Where to get Duvel tulip with laser etching?

I'm getting my friend into beer tasting / reviewing and strongly urged her to get the Duvel tulip with the laser etched D since that's what I've used for many years and it has been very reliable and does its job well. I got it from the Duvel box set that comes with a few bottles and the glass.

So I went to Amazon to find the one that looked just like mine... https://i.imgur.com/tnrc883.png

But I was lucky enough to notice the question/answer in the comments that said there was no laser D etching... https://i.imgur.com/NvG3WRj.png

So is there anywhere you can buy these models that for sure have the laser D etching?

I found the glass on the official ommegang website for only $9, however the website doesn't specify whether this version is also missing the etching, and trying to get ahold of any kind of customer support is extremely tricky and no one has gotten back to me yet.

Has anyone bought from the official site and know if it has the etching?

I've also been calling beer stores around the Atlanta area looking to see if anyone carries the glass or box set but haven't had any luck yet. So if you know any shop in the area that carries it, a lead would be greatly appreciated.

 

The etched ones are superior because the etching was put there for a functional purpose, not mere decoration. The etches lines serve as a nucleation point for carbonation. Helping a small but continuous stream of carbonation bubbles form. That helps release some of the volatile compounds and allowing the beer to breathe some which maximizes the flavor and smell, and helps the beer replenish its own head to some degree which improves mouthfeel and appearance. Basically it helps the snifter do what it's designed to do, even better.

As for the glass being reliable and doing it's job well, there's a lot to say about that:

If you can only have a single glass in your entire collection, it should be this one, simply for its extreme versatility. It's a tulip with a large body like a snifter (I often just refer to it as a snifter in my ratings). Basically the only beers you shouldn't drink in it are the ones in which you want a narrow glass to capture or limit the rate of release of volatiles or carbonation (for that case, a tall narrow hefe glass works well, or even a Sam Adams "perfect pint" glass, which despite its nucleation point etchings, also retains head and aroma well by using its shape and has a more general usage case than a hefe glass).

It's also a very forgiving design that allows you to accidentally pour too much head without any negative consequences.

Because of its almost universal application, it also saves you from having to pick out glassware. It's a trusty companion you can put a lot of use into.

Which leads us nicely to the next point... a glass that gets so much use also needs to be durable and this one has a particularly sturdy construction and durability compared to typical glassware. It should last you many years, if not a lifetime. Solid long term investment.

Fifth, its large body and opening make it way easy to clean compared to other glasses. As much as I think Sam Adam's perfect pint also has some excellent design, its very narrow down at the bottom and tricky to clean without using a scrubber stick or dishwasher. The duvel has a nice big roomy interior which makes it incredibly easy and fast to hand clean (unless you have particularly fat hands and stumpy fingers), which is superior for a beer tasting beer since it means you can use plain dishsoap and not leave any residual smell or coatings like dishwashers often leave. Which are usually pretty trivial for most applications but for beer tasting can interfere with head formation/lacing/smell/flavor of beers, specially the delicate ones. A tiny dab of plain dishsoap, rubbed around with my finger, then a quick but thorough rinse and it's back in the game for a new beer tasting real quick. Particularly convenient if you're tasting multiple different beers in one sitting.

Finally, it just feels good in the hand. It has nice balance and weight. And it's simple yet elegant without being dainty.

Just a good nearly universal glassware for anyone.

Hope I answered your question sufficiently. I just really love my very small but highly functional glassware set I handpicked over many years, and the Duvel tulip is the crown jewel of the collection.

 

Good observation. Makes me wonder if the person who left the comment on Amazon just didn't know what he was looking for, or had poor vision. Or maybe the model in the picture just doesn't match the delivered product.