Beer Glasses: The Art of Flavour

= INTRO =

In his 1943 essay ‘The Moon Under the Water’, George Orwell notes how they’re very particular about drinking vessels at his pub and goes onto say how pints are only served in glass and pewter mugs, but never handleless. The 20^th century was an important time for the development of beer glasses as manufacturers across the country sought to design drinking vessels that not only made beer more attractive but more quaffable to the drinker. Choosing the appropriate type of beer glass is imperative to the quality, look and colour of a beer. The shape of a glass is important in how it affects the beer as it enters the mouth, as it can influence the flavours, aromas and mouthfeel.  Various types of beers suit specific types of drinking glasses. Here’s a guide to several different beer glasses.

 

= TULIP GLASS =

Beer styles: Golden Ale, Bitter, IPA, Stout, Porter

Glasswear in pubs during the early 20^th century generally consisted of conical thin-walled glasses, however these tumblers were prone to breakages; in 1948 the Nonic glass was introduced to the UK by Ravenhead, it had an inverted cone-like shape with a bulge at the top which helped prevent chipping when stacked and breakages when tipped over. This was later superseded by the Tulip glass, which although similar in appearance, it was smoother and conical in design. Since then, the Tulip glass has become one of the commonest glasses found in UK pubs. Indeed, its widened rim is useful in not only ensuring a better grip on the glass, but also in retaining the abundance of foam, which helps in maintaining the aromas and flavours of the beer; this is particularly suited to stouts and Northern beers.

 

= DIMPLE JUG =

Beer styles: Mild, Bitter, Stout, Porter, Brown Ale, Golden Ales

Pint mugs were originally made of Pewter or China, as glass pressing technology improved, manufactures sort to take advantage of this by developing glass tankards. The iconic Dimple jug was introduced by Ravenhead in 1938, its design was influenced by the 10-sided Lantern Pint Glass and the Turbinger Kugel. The Dimple jug has a stout and slightly curved like design with three horizontal bands of dimples stopping short of the fill line, due to its handled design a Dimple jug is useful in maintaining a cool pint. This type of glass is suitable for intensifying the luminance of lighter colour beers like Bitter and Golden Ale. According to Martyn Cornell, the light shining through pint of Bitter in a Dimple jug gives the appearance of a stained-glass window. It is also useful in maintaining a good head of foam which is convenient for capturing more flavour.

 

= PILSNER GLASS =

Beer styles: Blonde Ale, Wheat Beer, NEIPA, Lager

Tall and slender in appearance, with a conical shape that flutes out towards the rim. The Pilsner glass was invented by Josef Groll in the Czech city of Pilsen in 1842, for which he named after. During this time, advancements in filtration technology through brewing allowed for cleaner and lighter coloured beers, in turn these encouraged glassmakers to develop drinking vessels that would show off these beers to their best advantage. Due it’s long and slender form, the glass helps maximise the amount of the light going through, which in turn amplifies its colour. It also adept at persevering and strengthening the carbonation of the beer, as well as maintaining a good head, which allows for maintaining flavour and the aroma of the beer for longer.

 

= GOBLET GLASS =

Beer Styles: Strong Ale, Old Ale, Imperial Stout, Barley Wine, Scotch Ale

A Goblet glass is designed for beers that are stronger and richer in flavour, usually with an ABV of 5% or over. The glass has a flared rim with a stemmed bulbous design that expands towards the bottom, which has a rounded surface that allows for heat transfer whilst holding the glass. Due to the design of the Goblet, it helps intensify the aromas and flavour of the beer as it hits the mouth; it is also useful in maintaining a hefty and abundant head which adds to a smoother mouthfeel. This type of glass is generally only available in glasses that measure 13.1 fl oz, or 375ml. 

 

= CONCLUSION =

Beer glasses come in all different shapes and sizes, but when it comes to choosing a beer, whether it’s a Bitter, IPA or an Imperial Stout for instance, choosing the right type of glass can be imperative towards the overall quality of a pint, as the shape of the glass can influence the aromas, flavours and mouthfeel of a beer. As the old Czech proverb goes “a pint of beer may be judged with only one sip”, yet it only takes one glass to make all the difference.