Every beer nerd worth his beard has an opinion about drinkware…what vessel should you imbibe your favorite beverage from and why? I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a matter of opinion, BUT what you’re drinking out of CAN affect your drinking experience, and I’m not just talking about how cool you feel; I’m talking about what your senses get out of the exchange.
So what vessel should you use and why? Let’s chat.
RIGHT OUTTA THE CAN
Sure, you can do this (see what I did there?). But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. The good thing about cans is they are great for preserving beer integrity. Their opacity protects from UV rays that turn hop character into skunk character. Their seals keep oxygen out to keep the beer from tasting like cardboard. Yay! Those are good things. But drinking beer straight outta the can doesn’t really allow for a full sensory experience. The main problem is the opening of the can. It doesn’t allow for collection of the gases rising from the beer when it’s open, which makes for a richer drinking experience. You will almost always enjoy a beer more if you take the time to drink it from anything other than a can.
SHAKER (or “pint glass”)
These are the glasses that are ubiquitous at most bars. People call them “Pint glasses” but depending how much head your beer should have, you might actually only get 12 oz in them (a pint is 16 oz, btw). These are fine. They’re better than cans. But that’s about all I’ll say about them.
IPA GLASS
NOW you’re talking! This is my preferred drinkware for virtually all beers. All of those sexy curves, particularly the ones at the top, are meant to allow the gases arising from the beer to coalesce and sit upon the top of the beer, awaiting the arrival of your blessed nose to enjoy. Part of the joy of drinking any beer, but particularly an IPA, is the aroma. Hops, when used correctly, impart amazing scents to a beer and they can dramatically impact your enjoyment. I had a beer recently (from this kinda glass) that smelled so much of pineapple, but the taste was all resin and grapefruit. I could have missed out on that tropical aspect of the beer without the proper glass, which would have made it less enjoyable. I’m telling you, these things are legit.
There are several different varieties out there, but Sam Adams produces one that is really amazing. Parenthetically, your local Craftboro Brewing Depot serves all of their IPAs from IPA glasses. Just sayin’.
TULIPS
IPA glasses really took their shape from these stemmed varieties that are mostly used for Belgian beers for similar reasons but with different results. Belgian beers tend to be WAY more about esoteric yeast characteristics than hop aroma, but there’s a huge variety of aromas from these yeasts that these glasses can help you experience more. Belgian yeasts can give off spicy/pepperiness, bubblegum, bananas, cloves…all kinds of craziness. An added benefit of the tulip is volume, or lack thereof. These tend to be smaller, which is often better when you’re dealing with these high ABV monsters that come out of Belgium.
BRITISH DIMPLE MUG
These are the iconic glasses for Milds and Bitters that you see in English pubs. Their main characteristics are a) the dimples and b) the handle. The dimples are about light and how it plays with the beer. Frankly, it’s aesthetics. They used to like to show off how sparkly their beer was, and this was just a way to do that. The handle is to keep drunk folks from dropping them. Will these make your beer taste better? Maybe. But it’s probably because you love pubs, not for any other reason.
GERMAN MASSKRUG
This is the gigantic bucket with a handle that you see people using in Oktoberfest commercials. If you’re into consuming a lot of beer at one time, then have at it. But they don’t help the beer. They just help you carry more beer.
KOLSCH STANGE
The stange is essentially an elongated shot glass and is how Kolsch beers are traditionally served in Cologne. Do they affect aroma/flavor? I don’t think so. But what they do help with is temperature/enjoyment. Kolsch are best when they are fairly cold, and if you serve them in smaller glasses you’re more likely to enjoy more of your beer at the right temperature. Not many places use these states-side, but they’re worth mentioning.
Look. If you can get beer in a drinking horn, then that’s what you’re meant to be doing. Don’t question it. It’s always the right time for a drinking horn.
Pro Tip: NEVER let anyone give you beer in a frozen glass. First, those things are slippery as all get out, so no thanks. Second, the extremely low temp of the glass (obviously) reduces the temp of the beer, and lowering the temp of the beer reduces its flavor and aroma. There’s a reason why your dad liked his Crudheisers ice cold: So he couldn’t taste how horrible they are. But even a good beer is worse when it’s cold, so don’t do it!
There’s a bit more glassware out there, but these are the main players. The take-home point is that what you drink out of can impact the enjoyment of your beer a ton. Leaning toward a curvy tulip or IPA glass is generally going to be better than not, but there are reasons to go in different directions sometimes. But in the end, don’t get too caught up in it. If someone gives you a beer in a solo cup drink the goddamn beer and don’t complain. Just know that there are better options out there and try to spread the word without sounding like a dick. It ain’t easy.
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