets the scent out.

The Styles: Perfect for well carbonated and fragrant beers. Works well for funky beers to let the funk out.

Tulip Glass
The Glass: A stemmed glass with a larger bottom which narrows then begins to even out. Captures and intensifies the nose. the stem helps keep the beer cold, the narrow top helps the keep the head as well.

The Styles: IPAs, Belgians, and Wheats.

Snifter
The Glass: A large stemmed bulbous glass. The narrowing keeps the aroma in, making you stick your nose in to get the scents.  Works well with brandy as well.

The Styles: Mostly Porters and Stouts, I've seen other imperial beers served in these glasses.

Weizen Glass
The Glass: Like a pilsner glass but with more curves, specifically made for wheat beers and other fragrant beers. Holds a large volume and holds the delicate volatiles produced by Belgian yeast and wheat in the glass.

The Styles: American Wheat, Hefeweizens, and Gose.

Hurricane Glass
The Glass: The glass is like a tall tulip, a bulbous glass that narrows then opens up at the top, holds the beer, encourages the head, pushes out volatiles.

The Styles: Everything, IPAs, Belgians, American Ales, Ambers, and Wheat Beers.

Mug
The Glass: Typical mug; thick glass and a handle. The deep round body holds volume of beer, sturdy for a night of drinking. No specific design purposes other than being sturdy.

The Styles: American Ales, English Ales, Dark Lagers, Porters, Stouts

Goblet
The Glass: Large parabolic glass with a wide mouth opening. Stemmed for grasping and holding, Designed to look good, holds a firm head, and releases aroma.

The Styles: Belgians, Dubbels, Triples, Quads, Belgian IPA, Old School Glass.