Share
 |
 |
The vast majority of you probably don’t even realize you’ve been doing beer wrong this whole time. Whether you’re a self-ascribed “beer geek” (note: never refer to yourself as a beer geek, ever) or someone who drinks beer once in a blue moon, the correct glassware matters. “Glassware can really enhance certain characteristics of beer that improve the overall drinking experience,” says Scott Vaccaro, owner and brewer of Captain Lawrence Brewing Company. “Color, aroma, head retention, and a number of other factors are all affected—finding the perfect glass for a certain beer can take it to the next level.”
“A glass made for a certain style of beer is designed to showcase some aspect of that style,” he continues. “The tall, slender shape of a pilsner glass is designed to highlight the light color and carbonation of the beer. Snifters, on the other hand, are designed to trap aroma in the glass and force it up to your face as you take a sip. Size is also a factor—you wouldn’t necessarily want to drink an entire pint of a heavy imperial stout with a high ABV.”
So you’re going to need to throw out those silly, novelty mugs you have frosting in your freezer. Here, we give you the beer glasses you really need, and the brews you should be drinking out of them.
-
-
tBenefits: Flared lip supports bigger head, which captures volatiles and enhances flavor.
tTypes of Beer:
t Lambic
t Double/Imperial IPA
t Strong Ale
-
-
tBenefits: The sleekness aids in carbonation, leading to a quicker release of volatiles, resulting in a more intense aroma.
tTypes of Beer:
t -Lambics
t -Maibook
t -Fruit Beer
-
-
tBenefits: Tapered bottom maintains carbonation; height showcases color; wider rim allows for head retention, trapping and better highlighting aromas.
tTypes of Beer:
t Pilsners
t Vienna Lager
t Schwarzbier
t Doppelbock
-
-
tBenefits: Wide mouth aids in drinkability. Slight bulge towards the top allows the proper head to form.
tTypes of beer:
t Lager
t Stout
t Porter
t Brown Ale
-
-
tBenefits: Perfect for wheat beers, the length allows more volume, while the wide, bowl-like top aids in frothy heads, trapping in the citrus scents of the style.
tTypes of Beer:
t Hefeweizen
t Witbier
t Weizenbock
-
-
tBenefits: Holds more volume, which is perfect for session beers. Also, the handle prevents heat transfer from your hand to the glass, meaning your beer stays colder longer (which is always a good thing).
tTypes of Beer:
t Pale Ale
t Porter
t Stout
-
-
tBenefits: Wide rim allows for bigger gulps and supports bigger heads. Some have scoring at the bottom, which allows CO2 to gather, causing a continuation of streaming bubbles and perfect head retention.
tTypes of Beer:
t Belgian IPA
t Belgian Strong Dark Ale
t Dubbel
t Tripel
-
-
tBenefits: The narrowness leads to a tighter concentration of aromatics, better highlighting nuanced bouquets of lighter, hoppy beers.
tTypes of Beers:
t Kölsche
-
-
tBenefits: The tapered mouth traps and holds volatiles, increasing the beer’s bouquet, making it the go-to for highly aromatic brews. Also allows you to swirl, agitating volatiles, pulling out aromas and slight nuances you won’t get with other glasses.
tTypes of Beer:
t Barleywine
t Scotch Ale
t Strong Ale
t Russian Imperial Stout