Yes the correct glass makes a difference. As soon as the beer hits the glass, its color, aroma and taste is altered, your eye candy receptors tune in, and your anticipation is tweaked. Hidden nuances, become more pronounced, colors shimmer, and the enjoyment of the beer simply becomes a better, more complete, experience.

Still think it's just marketing? Well the sophomoric pun "head is good" has a mature side. Scientific studies show that the shape of glassware will impact head development and retention. Why is this important? The foam created by pouring a beer acts as a net for many of the volatiles in a beer. What's a volatile? Compounds that evaporate from beer to create its aroma, such as hop oils, all kinds of yeast fermentation byproducts like alcohol, fusels and fruity esters, spices or other additions. So a glass that promotes a healthy foam head may enhance the trapping of certain volatiles. And as varying levels of head retention and presentation are desired with different styles of beers, different styles of glassware should be used accordingly. Presentation marries science.

So which glassware do you use? The answer can often be overwhelming. In Europe, especially Belgium, each brand of beer will often have its own glass. In fact, some breweries have been known to engineer the glass before the beer, and many bars will also stock unique glassware for every brand of beer they serve, which could be hundreds or thousands. And while it's always a good idea to use glassware designed by the brewery for a specific brand of beer, sometimes this is not an option. But fret not! We've complied a quick guide of recommended glassware that will cover most beers and arm you with a very versatile arsenal of glassware.

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The most common glass is the Pint Glass. It is nealyr cylindrical, with a slight taper and wide-mouth. There are two standard sizes, the 16-ounce (US Tumbler - the pour man's pint glass and most common) or the 20-ounce Imperial (Nonic), which has a slight ridge towards the top, a grip of sorts and helps in stacking them. The 20-ounce version is preferred to accommodate more beer or beers with large crowning heads. A Becker is the German equivalent, tapering at the top. Some of the beers that best suite this glass are American Lager, IPA,Blond Ale,Cream Ale, Rye Ale, American Malt, English Stout, Irish Red Ale and English Bitter

 

Aw the good old beer Mug! also known as the Seidel or Stein Heavy, sturdy, large and with handle, the mug is a fun and serious piece of glassware that comes in many sizes and shapes. The best part of using a mug is that you can clink them together with more confidence than other types of glassware, and they hold loads of beer. Seidel is a German mug, while a Stein is the stone equivalent that traditionally features a lid, the use of which dates back to the Black Plague to prevent flies from dropping in. Benefits: Easy to drink out of. Holds plenty of volume. Some of the beers that best suite this glass are American Amber, American Blond Ale,American Brown Ale, Dark Wheat Ale, American Porter, English Strong Ale, Rauchbier, Roggenbiers, Märzenbier , Oatmeal Stout and German Pilsner

 

Belgian Ales are often poured into a nice round chalice or goblet glass. That way all the aromas and flavors of the beer can be enjoyed and tasted. Aslo refered to as the Goblet. There are slight differences between a Chalice and a Goblet. Majestic pieces of work, ranging from delicate and long stemmed (Goblet) to heavy and thick walled (Chalice). The more delicate ones may also have their rims laced with silver or gold, while the heavy boast sculpture-like stems. Some are designed to maintain a 2-centimeter head. This is achieved by scoring the inside bottom of the glass, which creates a CO2 nucleation point, and a stream of eternal bubbles and perfect head retention as a result. Chimay is one beer we associate with this glassware.

 

A flute glass is the preferred serving vessel for Belgian lambics and fruit beers . The narrow shape helps maintain carbonation, while providing a strong aromatic front. Flute glasses display the lively carbonation, sparkling color, and soft lacing of this distinct style This glass is best for Bière de Champagne , Bock, Czech Pilsner, Faro,Vienna Lager, Eisbock Malbock, and Weizenbock

 

The Pilsner glass or Pokal.Typically a tall, slender and tapered 12-ounce glass, shaped like a trumpet at times, that captures the sparkling effervesces and colors of a Pils while maintaining its head. A Pokal is a European Pilsner glass with a stem. Benefits: Showcases color, clarity and carbonation. Promotes head retention. Enhances volatiles.

 

A snifter — also called a balloon — is a type of stemware , a short-stemmed glass whose vessel has a wide bottom and a relatively narrow top. It is mostly used to serve aged brown spirits such as brandy and scotch . The large surface area of the contained liquid helps evaporate it, the narrow top traps the aroma inside the glass, while the rounded bottom allows the glass to be cupped in the hand, thus warming the liquor. Most snifters will hold between 180–240 ml (6–8 oz.), but are almost always filled to only a small part of their capacity. Most snifters are designed so that when placed sideways on a flat surface, they will hold just the proper amount before spilling. The attributes that have made the snifter a popular glass for brandy have also made it the preferred glass for some styles of beer ,mainly those that feature complex aromas and have an ABV measure of 8% or higher, such as the imperial stout , barleywine , and double India pale ale . The snitfer is used for brandy and cognac, these wide-bowled and stemmed glasses with their tapered mouths are perfect for capturing the aromas of strong ales. Volumes range, but they all provide room to swirl and agitate volatiles. Benefits: Captures and enhances volatiles.

Stange (Slender Cylinder) is a traditional German glass, stange means "stick" and these tall, slender cylinders are used to serve more delicate beers, amplifying malt and hop nuances. Substitute with a Tom Collins glass. Benefits: Tighter concentration of volatiles. Beers that can be poued into a Stange are, Altbier, Bock,Rye Beer, Rauchbier, Gose,Faro, Gueuze and Kölsch

A stemmed glass, tulip-shaped, wherein the top of the glass pushes out a bit to form a lip in order to capture the head and the body is bulbous. Scotch Ales are often served in a "thistle glass," which is a modified tulip glass that resembles Scotland's national flower. Benefits: Captures and enhances volatiles, while it induces and supports large foamy heads. Some beers that fit this glass style are American Wild Ale, Belgium IPA, Biere de Garde, Flanders Oud Bruin and Quadrupel

Weizenbier (wheat beer)is best in an authentic Bavarian Weizen Glass. These classy glasses, with their thin walls and length, showcase the beer's color and allows for much headspace to contain the fluffy, sexy heads association with the style. Most are 0.5L in size, with slight variations in sizes. Forget the lemon garnish, the citric will kill the head. Benefits: Specifically produced to take on volume and head, while locking in the banana-like and phenol aromas associated with the style. Beers that best suit this glass American Dark Wheat Ale American Pale Wheat Ale, Dunkelweizen, Gose, Hefeweizen Kristalweizen Weizenbock

The German Beer Stein