A few days ago when thinking of where to go with the Cicerone related post for this week, it dawned on me that I prepared a glassware presentation for staff training at work some months ago. So what I am doing today is removing all of the Redlight Redlight specific portions of that presentation and using for a glassware refresher for me.
In putting the information together back then I referenced and then compiled information from various sources including craftbeer.com, my copy of Tasting Beer, and other sites like BeerAdvocate. For visual reference of the various glasses discussed below as well as information on any of the appropriate styles I may have missed I would suggest seeking out those or similar sources.
Away we go . . .
General glassware concepts:
- When considering aroma, the shape of a glass is important . . . you want a glass that has a narrower top than middle. That is why something like a snifter or an oversized wine glass is never a bad fall back for big beers. With that said, you want to have a glass where the beer is an inch or two below the rim to really allow the glass to hold in the aroma.
- Shape of glass also important is regards to foam and head retention. A pilsner glass for example is tapered outward to form a wedge and help support the foam. An inward tapered glass does the opposite and concentrates the foam into a more dense head.
- Consider carbonation level of the beer when pouring. There is a reason that the Duvel glasses are so large. The pour size is only intended to be about half the glass, knowing that the carbonation will ensure that the rest of the room will be taken up with foam.
French Jelly Glass / Tumbler:
As its name suggests, the French jelly glass was first used to store fruit jellies or preserves in provincial France and Belgium. In between jellies, the farmers used them for beverages. These glasses feature a wide mouth tapering down to a small base with large jewel-like facets around the side.
Appropriate Styles:
Snifter / Small Tulip:
The snifter glass is most commonly associated with digestif beverages such as bourbon and was really popularized for use in drinking brandy. However, it can be a great craft beer glass for certain types of ale like barleywines. The large, round bottom is designed to increase the heat transfer from your hand, thus warming the beer. The top tapers inward trapping aromas. Very strong beers—over 8 percent alcohol—are best-suited for this type of glassware.
Appropriate Styles:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- Strong Ale
- Old Ale
- American and English Barleywines
- Imperial IPA
- Doppelbock
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Large Tulip (Poco Grande):
Tulip glasses trap aromas (inward taper) and maintain a frothy head (outward flare) due to their undulating, tulip-like design. This shape aids in drinkability (as the outward flare fits the lips better when drinking) and elevates the overall tasting experience. This type of glassware is best for strongly flavored, malty craft beers. Like the stemmed goblet, the tulip shape can trap the sweet aromatics produced by heavy beers while maintaining a lively head.
Appropriate Styles:
- Belgian Tripel
- Saison
- Bière de Garde
- Straight Lambic
- Gueuze
- Flanders Red
- Flanders Brown / Oud Bruin
Stemmed Goblet / Chalice:
These glasses vary in design for each brewery that produces them. They are often beautiful pieces of glass art with brightly colored brewery logos adorning their sides. While they have different designs and shapes, they share some common features. They typically have long, thick stems and a wide mouth for easy sipping. Many have nucleation sites (etchings) on the bottom which produce bubbles and maintain an attractive, frothy head that intensifies aromas.
Appropriate Styles:
Weizen / Weisse:
This tall, sloping glass is a traditional German favorite for weissbiers or wheat beers. They have a wide mouth and a slight inward taper to contain a generous head of foam. When the glass is tipped back, the additional of air increases the amount of pleasant clove or banana aromas that characterize wheat beers.
Appropriate Styles:
English / Nonick Imperial Pint:
The Imperial pint was adopted as an official measure by British Parliament in 1824. Using this official system of measurement, the “nonick” version of the Imperial pint glass was produced for use in pubs in the 1960’s. The glass bulges out at the top which improves grip, prevents glasses from sticking together when stacked, adds strength and reduces chipping.
Appropriate Styles:
- English Pale Ale
- Ordinary Bitter / Best Bitter / ESB
- English IPA
- English Brown Ales
- English Style Porters
- American Pale Ale
- American Brown Ale
- American Porters and Stouts
Irish Imperial Pint / English Tulip Pint:
The Irish Imperial pint glass features a wide mouth tapering down to a small base. This glass is similar, but slightly different, to the British-style Imperial pint glass. The small surface area where it’s gripped decreases the amount of heat transferred from your hand keeping the beer cooler for longer. The wide mouth encourages a frothy head and easy sipping.
Appropriate Styles:
- American Stouts
- Irish Stouts
American (Shaker) Pint:
This glass is what most people think of as the traditional pint glass. Called a Shaker because of its original use in combination with a larger metal cup as a cocktail shaker. It’s easy to stack and clean and is inexpensive to produce. The wide mouth promotes easy sipping, but aroma and flavor are diminished with this type of glass. It is commonly used to serve light American lagers.
Appropriate Styles:
- Amber / Red Ale
- American Wheat Ale
- American Lager
- Cream Ale
- California Common
Handled Glass Stein / Mug:
With its distinctive dimpled sides, this glass is used to serve traditional German-style beers. The stein is made from thick glass that can withstand spirited clinking. The wide mouth promotes easy drinking and the thick handle eliminates heat transfer from your hand.
Appropriate Styles:
- Oktoberfest / Märzen
- Vienna Lager
- Munich Dunkel
- Schwarzbier
Classic Pilsner Flute (though we don’t have them currently):
This is a tall, slender glass that some people confuse with a champagne flute. The conical shape helps maintain the pilsner’s pillowy head while offering a wonderful view of the sparkling clarity of this-lager style beer. The narrow design brings aromas to your nose as you tip the glass back for a sip.
Appropriate Styles:
- Scotch Ale
- Berliner Weisse
- Kölsch
- Düsseldorf Altbier
- Bohemian Pilsner
- German Pilsner
- Dortmunder Export
Flute:
The world of champagne lends elegance to certain types of beer. Long and narrow bodies ensure that carbonation doesn’t dissipate too quickly and showcase a lively carbonation or sparkling color. Stems will often be a bit shorter than the traditional champagne glass, but not necessarily. Enhances and showcases carbonation and releases volatiles more quickly for a more intense aroma upfront.
Appropriate Styles:
- American Wild Ale
- Lambic – Fruit
- Eisbock
Stange:
A traditional German glass, stange means “stick” and these tall, slender cylinders are used to serve more delicate beers, amplifying malt and hop nuances and provides a tighter concentration of volatiles. Substitute with a Tom Collins glass.
Appropriate Styles:
- Düsseldorf Altbier
- Rauchbier
- Kölsch
- Gueuze
- Gose
- Faro
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