Which Glass Style for Which Beer?
If you have ever been to Europe or visited a Belgian bier café you would have noticed that every beer has a different style glass. Why do they do it? Did a marketer decide to make their beer more appealing by serving it in a different glass to increase sales? The short answer is no.
Just like wine is best served in variety of glass styles beer should be given the same level of respect. Each glass gives the beer its character and further enhances what you are savouring.
Weizen Glass– Heffeweizen or Wheat Ales
A weizen glass is a big boy and usually holds half a litre, this encourages a thick foam head and any sediment floats effortlessly to the bottom of the glass.
Tulip Glass – Belgian style abbey ales and IPAs
A tulip is designed to trap and maintain the beer head and release the sweet aromas of big hopped beers.
Goblet – Belgian style ales
A wide opening glass like a goblet assists the beer drinker in analysing the overall flavour profile and aromas whilst a pilsner glass allows the drinker to appreciate the colours, carbonation bubbles and helps retain the foam head of your beer.
Mug – German, American or British Ales and Stouts
A mug might just look like a way to get more beer but did you know that the dimples in a mug help show off the colour and clarity of the beer. The thick wall helps insulate your brew and to keep it cold and helps prevent your hands from inadvertently warming up your beer.
Snifter – Strong ales, imperial stout or scotch ale
A snifter is also used for cognacs and brandies and is also used to enrich the aromatics of a strong beer. This unique shape lets you swirl the beer around which releases more of the rich scent. Beers served in a snifter are usually served a little warmer.
Stange – Kolsch, Lagers, Golden Ale
The high, narrow and cylindrical Stange (German for “stick” or “rod”) is traditionally used for Kölsch. A Becher, traditionally used for Altbier, is similar, though slightly shorter and fatter. The Stange usually holds between 100 ml and 200 ml (though larger ones are now sometimes used to reduce serving work). Stangen are carried by slotting them into holes in a special tray called a Kranz (“wreath”). Source: Wikipedia
Nonic Pint – English style ales
The nonic, a variation on the conical design, where the glass bulges out a couple of inches from the top; this is partly for improved grip, partly to prevent the glasses from sticking together when stacked, and partly to give strength and stop the rim from becoming chipped or “nicked”.[4] The term “nonic” derives from “no nick”. Source: Wikipedia
Shaker Pint – American Ales
The definition of a pint differs by country, thus a pint glass will reflect the regular measure of beer in that country. In the UK, law stipulates that a servings of beer be fixed at the imperial pint (568 ml ≈1.2 US pints). Half-pint glasses of 10 imp fl oz (284 ml) are generally smaller versions of pint glasses. Quarter-pint glasses of 5 imp fl oz (142 ml) also exist, and are popular in Australia (now 140 ml from metrication), where they are known as a “pony”. Source: Wikipedia
Pilsner Glass – Pilsner and other light beers
A pilsner glass is used for many types of light beers, including pale lager or pilsner. Pilsner glasses are generally smaller than a pint glass, usually in 200 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml, 330 ml or 400 ml sizes. (In Europe 500ml ones are common.) They are tall, slender and tapered. The slender glass reveals the colour, and carbonation of the beer, and the broad top helps maintain a beer head. Source: Wikipedia
Now that you have an idea of the beer and glass styles make sure you serve your Small Batch Brews in the right glass, your friends will be amazed and in awe of your beer geekiness.
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