Cromaine District Library Share Ale Together Now: Glassware

Press release from the Cromaine District Library:

February 11, 2021

If your drinking ritual has been anything like mine over the past year or so, you’ve probably been enjoying your beer at home in whatever glassware is most convenient for delivering beer to your face. I can enjoy just about any style of beer in an all-purpose, run of the mill pint glass--or if I’m feeling really fancy, I’ll take my glass mug out of the freezer and enjoy a drink in that. While it never really hurts to drink various beer styles from the same glass or mug, we may be missing out on favorable traits of the beer by keeping our glassware so simple--such as enhanced aromas, initial flavors, foam retention, clarity, handling ease, and other traits. Our friend Michelle from River’s Edge Brewing Company brought us some interesting info this month on glassware pairing for our favorite beers. So let’s explore some of the common, traditional, and truly unique glassware out there and the beers that they pair with best.

Shaker Pint: Traditional Pint Glass

Here’s the versatile and widely available glass at pubs and in most homes. The shaker pint was originally created for mixing cocktails, and is commonly used for several styles at American breweries. Although the Shaker Pint glass tends to be a default glass for drinking beer, the shape of it does very little to enhance the aroma and flavor of a beer.

Nonic Pint: The Imperial Pint The Nonic Pint glass isn’t too different from the Shaker Pint in terms of what it can offer to a beer’s flavor, aroma, and other characteristics. It is typically used for traditional British and Irish Ales, and the added bulge near the top of the glass allows for better grip while pouring and drinking.

Stange: The Kölsch Glass

Have you ever been served a light, crisp Kölsch in a Stange glass? If so, you may have noticed a more enhanced aroma and flavor than the Kölsch experiences you’ve had at home. Stange glasses typically hold a little less than a pint, but the narrow-walled shape of the glass allows for better head retention. The head of the beer is the foam at the top of the glass, and head retention refers to how long that foam will last in your glass. With a Kölsch , it is desirable for the head to last longer because it exhibits aroma attributes that enhance the beer and are no longer found after the head has died down. This narrow glassware also allows for the admiration of the clear, crisp Kölsch . So if you’re as big a Kölsch fan as I am, consider treating yourself to a few Stange glasses!

Stange: The Kölsch Glass Pilsner Glass

The Pilsner glass is the preferred servingware for Pilsners and several Lager varieties because of how they complement and enhance lighter styled beers. Narrow-walled like a Stange glass, the Pilsner glass is a little wider at the mouth and sits tall to encourage good head retention while also allowing the drinker to admire the color, carbonation, and clarity of the Pilsner or Lager. The only small downside is that, while there is quite a variety of Pilsner glasses available, typically they hold a little less than a traditional pint glass. But keep an eye out for larger Pilsner glasses if you’re hoping to find one that can hold more beer--they are available!

Weizen Glass

Traditionally used for Wheat Ales, weizen glasses have a curved body and an inward curved lip to allow for a thick, fluffy head and to retain those wonderful aromas--like the traditional banana and clove aromas/flavors that often appear in Wheat Ales. Without this glassware shape, the head can be lost pretty quickly from a wheat ale, and with it a lot of the complementary flavors. The tall, narrow shape of the glass also allows for the drinker to admire the lovely color of the beer, similar to Stange and Pilsner glasses. Weizen glasses are sometimes mistaken for Pilsner glasses, as they are so similar in shape, but there is more curvature to the Weizen glass, especially at the top.

Tulip: The Belgian Glass

When you’re served a Tulip glass, you know you’re in for a unique experience. The bulbous shape and wide, out-curved opening of a Tulip Glass is designed to capture the head and promote the aroma and flavor of heavily aromatic beers. Belgians, Farmhouse Ales, Lambics, and Double IPAs are all wonderful options for this unique glass, since these styles tend to be very hoppy, malty, or otherwise very flavorful. The small stem at the bottom of the Tulip also encourages swirling of the beer, which can enhance the drinking experience as well.

The Goblet/Chalice

Similar to the Tulip, a Goblet has a round, head-retaining shape with a small stem. Chalices are similar glasses, but tend to have thicker bowl walls. Available in various sizes, this glassware is ideal for Belgian Ales (including Belgian IPA, dubbels, and tripels) and traditional Farmhouse Ales.

Snifter

Originally made for enjoying spirits, such as brandy and cognac, Snifters are ideal for strong beers, such as Barrel Aged Ales and Imperial Stouts. They have a small, stout shape and compliment the aromas and flavors of strong ales very well. The small stem at the bottom of the glass encourages swirling, to release unique aromas that wouldn’t be as easy to detect with a traditional pint glass. For this reason, it’s not recommended to fill your Snifter all the way to the top--you might miss out on some of those unique characteristics (and some of your beer while trying to swirl!)

Thistle Glass

Intentionally shaped like the Thistle flower, the national flower of Scotland, these glasses are a modified version of the tulip glass. It is taller than the tulip, with a short stem, a bulbous bottom, and an elongated top; and similar to the tulip glass, the thistle encourages swirling to release all of the favorable aromas in your beer of choice. Typically, this glassware is used for strong beers, especially traditional Scotch Ales and Wee Heavy Ales.

Mugs and Siedel Mugs

Used for several light-bodied beer styles, the Mug is available in a variety of shapes and sizes but always includes a handle to prevent heat transfer from your hand to the beer. Keeping a light-bodied beer cold and crisp is important in enjoying the style, which is why beer Mugs also tend to have thick glass for insulation. A Siedel Mug serves the same purpose as a typical Mug, but is also rounded with ridged dimples. Some suggest that the dimples are for aesthetic purposes of the Mug only, but others would argue that the dimples enhance the color and clarity of the beer. The best way to find out is to try a Siedel Mug for yourself!

Steins

Ah, the beloved Steins. This glassware is a traditional German mug used for several Lager varieties, especially a Marzen/Oktoberfest. In fact, the word Stein is short for Steinzeugkrug, which refers to a jug or tankard. Many varieties come with a hinged lid, which is a traditional aspect of the servingware: historically, drinking from a vessel with a lid was thought to be more sanitary, and was encouraged to prevent the spread of the bubonic plague. Steins can be made of glass, porcelain, stoneware, pewter, silver and wood.

Beer Boots: “Das Boot”

This unique glassware shape is thought to come from a Prussian general, who promised his troops that he would drink beer from his own boot if they won their next battle. Upon their victory, the general had a glass Beer Boot made to drink from, to avoid drinking from his own used boot. The Beer Boot seems to have gained popularity from there, and is now a festival favorite, generally used at Oktoberfest for a variety of Lager styles. The Boot was introduced to the United States by World War Two veterans after seeing the use of Das Boot while serving overseas.

Teku Stemmed Glass

Featuring an angled bowl with a very thin lip sitting on a high stem to prevent inadvertently warming your beer, the Teku Stemmed Glass is a fairly new style of glassware, designed to have a “wow” factor. It was designed by an Italian craft brewer and sensory expert, and while appropriate for most beer styles, it is generally used to enjoy innovative Sour Ales. Teku Stemmed Glass While relying on the trusted American pint glass for your beer of choice never hurts, you may be surprised with how much more you can enjoy your favorite beer when complimented with the right glassware. Whether to keep a fluffy beer head, enhance aroma and taste, or give a small nod to tradition, exploring glassware may give you a new appreciation for your preferred brew, especially during a time when it may be harder to get to your favorite pubs.

This press release was produced by the Cromaine District Library. The views expressed are the author's own.