Beer glassware

File:Michaeljacksonbierglazen.jpg

Beer glassware (from left to right): Pilstulpe, tasting glass, snifter, Willibecher

Beer glassware comprise vessels, today usually made of glass, designed or commonly used for serving and drinking beer. Styles of beer glasses vary in accord with national or regional traditions; legal or customary requirements regarding serving measures and fill lines; such practicalities as breakage avoidance in washing, stacking or storage; commercial promotion by breweries; artistic or cultural expression in folk art or as novelty items or usage in drinking games; or to complement, to enhance, or to otherwise affect a particular type of beer's temperature, appearance and aroma, as in the case of its head. Drinking vessels intended for beer are made from a variety of materials other than glass, including pottery, pewter, and wood.

In many countries, beer glasses are served placed on a paperboard beer mat, usually printed with brand advertising, in commercial settings.

International styles

Pilsner glass

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Pilsner glass from Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg

File:Pilstulpe.jpg

A traditional German Pilstulpe ("pilsner tulip") glass.

A pilsner glass is used for many types of light beers, including pale lager or pilsner. Pilsner glasses are generally smaller than a pint glass, usually in Template:Convert, Template:Convert, Template:Convert, Template:Convert or Template:Convert sizes. In Europe, Template:Convert glasses are also common. They are tall, slender and tapered. The slender glass reveals the colour, and carbonation of the beer, and the broad top helps maintain a beer head.

Weizen glasses are sometimes mistakenly called pilsner glasses because they are somewhat similar in appearance, but true pilsner glasses have an even taper without any amount of curvature.

Pint glass

The definition of a pint differs by country, thus a pint glass will reflect the regular measure of beer in that country. In the UK, law stipulates that a serving of beer be fixed at the imperial pint (568 ml or 1.20095 US pints). Half-pint glasses of Template:Convert and one-third pint glasses of 189ml are generally smaller versions of pint glasses. Quarter-pint glasses of Template:Convert also exist, and are popular in Australia (now 140 ml from metrication), where they are known as a "pony". These may simply be smaller pint glasses, or may be a special pony glass. In the US, a pint is Template:Convert, but the glasses may vary somewhat, and glasses of 500 ml are also called pints in American parlance.

The common shapes of pint glasses are:

• Conical glasses are shaped, as the name suggests, as an inverted truncated cone around Template:Convert tall and tapering by about Template:Convert in diameter over its height.
• The nonic, a variation on the conical design, where the glass bulges out a couple of inches from the top; this is partly to improve the grip, partly to prevent the glasses from sticking together when stacked, and partly to give strength and stop the rim from becoming chipped or "nicked". The term "nonic" derives from "no nick".
• Jug glasses, or "dimple mugs", are shaped more like a large mug with a handle. They are moulded with a grid pattern of thickened glass on the outside, somewhat resembling the segmentation of a WWII-era hand grenade. The dimples prevent the glass slipping out of the fingers in a washing-up bowl, and the design of the glass emphasises strength, also to withstand frequent manual washing. These design features became less important when manual washing was superseded by machine washing from the 1960s onwards. Dimpled glasses are now rarer than the other types and are regarded as more traditional. This sort of glass is also known as a "Handle" due to the handle on the glass. They are popular with the older generation and people with restricted movement in their hands which can make holding a usual pint glass difficult. They have recently started to make a comeback, especially in northern Britain.

• British dimpled glass pint mug
  British dimpled glass pint mug
• "Conical" pint glass
  "Conical" pint glass
• "Nonic" pint glass
  "Nonic" pint glass
• Current Guinness glass
  Current Guinness glass

Connoisseur's glassware

Beer connoisseurs sometimes invest in special, non-traditional glassware to enhance their appreciation. An example was the range marketed by Michael "Beer Hunter" Jackson.

Snifters

File:Cognac glass.jpg

A snifter

Typically used for serving brandy and cognac, a snifter is ideal for capturing the volatiles of aromatic beers such as Double/Imperial IPAs, Belgian ales, barley wines and wheat wines. The shape helps trap the volatiles, while allowing swirling to agitate them and produce an intense aroma.

Taster glasses

Tasting glasses, also known as testers, are small, versatile glasses designed for sampling a variety of beers in small amounts. These glasses are a staple at beer festivals, tasting events, and breweries, allowing drinkers to explore different styles without committing to a full glass. Glasses holding Template:Sfrac of a pint or less may be used to:

• Try a beer in a pub or café before purchasing a full measure
• Split a bottle of rare or strong beer between friends
• Sample multiple beers without becoming inebriated. For instance a brewpub might provide a sampler of three different brews in Template:Sfrac pint measures, or a beer festival might provide small capacity glasses for patrons.

Plastic

Plastic beer vessels are usually shaped in imitation of whichever glasses are usual in the locality. They are mainly used as a substitute for glass vessels where breakages would be particularly problematic or likely, for instance at outdoor events.

German, Austrian, and Swiss styles

glasses

File:Weizenbier.jpg

A weizen glass with a fill line

A glass is used to serve wheat beer. Originating in Germany, the glass is narrow at the bottom and slightly wider at the top; the width both releasing aroma, and providing room for the often thick, fluffy heads produced by wheat beer. It tends to be taller than a pint glass, and generally holds Template:Convert with room for foam or "head". In some countries, such as Belgium, the glass may be Template:Convert or Template:Convert.

Wheat beers tend to foam a lot, especially if poured quickly. In pubs, if the bottle is handed to the patron for self pouring, it is customary for the glass to be taken to the patron wet or with a bit of water in the bottom to be swirled around to wet the entire glass to keep the beer from foaming excessively.

Beer stein

Beer stein or simply "stein" (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) has been for over a century an English expression for a traditional German beer mug made out of stoneware, whether simple and serviceably sturdy, or elaborately ornamental with either a traditionally cultural theme, or so embellished as to be sold as a souvenir or a collectible. The former may be made out of stoneware, but rarely the inferior earthenware or wood, while the latter is usually of glazed pottery, but often porcelain or pewter, or even silver or crystal. It may have either an uncovered mouth or a hinged pewter lid with a thumb-lever. The capacity of a German "stein" indicated by its fill line on its side ranged from "0.4l" (4 deci-litre), through "0.5l" (half a litre) or a full litre (or comparable historic sizes). Like decorative tankards, steins are often decorated in a culturally nostalgic, often German or Bavarian, theme. Some believe the lid that excludes flies from the beer today was originally intended for those so diseased in the age of the Black Plague.

Maßkrug

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A Maßkrug can be made with stoneware or glass.

The Maß () is a Template:Convert quantity of beer, most commonly used in Bavaria and Austria. It is served in a Maßkrug (pl. Maßkrüge), which is sometimes simply referred to as a Maß. As a feminine noun, it is , though commonly confused with the grammatically neuter noun , meaning "measure". The unit of volume is typically used only for measuring beer sold for immediate on-site consumption. Because the Maß is a unit of measure, it can come in the form of a glass or stoneware mug.

The endurance sport of Maßkrugstemmen involves holding a filled, Template:Convert Maß at arm's length. The world record is 45Template:Nbspminutes and 2Template:Nbspseconds.

File:Lemke dunkel beer in glass.jpg

Dunkel beer in a

The high, narrow and cylindrical (German for "stick" or "rod", plural ) is traditionally used for . A , traditionally used for , is similar, though slightly shorter and fatter. The usually holds between Template:Convert, though larger ones are now sometimes used to reduce serving work. are carried by slotting them into holes in a special tray called a ("wreath").

Willibecher

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Standard Willibecher

The Willibecher or Willybecher ("Willi glass") is common in Germany. Its invention in 1954 is commonly attributed to an employee of Ruhrglas GmbH named Willy Steinmeier. It is characterized by its shape: conical to the top portion where it curves inward to converge back to the top of a smaller diameter opening. The Willibecher is produced in sizes of Template:Convert.

Beer boot

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German "Beer boot"

Boot- and shoe-shaped drinking vessels have been found at archaeological sites dating back to the bronze-age Urnfield cultures. Modern beer boots (Template:Langx) have over a century of history and culture behind them. It is commonly believed that a general somewhere promised his troops to drink beer from his boot if they were successful in battle. When the troops prevailed, the general had a glassmaker fashion a boot from glass to fulfill his promise without tasting his own feet and to avoid spoiling the beer in his leather boot. Since then, soldiers have enjoyed toasting to their victories with a beer boot. At gatherings in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, beer boots are often passed among the guests for a festive drinking challenge. Since the movie Beerfest premiered in 2006, beer boots have become increasingly popular in the United States.

It is an old joke to hand the boot to a young novice drinker with the toe pointing away from his person, which will result in beer pouring over the drinker's face uncontrollably when air enters the toe; seasoned drinkers always point the toe towards their body until the glass is sufficiently drained.

Pilstulpe

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Traditional German Pilstulpen

The Pilstulpe ("Pilsner Tulip") or Biertulpe ("Beer tulip") is the traditional glass used for German pilsner beers. Sizes are typically around Template:Convert, but can be as large as Template:Convert. When used in restaurant settings, a small piece of absorbent paper is placed around the base to absorb any drips from spilling or condensation.

Gallery

• Elaborate earthenware beer steins
  Elaborate earthenware beer steins
• Common half-litre Humpen or beer mug
  Common half-litre Humpen or beer mug
• Warsteiner glass
  Warsteiner glass
• A Maßkrug
  A Maßkrug

Belgian and Dutch styles

Stronger or bottled beers are frequently served in specially made, elaborately branded glassware. In addition to the profusion of glasses provided by brewers, some Belgian beer cafés serve beer in their own "house" glassware, which avoids having to keep a large number of different glass types in stock.

Flute glass

A vessel similar to a champagne flute is often 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.

Goblet or Chalice

Chalices and goblets are large, stemmed, bowl-shaped glasses considered suitable for serving heavy Belgian ales, German bocks, and other big sipping beers. The distinction between goblet and chalice is typically in the glass thickness. Goblets tend to be thick, while the chalice is thin walled. Some chalices are even etched on the bottom to nucleate a stream of bubbles for maintaining a nice head.

• Orval beer's "chalice" glass
  Orval beer's "chalice" glass
• Rochefort beer's "goblet" glass
  Rochefort beer's "goblet" glass

Tulip glass

A tulip glass has a shape similar to a brandy snifter. The body is bulbous, like a snifter, but the top flares out to form a lip which helps head retention. It is recommended for serving Scottish ales, American double/imperial IPAs, barley wines, Belgian ales and other aromatic beers. Some pint glasses that taper outwards towards the top are also called tulip glasses, despite having noticeably less curvature.

Gallery

• Geuze lambic beer in a flute glass
  Geuze lambic beer in a flute glass
• The Belgian ale Duvel in its tulip glass
  The Belgian ale Duvel in its tulip glass
• Kwak beer with its unusual glass and stand
  Kwak beer with its unusual glass and stand
• A thistle-shaped glass complements Belgian Scotch ales
  A thistle-shaped glass complements Belgian Scotch ales

British and Irish styles

Tankard

A tankard is a form of drinkware consisting of a large, roughly cylindrical, drinking cup with a single handle. Tankards are usually made of silver, pewter, or glass, but can be made of other materials, for example wood, ceramic or leather. A tankard may have a hinged lid, and tankards featuring glass bottoms are also fairly common. Tankards are shaped and used similarly to beer steins. Metal tankards were popular in 18th and early 19th century Britain and Ireland, but were largely superseded by glass vessels. They are now seen as collector's items, or may be engraved and presented as a gift. Wooden and leather tankards were popular before the 17th century, but being made of organic materials have rarely survived intact to the present day.

• Reconstructed 16 CE wooden tankard
  Reconstructed 16 CE wooden tankard
• Pewter tankard
  Pewter tankard
• Glass tankard
  Glass tankard

Yard of ale

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A yard of ale

A yard of ale or yard glass is a very tall glass used for drinking around Template:Convert of beer, depending upon the diameter. The glass is approximately Template:Convert long, shaped with a bulb at the bottom, and a widening shaft which constitutes most of the height.

The glass most likely originated in 17th-century England where the glass was known also as a "Long Glass", a "Cambridge Yard (Glass)" and an "Ell Glass". It is associated by legend with stagecoach drivers, though was mainly used for drinking feats and special toasts. (Compare with the Pauwel Kwak glass).

Drinking a yard glass full of beer is a traditional pub game. The fastest drinking of a yard of ale in the Guinness Book of Records is 5 seconds.

Capacity

Volume	France	Belgium	Netherlands	Germany	Austria	Switzerland	Czech	Italy	Spain	UK	Ireland	Australia	Quebec
125 ml	Galopin, Bock	Benjamin						Birrino	Zurito (Basque)
200 ml		Flûte, Hollandais	Fluitje, Buisje, Pijpje	Stange (Cologne, but only for Kölsch)		Galopin (French) Herrgöttli (German)		Birra Piccola	Caña
250 ml	Demi, Bock	Boerke, Chope, Pintje	Vaasje, Emmertje, Rendsje, Amsterdammertje (though not in Amsterdam) Rotterdammertje (only in Rotterdam)						Botellín
284 ml										Middy, Ten, Half	Middy, Ten, Half, Glass
285 ml												Middy, Pot, Handle, Half
300 ml		Seidl, Seitel, Seiterl	Jonker			Becher, Stange, Rugeli
330 ml		Gourde, Klepke				Canette	Třetinka		Tercio, Mediana
400 ml								Birra Media
425 ml												Schooner
500 ml	Distingué, Baron, Mini-chevalier, Chope, Pinte, Sérieux	Demi	Pul, Halve leo	Seidel, Seidla, Halbe (Southern Germany)	Krügel, Krügerl, Halbe	Chope (French) Grosses (German)	Půllitr		Pinta
568 ml										Pint	Pint		Chopine
570 ml												Pint
775/950 ml				Humpen			Holba			Beer stein
1000 ml	Chevalier, Parfait, Double Pinte, Formidable	Corbeau, Lunette, Litron		Maß		Masse/Litron (French) Mass (German)	Tuplák	Birra grande					Pinte
1138 ml										Quart	Quart
1140 ml												Jug
2000 ml					Stiefel, Liesl

Australian measures

Prior to metrication in Australia, one could buy beer in glasses of size 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15 or 20 imperial fluid ounces. Each sized glass had a different name in each Australian state. These were replaced by glasses of size 115, 140, 170, 200, 285, 425 and 570 ml. Progressively, the differences are decreasing. In the 21st century, most pubs no longer have a glass smaller than 200 ml (7 imp fl oz); typically available are 200ml, 285ml and 425ml, and increasingly many pubs also have pints Template:Convert available.

See also

• Beer bottle
• Beer tower
• Beerfest

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline