Glassware Guide

Not sure why you'd say something like that about beer glasses.

... that'd make you my... half-brother?

What's the difference?

(Granted, snifters are traditionally "brandy/cognac" glasses - still closer to wine than beer.)

What is "it " in this statement?
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I never cared for stemmed beer glasses (I even changed my avatar to drop the one from the original drawing on a Ballantine Ale coaster along with deleting what is now considered a racist hand symbol but wasn't always). The more they became popular among the craft geekery, the more I came to hate them. Uncomfortable to hold, too delicate, difficult to wash, unbalanced putting them down, volume is often deceptive, etc.

 

I had a tulip 20 ounce glass I used for almost everything - loved it but I broke it. I had a Duvel oversized tulip somebody gave me and used that a lot - mysteriously dissappeared, suspect assasination, and culprit never identified. So I've got a modified nonic tumbler I got cheap - I think it's 20 ounces or so and that works for almost everything. I'll break out a generic tulip if I feel like it.

I do have a Spielgau that I do like, but it is super delicate and I don't often use it. I guess I'd call it a tumbler, probably 20 ounces as a pint can fits easily. And it's great - the glass presents about the most minimal interface possible between me and my beer. Almost like the glass isn't even there.

It does make a difference - I do believe that to be absolutely true. Either from the pure physical enjoyment of using the "favorite" glass, or to the style of beer itself and how it is experienced. I believe it, but I don't stress over it. The goal is to drink and enjoy the beer, not fret over the whole thing.

And @AZgman - that person with the Hoegaarden tank needs one of those big ol' wide bore straws...

 

The one that rules them all:

 

I have already decided what I will do if my remaining Iittala Essence beer glass breaks: I will get two more.

If you are comfortable with a glass, then you are.

 

They work well for hazy IPAs as well.

 

And I thought the Hoegaarden glass was big (I think it actually is 1.5 liters)...

 

I have a blank hefewizen glass but the rest of my glassware is branded.

Capital Ale (used to at least) has a steal the glass night where if you bought draft beer from a featured brewery you got to take the glass home with you. It either wasn’t anything extra or was like an extra dollar. So I have a good bit of those.

My snifter has the capital ale logo on it, a souvenir from our rehearsal dinner. I use that one a decent bit.

Got a half liter Hofbrau mug I use quite a bit also.

By far my most used glasses bear the Penny Lane Pub logo. It’s my favorite bar, in Richmond VA. I drank there on my 21st birthday and quite a bit after.

overall I agree with the sentiment that it’s about the content of the glass rather than the glass itself, but beer poured into some nice looking glassware has great curb appeal

 

Well, as well as anything can.....

 

I usually agree with you but here I have to disagree. I love your post with your Polish Pilsner glass. I have reduced my glass collection but I would add your Polish Pilsner if I could find one

 

I am a big glassware guy, but I have narrowed down my daily use glassware to 5-6 glasses, and only use the others for special beers or when we need additional glasses for guests.

my most used glass is the New Belgium Globe Glass. Very versatile

 

I have a pretty decent glass collection, most non-branded but a few are. I try to follow the glassware guide @Todd has but don’t stress too much about it. That being said, this is probably a good place to ask. These tulip glasses haven’t been available for quite some time and they’re my go to glass. Anyone know of something similar in shape? I don’t really love the globe-shaped tulips

 

The thinnest wall glass is the best glass.
Wherever you put your mouth has to be as thin as possible
Tulips/white wine glasses/willi bechers

 

This is from when I moved in to a new place last year. There’s more than this though…hadn’t fully unpacked, plus I’ve purchased even more since then.

I try to use proper glassware simply because glassware collecting has become a hobby within a hobby. I don’t think it makes a huge difference, but being able to smell what you’re consuming certainly helps.

If it’s bottle conditioned I think you definitely need a glass to decant and notice the differences. Or for a Witbier/Hefeweizen to swirl and pour the yeast into the beer.

 

There was also a thread awhile back asking what your six most used glasses were.

Here's what I posted about the picture below back then...again I've purchased more glassware since then, so my opinion may have changed. Note: The Dogfish Head glass also met its demise...I still have one unbranded Spiegelau IPA glass left.

From left to right:

1) Standard half liter Maß. I drink a lot of lagers, so by default most German lagers go into this one.

2) Gotta respect beer with my Beeradvocate Teku. A lot of "fancier" styles will go into this one. Imperial stouts, IPAs...etc.

3) Tübinger. One of my favorites from one of my favorite breweries. A dimpled half liter Czech mug for all my Czech lagers...of which I consume many of.

4) Dogfish Head Spiegelau IPA glass. Love this glass for IPAs. If it's the first IPA out of a four pack, or my first time having a particular IPA, it gets the Dogfish Head Speigelau. It used to be a Sierra Nevada one...but it met its demise. I love the nucleation point on it, great for head retention/creation.

5) 16 oz. Bissell Brothers glass. This is probably my favorite glass. The feel and heft of it is awesome. I also have a 12 oz. version not pictured here.

**6) Samuel Smith's Imperial Tulip Pint. Love the size, but more importantly it has a HUGE nucleation point that creates an awesome head. And due to the size, there's plenty of room for it. Stouts will often be consumed from this one.

**Bah, how did I screw that up? The last one is only half pictured. Oh well.

 

I looked at the link and saw Pokal as a German description of a certain pilsener style glass. Aah! German Football Pokal Cup explained.

 

Based on the glassware guide on BA, American IPAs, Imperial IPAs, and Imperial Red Ales should be served in a tulip. New England IPAs should be served in a pint glass.

I know it’s just a guide, but you would think all 4 styles would have the same glassware.

Is a pint glass recommended for New England IPAs assuming they have less of an aroma?

 

The feedback on here is great. Have to agree with lots of people here.

Cannot go wrong with an oversized wine glass. Has a stem. Allows swirling. Captures the aroma.

I tend to drink beers in smaller pouring sizes so use a snifter. Tulips are good too. I think the best beer glassware is one to allow a nice pour, hold the aroma, and be visually appeasing and easy to grasp. Large wine, tulips, snifters seems to do the trick. Of course, some specific styles are traditionally out of some different glassware as others have described. Snifters and smaller pours for me.

 

Do you have a Crate & Barrel store near you?

The other option is to order it online and have it delivered:

https://www.crateandbarrel.com/sear...Landed=true&isReadyToShipAvailabilityOn=false

Cheers!