26 Jan What’s the deal with the funky glassware?
The first time I ordered a Sun King Wee Muckle, I was surprised when I received a 10oz Chalice full of delicious Scotch Ale (Note: the proper glass for a Wee Muckle is actually a thistle). I was used to getting beer in a pint glass, but I assumed I got a smaller glass because of the higher ABV (8.5%). I was partially correct, but I didn’t understand how the glass enhanced the profile of the beer. It took me a few years, and a Belgian beer-filled trip to Amsterdam, before I came to appreciate the role the glass plays in completing the beer drinking experience. So, if you’ve ever questioned why your beer came in a funky glass or regularly choose to drink your beer from a bottle or can, read on for a lesson in beer glassware.
Let’s cover the basics first, why do you pour beer into a glass instead of drinking it from a can/bottle? If you drink a beer from a bottle, you only get to taste the beer; you don’t get to experience it. A glass is a neural medium for your beer, which allows the color, aroma, and taste to be a part of the experience. Different styles of beer require different glasses for an optimized flavor profile. Think about it, you wouldn’t drink red wine from a champagne flute, would you?
In Belgium, each beer, not just each beer style, has a unique glass. They come in every style imaginable. Bars will literally stock hundreds to thousands of glasses so they can stock that same number of beers. Below are some of the Belgians I’ve been served in Amsterdam, including one that has a wooden holder because it doesn’t have a flat base to stand on its own (far right photo).
A Weizen glass is used for all Weizenbier, which roughly translates from German to English as Wheat Beer. It is also used for a Hefeweizen, white ales, and Belgian Wits. A Weizen is a tall, skinny glass, which holds 16oz of beer plus has room for a nice head. Use this glass for your Upland Wheat or Sun King Big H.
Tulip Glass:
Tulip glasses maintain a large head for hoppy or very aromatic beers. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but each one has an overall shape of a tulip. They are best used for Belgian Ales, Scotch Ales, Wee Heavy, Double/Imperial IPAs, Flanders, and Strong Ales. Use this glass to enjoy your Sun King Reserve Cherry Busy.
A Snifter comes into play when you have a strong, aromatic beer with a high ABV. The glass style originated for Brandy and Cognac, and it is made to allow you to swirl beer and savor all the aromatics of the beer. The volume can vary and is usually chosen based on ABV of the beer. Use this glass for your Sun King Wee Muckle or the Triton 10.2% ABV “Shot to the Tart”, as pictured.
A Chalice is a special glass that is similar to a snifter, but it is a lot thicker glass. It is used for Belgian IPAs, Dubbels, Quads, Tripels, and Imperial Stouts. So, if you have a bottle of 3 Floyds Dark Lord, you might want to invest in one of these, but a snifter will do if you don’t have one.
Pint Glass:
The American Pint Glass is the most common and versatile glass. It’s overused because it is cheap and they are easy to stack and store. But, if you can only have one glass, at least have a pint glass. It holds 16oz (unless its an imperial pint glass, which will hold 20oz), and is commonly used for American lagers, blonde ales, brown ales, stouts, and pretty much anything if you are in a pinch. For example, if you don’t own a cool Sun King IPA glass (pictured on the left below), you can just use a standard pint glass (like I did on the picture on the right below) for your Fistful of Hops.
Bonus: if you’re intrigued by glassware now, you can go much further than what I’ve listed in this article. For fun, I’ve included a few extra photos of random glassware I’ve experienced around the US and Europe. Have you found interesting glassware on your beer drinking adventures? If so, please share it in the comment section.
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This glass is call a “Witbier” glass and was specifically developed by Bell’s Brewery with Spiegelau. If the name and photo didn’t tip you off, it is made to hold a wheat beer. Specifically, its made to hold Oberon. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1nk8aTF
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This is a Mahou as served to me on an extremely hot, July day in Valencia, Spain.
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Murphy’s is more of a local beer to Cork, Ireland. The brewery is located in Cork, but Heineken bought it some time ago and took it global. Both Guinness and Murphy’s are Nitro beers, but Murphy’s is a little bit lighter and a touch sweeter.
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