Is asking for a beer glass "dreadfully rude"?

I suppose it depends on how close the relationship is between the host and guest. From the wife’s reaction, guessing not so much. If the host is handing out bottles/cans of beer and no glassware, read the room and realize the host has set the tone for serving beverages. It’s your job as guest to be graciously accommodating even if you believe the host has fallen short.

Asking to be treated special because you’re an insufferable beer snob comes off as rude and deserving of much mockery and ridicule. If there are wine glasses, I’d ask first. Maybe the host has a limited amount of glassware for anticipated wine drinkers. If there is a stack of cups or glassware as far as the eye can see, no harm in using one.

We were at a boat buyer’s celebratory drink with the yacht broker who was a friend of ours and for whom we had a minor role in helping the sale along. Believe it or not I actually drank a Coors Light AND a shot of Fireball, which I assumed would kill me. As a guest I thought it would be rude to turn down either and insulting to the hosts. Small sacrifices, even Fireball, are what guests should accept. (P.S. I demanded the proper serving vessels for Coors Light and Fireball because I like my swill to breathe. Turns out the can and a shot glass ARE proper.)

 

See, this is why I don't drink AAL's. Yacht brokers, cryogenic beer glasses, too rich for my blood.

 

It totally depends on various factors—but as a host, would it not generally be considered rude to serve wine in a plastic cup? Maybe a clear one would be OK, but I think generally it’s still standard practice to serve wine in a glass. So why, then, would it be considered rude to simply ask for a glass (or plastic cup) to pour your beer into? I get that the source containers are different, which necessitates a separate vessel for your wine (or mixed drink/cocktail)—and I’m generally fine drinking my beer out of the can/bottle, assuming it’s not the now rare bomber or 750—but I don’t see why it would be rude to simply ask for a glass under most circumstances, assuming, again, that wine is already being served in that way. Dude’s wife needs to chill.

 

For me it totally depends on where I am, the host and "reading the room". I have friends who are into craft beer and if they offer me a can or bottle of a beer, it's immediately met with "We have glasses for it" and handed one. I have another set of friends where the beer is put into the fridge, promptly opened and consumed from said container...and I wouldn't dare ask for a glass in that scenario because it's just not to be had and I'm ok with that. Now....if I brought a new beer to try and having it out of the can was the option at that point....I definitely would grab more to have in a glass at home to see if I notice a difference or if the experience is any better.

 

Gee I hope the host managed to get over the intense rudeness of a guest at a party asking for a glass, and that the demanding audacity of such a request didn't completely spoil the party atmosphere for the remainder of the event. Easy to see how such outrageous behavior could ruin a party.

Yes sarcasm.

 

I’m with you on the pils and aals but Some of those Belgian ales have a ton of gnarly sediment.

 

For ppl that don’t know beer, it’s still just considered a simple working man’s beverage that comes complete with its own vessel to consume it from. To them, beer is just beer-which is fine if that’s not their thing.

 

...but I find the toilet bowl so hard to carry around.

 

Understood. That’s a stereotype this website has been fighting against for nearly 30 years (Respect Beer). My point is that if we acquiesce to this stereotype, and accept the general view that beer is not as worthy as wine to be poured into a glass, then that stereotype will persist. I’m not saying that we always have to be on some crusade on behalf of equal rights for beer—I’m just saying it’s not that big of a deal to ask for a glass or cup to drink your beer from in most situations, and to be called “dreadfully rude” for doing so only reveals that person’s ignorance.

 

In Southern France, people seem to drink both beer and wine from the bottle or can at the beach. At a bar, it's always from a proper glass. At a small get together it's fine to ask for a glass, but not at a large party.

 

We have that problem stateside with our Southerners too.

 

This is the kind of post that needs the ability to emphasize the like button!

 

I don't think it rude at all. I would certainly choose the glass/can over a plastic cup though...EVERYTIME!

 

I have no qualms with drinking beer straight from the bottle or can. I do certainly prefer to pour a can of beer into a glass (or plastic cup) but that’s not something I normally do at a party.

Slightly unrelated, I’ve been working in a remote location in a different state and didn’t pack any glassware. Clear Solo cups to the rescue!

 

As RC51Mike points out above, it depends entirely on the context. It's not wrong to ask for a glass, but you should consider the host's situation.

 

Plastic cups are the best option at children's birthday parties.

Need to be able to teach the kids how to play beer pong.

 

I always ask for a glass. Most friends know to always give me a glass without me asking, but if not, I am not afraid to ask. This also goes for high class wine drinking affairs where I am the sole beer drinker!

 

Dear Miss Manners,
Whenever we go to a party, my husband uses a wine glass for his beer and it’s really embarrassing. How can I politely tell him to stop?
- Mortified in Morristown



My in-laws went through a generous phase of buying 750s of Chimay when I'd come over.
Sometimes I'd grab a wine glass, which always resulted in verbal protests (from my wife too) of "that's the wrong glass." These days, they stick to serving wine, and whenever I pour some wine in a water glass, I get the same protests. As long as I'm not inconveniencing anybody, and we're in the company of close family rather than acquaintances, can't I just decide for myself without having to defend that choice?

Speaking of Chimay:

It's not just a sediment issue. If a Belgian beer has yeast in the bottle for secondary fermentation and/or a high carbonation level (which can go hand-in-hand with Belgian beer), it's gonna be at the very bottom of my list of beers I'd drink from their container. As my in-law story suggests though, do what you want and you won't hear me protest.