Beer Glasses

There are a variety of different types of beer glasses available around the world. We at BDU, wanted to put together an overview of the most popular beer glasses that are used in many craft beer bars today. Taking the time to select the best glass for your beer will help you enjoy it to the fullest – by releasing the aromas, allowing you to study the beautiful color, and even by guiding you to a suitable serving size depending on potency. (You know to kind of drink responsibly?) Choosing the correct glassware can take your beer drinking experience to the next level…

Pint Glass

The pint glass is by far the most popular beer glassware used. Almost cylindrical in shape, the pint glass has a slight taper and wide-mouth. Traditionally this would hold 20 imperial fluid ounces, and you still find these used for many British ales and stouts with thick heads, however an American pint holds 16 US fl oz ounces, and is the standard used today for most lagers, pale ales, and pilsners.

Weizen Glass

Specifically made to help with the larger volume and a head that foams more than other beers, the Weizen glass (or wheat beer glass) is tall, thin, and has a large opening, helping to release those clove and citrus aromas that wheat beers are known for. Most will hold 17 fl oz, but there are sometimes variations in the sizing.

Goblet Glass

Goblets are stemmed, bulbous glasses of a medium size, perfect for a healthy pour of Belgian ales, German bocks, and other big heavy beers. They aim to maintain a head of around one inch, use a wide mouth for easy sipping, and hold around 13 fl oz, of beer.

Tulip Glass

Named after its shape, the tulip glass begins rounded at the stem, but has an elongated top, making a glass that better maintains head of more effervescent beers such as pale ales, while also trapping the more forward aromas of Scottish ales and American double and imperial IPAs.

Snifter Glass

Usually associated for sipping brandy and cognac, the snifter has made the transition into beer glass territory, albeit a shrunken 9 or 10 fl oz, size. Almost exclusively used when it comes to the more potent brews such as double/imperial IPAs, Belgian ales, barley wines and wheat wines. The shape helps trap the ‘volatile compounds’ of a brew, which are essentially the key components that you want delivered to your olfactory system in order to enjoy the full aromas of a drink.

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There are of course other less common beer glasses around, and even some speciality glassware such as the flute glass (often used for lambics and fruited beers), a boot, a stein, and even a yard glass. These have mixed traditions and origins, and are more often seen in European countries, or specialist/themed bars.