Beer glasses: learn the main types and choose the right glass

It may seem like just a detail, but glasses have a big influence on the sensory experience of drinking a good beer. Today, there are many types of beer glasses, each with a specific purpose. The reason for having so many glasses is similar to pairing beers with different foods: the idea is to get the most out of flavors, aromas, textures and appearances through well-chosen combinations.

We explored some of the basic techniques for getting well-chosen combinations in our post on pairing beer with chocolate.

The beer glass is a very old utensil that has accompanied humankind for centuries. Therefore, choosing the right glass for each type of beer goes beyond the concern of presenting or highlighting the aromas of the drink: drinking a beer from the glass dedicated to its style is a historical and cultural practice.

After learning the history behind each draft beer glass, and understanding how it changes the experience on the palate and in the aroma, you will certainly enjoy draft beer from a new perspective.

Characteristics of beer glasses

The shape of beer glasses varies a lot and, to understand how shape adds to the sensory experience, we should look at the following aspects:

• Height of the glass
• Width of the base and the rim
• Curved or straight body
• Thickness of the glass wall (rim)

Behind the choice of each shape there is a purpose. In general terms:

Straight, tall glasses: speed up the flow of the drink to the mouth, making the experience more refreshing.

Curved, shorter glasses: the drink reaches the mouth more slowly, providing a gentler experience closer to tasting.

The width of the rim influences, among other things, how the drink's aromas volatilize.

Wide-rimmed glasses: the area of contact between the liquid and the air is larger, so the aromatic notes volatilize more, allowing you to smell the drink's aroma from a distance.

Narrow-rimmed glasses: slow down volatilization and concentrate the aromas inside.

Thick-walled glasses: keep the drink cold longer – which is great on very hot days – and affect how the glass fits the mouth, plus a more aggressive look that encourages drinking larger amounts.

Thin-walled glasses: highlight the look of the drink with their delicate appearance, in addition to providing a lighter fit on the mouth, complementing the tasting experience. 

History of beer glasses

We can divide the history of beer glasses into two moments: before and after the Industrial Revolution, in the 19th century. What was the big change in this period? The popularization of glass cups.

Before glass cups, beer was drunk from mugs made of different materials: ceramic, metal, wood, and even leather and animal horns. And the goal was always the same: to enhance the presentation of the beer without losing the practicality and durability of the containers.

With the popularization of glass, beer culture quickly embraced the material, recognizing its potential. And so began a new era of creativity around beer drinking glasses.

Transparent, light, durable, hygienic and cheap: glass revolutionized the way we drink beer, and it is hard to imagine a better material for making beer glasses.

One of the first beer glasses made of glass to become popular was the typical ribbed mug, with its ten facets on the sides. Besides enhancing presentation, the mug's handle lets the person drinking keep their hands away from the liquid, keeping the beer cold longer.

Since then, the beer community has been very creative, and today we have an extensive variety of glasses to choose from. Do you already know which glass to use for each beer style?

The right glass for each beer style

"It is great to know the glass and style pairings to expand our repertoire, but it is always good to remember that suggestions do not override our personal preferences,” says Nilana Souza, sommelier and beer consultant at myTapp. “For a bar that wants to add to the customer experience but does not see it as viable to work with many glass varieties, I recommend betting on the more versatile ones, such as the Caldereta, the Pint and the ISO tasting glass.”

If you are looking for more information for your beer business, check out the best tips for putting together your bar's beer menu.

AMERICANO

The most Brazilian glass of all – despite the name – is ideal for light beers, such as American Lagers and Pilsners – 150ml

CALDERETA / SHAKER 

Very versatile and the most popular among beer glasses, it is recommended for serving IPAs, dark Lagers, Porters and Stouts – 300ml

CHALICE / GOBLET

These are old-style beer glasses with a rounded bottom and a wider shape at the top. Perfect for aromatic beers, the wide rim volatilizes the aromas. Recommended for serving Belgian beer styles – 250ml

CYLINDRICAL (STANGE/STICK)

Its thin, cylindrical shape, from the base to the rim, is ideal for serving styles such as Altbier and Kölsch, since it favors head formation – 200ml

FLUTE

These are thinner, more elegant beer glasses and are normally used for sparkling beers, such as Lambics and Gueuzes. They have a rounded bottom and narrow at the top, which makes them ideal for drinking beer and concentrating its aromas, since the carbonation lasts longer – 300ml

LAGER

Probably the best known among glasses specific to draft beer, this classic favors the creaminess of the head on Lagers – 500ml

MASS / STEIN / MUG / CANECO / Maß

You have certainly seen one of these in Oktoberfest photos. The mug with very thick walls keeps the drink cold longer – up to 1L

PILSEN / TULIP

Similar to the Lager glass, the difference is the wider opening. Recommended for Pilsner and American Lager beers – 500ml

PINT

The pint is a very popular beer glass. They are large and round, with a rounded bottom, and are ideal for dense, full-flavored beers, such as IPAs, Stouts and Porters. They can also be used for other types of beer, including lagers, ales and even fruity beers, such as Bitters – 473ml – 568ml (UK) 

SNIFTER / NAPOLEON

Generally used for strong, full-flavored beers, it has a flattened shape at the bottom and narrows at the top, which makes it ideal for concentrating the aromatic notes of a Barley Wine, a Stout, or even a Lambic – 700ml

TUMBLER

A thick-walled, wide-rimmed glass, recommended for Witbier-style beers – 400ml

WEIZEN

Made to hold the entire contents of a bottle of Weiss beer – which should be poured completely into the glass to keep the sediment (made up of yeast) and favor head formation – 500ml

myTapp self-pour draft beer will revolutionize your bar, attract more customers and increase your profit margin. Get in touch with our team to learn more!

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