Best Beer Glasses To Pair Your Beer With
17+ Types of Beer Glasses: A Guide To Finding The Right Glass
When it comes to beer, not all glasswares are created equal. Sure, you could pour your favorite craft beer into whatever cup you have lying around. But there is a reason why different styles of beer are served in specific types of beer glasses. It isn't just for looks (although looks certainly play a role.) Rather, the different shapes and styles of beer glassware on the market were, in many cases, designed to make more pronounced or enhance the aromatic compounds inherent to different kinds of beer. And as we all know, smell has a huge impact on how we perceive flavor.
Below are a few types of beer glasses that provide you with information on which beer style they best pair with. Now, time to enhance that Beer I.Q.
What Are The Best Beer Glasses To Use?
1. Tulip
The tulip beer glass is visually appealing. It’s one that you’ve probably seen before, and maybe you’ve thought to yourself: “What beer should you put in that glass?”
The best beer styles for a tulip beer glass are highly aromatic beers like New England-style or Hazy IPAs. The wide opening flared end of the tulip glass lets the aromas and fragrances of these beer styles shine through on the nose. The end of the glass, where the flare is, marks where the head of the beer should start - the foam from the head will burst with tiny bubbles enhancing the effects of the aroma.
Other IPAs or aroma-intensive beers are great choices for this glass as well. Because these styles are significantly impacted by their many different aromas, a tulip glass is a perfect and aesthetically pleasing choice.
2. Snifter
The snifter beer glass is a must-have for beer drinkers. The large and wide base of the glass allows you to swirl the beer around and stimulate the beer's aroma. The end of the glass is tapered to trap those aromas, making it so that when you put the beer to your lips, you’re met with not only the taste of the beer but its potent aromas. Additionally, the short stem lets your palm come in contact with the glass, allowing for heat transfer and further intensifying the aroma.
The best beer styles for a snifter glass are Double, Imperial or Barrel-aged Stouts, Barleywines, Double or Imperial IPAs, and even Hazy or New England-style IPAs.
3. Pilsner
A pilsner beer glass is designed for head retention. The beer's head offers the aroma from the hops used, which are the distinct characteristic of pilsner-style beers. The German noble hop profiles that are used to brew these beers are shown off with a pilsner glass. Its tapered body and wider opening allow your nose to take in the aromas from the frothy head with each sip, complementing the flavors.
The best beer for a pilsner beer glass, as you may have already guessed, is a Pilsner. The pilsner beer glass is also great for Kolschs and light lagers.
4. Nonic Pint
A beer glass whose conception means more to its servers than its drinkers, the nonic pint glass was originally designed to prevent damage to the glass. The bulge near the top is a preventative measure and creates a safety net for when the glass is stacked or if one falls on its side. The bulge also serves as an ergonomic enhancement compared to a regular pint glass, making it easier to hold and less likely to slip out of the drinker’s or bartender’s hand.
Aside from just being a safe and standard alternative for British pubs, it also has some qualities to enhance the beer drinking experience. These glasses are meant for highly drinkable beer styles. The best beer styles for a nonic pint glass include low ABV brown ales, Irish stouts, or lagers.
5. Thistle
The thistle beer glass is a lesser-known glass to some. Its design is meant to trap and catalyze the aroma of the beer with its flared opening and the bulge at the base. The bulge lets you swirl the beer inside, essentially activating the aroma and offering a more complete sip. Pair that with the millions of tiny bubbles bursting from the well-retained foam head, and the hop or malt used in the beers that often go in this glass will shine.
The thistle is often compared to the tulip style glass. Thistle, the national flower of Scotland, is normally reserved for Scottish Ales. The malty sweetness from these beers comes through in the aroma to complete the Scottish ale drinking experience.
6. Mug
The mug is a classic beer glass and one that's origins date back to before beer was first brewed. A mug is a perfect choice for any beer that needs to be kept cold. Beers like light lagers, some ambers, and pilsners can be a good pairing for the mug glass. The handle reduces heat transfer from your hand to the glass, making the beer inside stay colder for longer temperature plays a critical role in beer flavor, and the aforementioned styles must remain cold for an optimal tasting experience. The mug also has a wide opening for the bubbles from the foaming head of the beer to enhance the aroma.
7. Tankard
A tankard is a handled mug that was used in Europe starting in the 16th century. It was often made out of pewter, silver, or wood, and was not used for any specific type of beer, although a popular style in Europe around this time in history was the Strong Ale. Today, tankards are less used and serve as more of a decorative or aesthetically pleasing vessel.
8. Dimpled Mug
Dimpled mugs are handled glasses with dimbles etched into them. There are many variations of them, but the two we know most today are the Mass (or Isar) mug and the British dimple. The mass mug is the beer glass that many associated the German celebration Oktoberfest with. It’s made with thick glass and has a handle for an ergonomic grip and to reduce heat transfer. The British dimple is a short, stout version of this glass. Each of these is designed to help maintain the foam head and its carbonation. Some of the best beers for the dimpled mug include British milds, Marzens, and Oktoberfest-style beers, but any beer style makes a good fit for a dimpled mug.
9. Stein
The stein is a historical beer glass that was introduced after the Bubonic Plague and the invasions of species of flies in Europe. What’s different about the stein compared to other drinking vessels at the time is that it was lidded. The vessel had a lid attached at the top to prevent flies or other contaminants from getting into the beer. The stein is versatile in that any beer style goes well with it. However, steins aren’t used much for drinking anymore and they’re used more for decoration and as collectibles. Some are made with unique designs and add a tasteful touch to any bar setup.
10. Weizen
The Weizen glass is similar to pilsner glass but is better suited for other beers. It’s best used for Hefeweizens and other wheat beers. It has a somewhat tapered body with an inward curve at the bottom. The mouth of the glass is wide to release the aromas from the frothy head that often accompanies wheat beers. The banana and clove esters from hefeweizens shine in the Weizen glass. Other beer styles that pair well with the Weizen glass include the pilsner and Kolsch
11. Stange
The stange glass serves one purpose and one purpose only: to serve Kolsch. This glass is used primarily for drinking Kolsch and is prominent in Germany. The glass is perfectly cylindrical. The original stange held only 6 oz. and was perfect for the beer style because the small glass didn’t give the beer time to warm up too much. The beer was often served in trays holding as many as 11 Kolsch-full stange glasses. Today, the glasses are often larger but still retain their shape to showcase the Kolsch’s foamy head and translucent body.
12. Flute
The flute glass is designed for highly-carbonated styles and is home to lambic-style beers, beers traditionally brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium. Lambic beers don’t use carefully selected yeast strains and invite spontaneous fermentation into the brewing process, letting wild yeast or bacteria join the mix. The flute glass is stemmed and holds less than the normal 16 oz. of beer. It can be cone or tulip shaped, or straight-edged like a stange. The long body of the glass works to maintain the beer’s head and showcase its carbonation. Examples of lambic styles for a flute glass are Kriek and Framboise.
13. Irish Imperial Pint
The Irish imperial pint, or tulip pint, is a beer glass from Ireland. It’s usually a 20oz. glass and allows for bigger pours of beer with room for the head. Unlike a traditional tulip glass, the Irish imperial pint does not have a flared opening at the top. Still, the wide mouth is great for aromatic beers or beers where the head plays a critical role. That’s why Irish stouts are the perfect nominee for this glass. It’s commonly dubbed the “Guinness glass,” and any beer in this style will work in the tulip pint. Nitrogenated stouts are the best style for this glass.
14. Stout glass
A stout glass is made specifically for stout beers. This includes British stouts, Irish stouts, and American stouts of almost any variation. The contoured shape helps retain head, enhances aromas, and keeps the beers consistency. The narrow top makes the head of the beer last longer, and that means that the complex aromas that come with a stout will be fizzing from the frothy head even longer. As we know, aroma plays a critical role in our taste, and the stout glass is undeniably the best option for activating that sense when drinking from it.
15. Shaker pint
A shaker pint is a standard beer glass. It’s a regular pint glass with a straight side and nothing extravagant about it; no curves, no stem, and no bulge. This glass isn’t specifically designed for any particular beer and it can be seen as either versatile or completely useless. The pint glass is good for light American lagers, where aroma and body don’t play an important role in perceived taste It does have a wide mouth for aromatic beers, but other glasses serve those beers better than the shaker pint.
16. Goblet
Goblets are stemmed glasses with large mouths and a bulbous shape. They typically hold 13 oz. and are meant for big, strong beers. The best beer styles for the goblet glass are Belgian tripels, IPAs, or doppelbocks. The wide opening lets the potent aromas of these beers make their presence known; a critical aspect of tasting beer. Since smell plays an important role, the goblet glass complements these heavy and aromatic styles. Additionally, the stem of the goblet
17. Chalice
A chalice is similar to a goblet. It is a smidge taller than a goblet or tulip glass and with a narrower body. It has a stem and is made with thicker relatively thicker glass. Perhaps the most notable use of a chalice is for Stella Artois, a European lager. Stella fits the glass perfectly as its given just the right amount of room to house the 112.2 oz. of beer and it also lets the head form into the last inch or so of the glass. Although the glass is often paried with Stella Artois, the chalice is also suited for Belgian tripels and strong ales.
18. Yard
The yard glass is one that usually accompanies University parties or other social gatherings. It’s a long glass, usually one yard long with a bulb at the bottom and a widening body that opens more toward the mouth, that’s meant for drinking as a feat, competition, or ceremony. Although not a traditional beer glass, it’s one that’s universally recognized and, as such, deserves a proper beer pairing: light lagers and British milds are the perfect match. Originating in the UK, it’s only fitting that the yard glass is paired with a mild beer and a fun celebration.
19. IPA glass
The IPA glass is one of the most recognizilble and perhaps most purposeful beer glass. With its relatively small mouth and ribbed body, it’s the perfect glass pairing for any type of IPA. As the beer gets poured from this carefully crafted glass, the molecules are stimulated from the ribbed structure and the flavors and aromas are activated before they move into your mouth. Your two most important senses–taste and smell–are put to work with the IPA glass. Any type of IPA will shine in this glass, including New England or Hazy IPAs, imperial, or triple IPAs.
20. Pokal
The pokal glass is another product of German engineering. Traditionally manufactured for the German bock style, the pokal is stemmed with a slightly tapered shape from the bottom to the top, directing the aromas of the beer to one spot and locking them in the head of the beer. A beer poured into a pokal glass should have about two fingers of foam at the top for the best effect. It’s only right that the best beer to use a pokal glass for would be bock, maibock, or doppelbock. Additionally, you could opt for a weizenbock in your pokal glass.