The importance of choosing the right beer glassware
When it comes to enjoying beer, we focus on the brew’s temperature and freshness, but all too often fail to acknowledge how the glassware impacts the experience. The right choice of glassware can improve a beer’s aroma, carbonation, temperature and taste – revealing it’s best features and hidden quirks. Yep, that’s right – there’s a whole lot more resting on your glassware choice than you’d initially thought.
At Baron’s, we’ve been in the beer dispense industry for 4 generations, so we know a thing or two about beer. We want all Aussies to experience beer at its best, so we’ve prepared some advice on choosing beer glassware.
The Pint Glass
Without a doubt the most common beer glass around town, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen a pint glass before! Pint glasses are the go-to for most bars, restaurants and pubs and are generally the biggest glass they offer, holding just shy of 570 ml. Pints are usually designed with straight sides and a round bottom to form a cylindrical shape and when it comes to types of beer, they’re very versatile and don’t discriminate. Pint’s versatility means they compliment most beers, including ales, lagers, IPAs and stouts.
The Pilsner Glass
A slightly rarer option in Aussie venues, pilsner glasses are primarily used for light beers, lagers and pilsners (surprise). In terms of capacity, pilsner glasses are smaller than pints, holding from 250ml to 400ml depending on the venue. Structurally, pilsner glasses are tall and slim, made of thin glass and tapered in shape (smaller at the bottom and wider at the top).
A pilsner’s tapered shape enables beer bubbles to rise to the top of the glass, while the wide mouth works to capture a beer’s foamy head for an aromatic experience. A pilsner glasses’ height allows for the full appreciation of beer sparkle and clarity, which is why they’re the ideal glass for light beers like pale lagers, blonde ales and yep, you guessed it – pilsners.
The Tulip Glass
So classy, so practical, yet so underrated. The tulip glass gets its name from its unique shape design, with a rounded bowl, tapered top and short stem. A tulip glass’s tapered top is designed to capture the beer’s head, locking in and enhancing the aroma of a hoppy or malty brew. The short stem prevents beer from warming up in the drinker’s hand and serves as the perfect tool for beer swirling. These characteristics make the tulip glass the ideal choice for hoppy and strong beers, including double IPAS, saisons, sour ales and stouts.
The Goblet
Possibly the most extravagant beer glass around – drinking from a goblet’s a surefire way to get back in touch with your inner medieval monarch. Traditionally, goblets are made with a wide mouth and bowl which leads to a long and thick stem. A goblet’s wide mouth sends big gulps of beer straight to the taste buds at the back of the tongue, allowing maximum bitterness detection. This means that goblets are best used when drinking heavier malt brews, like Belgian ales, German bocks and high ABV beers.
The Flute Glass
Yep, that’s right folks – flutes aren’t just for champagne, they’re wonderful for beer too. Flutes are typically designed for sparkling wine and bubbly beverages, so they’ve got carbonation retention down to a fine art. A flute’s narrow top emphasizes the carbonation, while making sure it doesn’t disappear too quickly. The narrow shape also concentrates the beer’s aroma, providing an enhanced sensory experience.
Flute glasses work best with crisp and light beers with lots of vibrant, sparkling carbonation. Due to their enhancement of beer aromas, flutes are being used more and more frequently for fruity brews as well as Pilsners.
The Specialty Glass
Feeling a little special? Designed to draw out all the flavours from complex craft beers, specialty glasses are made specifically for India pale ale, stout beer, barrel aged beer and wheat beer. These snazzy lil’ glasses are expertly crafted to serve up complex aromas on the nose while still delivering the beer’s flavour in all its glory. After all, specialty crafted beers deserve specialty crafted glasses.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it, beer glasses explained. Who would’ve thought that glassware could be so important?!
At Barons, we’ve been in the WA beer industry for over 14 years, and are built on a passion for ensuring beer is enjoyed to its fullest. If you love beer like we do, check out our home dispense systems and dispense systems for hire. Otherwise, if you’re a beer-serving venue and want your brews to be served at their best, take a look at how we can help!
