Beer Glassware Guide

1. American Pint GlassesAmerican Pint Glasses

The simple, utilitarian 16-ounce American pint glass is slightly wider at the mouth than at the base. You’ll find it in large numbers in bars and restaurants across the United States, where it is used to serve a wide range of beer styles. Its ubiquity owes to the fact that it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to clean and store.

2. Imperial Pint Glasses

Like its close relative the American pint glass, the imperial pint glass is all-purpose. Unlike its U.S. counterpart, however, the imperial pint holds a full 20 ounces. It also differs in that it features a small lip at the mouth.

3. Pilsner Glasses

Tall, slim, and slightly wider at the mouth, a pilsner glass makes visible the sparkle, clarity, and bubbles of pilsners and other lighter beers. At the same time, it helps retain a beer’s head, which keeps volatile aromatics locked under your nose. Typically, pilsner glasses hold less beer than a pint glass--usually somewhere in the vicinity of 12 to 14 ounces.

4. Tulip Glasses (a.k.a., Belgian Glasses)

With a bulbous body and a flared lip, the tulip glass is designed to capture the head and promote the aroma and flavor of Belgian ales and other malty, hoppy beers. Its short stem facilitates swirling, further enhancing your sensory experience.

5. Thistle Glasses

A modified version of the tulip glass, the shape of a thistle glass resembles Scotland’s national flower (the thistle). It is characterized by a short stem, bulbous bottom, and elongated top section that’s noticeably more sharp and angular than that of the tulip.

6. Goblet / Chalice Glasses

The goblet glass has a large, head-retaining round bowl and a thick stem. Chalices are similar, but tend to have thicker bowl walls. Both types can be highly decorative and sometimes feature intricate etching or precious metal inlaying. Their wide mouth design promotes big, hearty sips.

7. IPA Glasses

The iconic ridges of the IPA glass aerate your favorite hoppy beer with each sip, releasing volatile aromatics in the process. Meanwhile, the tall, slender, tapered bowl concentrates and directs those hop aromatics to your nose. Some IPA glasses are also nucleated (etched) at the bottom to help release carbonation and promote a steady stream of cascading bubbles.

8. Stout Glasses

Designed by Spiegelau in partnership with Left Hand Brewing Company from Colorado and Rogue Ales from Oregon, this distinctive stout glass deserves a spot in every beer connoisseurs china cabinet. The shape of the base and angle of the bowl accentuates the roasted malts and notes of rich coffee and chocolate that define stout beers. The angled shelf and narrow mouth promote head retention.

9. Weizen Glasses

The weizen glass (or wheat beer glass) features thin walls and a lot of length to showcase the color of wheat beers. The design also locks in the style’s signature banana and clove aromas and provides proper space for a thick, fluffy head. They are sometimes confused with pilsner glasses, but there are important distinctions. A weizen glass typically holds a ⅕ liter of beer (compared to a pilsner’s 12 to 14 ounces), and it boasts some attractive curvature.

10. Stange Glasses

The stange glass--which gets its name from the German word for pole--is narrow, straight, and cylindrical. Like a champagne flute, the stange concentrates soft hop and malt aromas and preserves carbonation. Unlike a flute, however, the stange has a thick-bottomed base for reliable sturdiness.

11. Teku Stemmed Beer Glasses

Widely recognized as one of the finest craft beer glasses available today, the visually stunning Teku glass was designed by an Italian sensory expert and craft brewer. It features an 11.2- or 14.2-ounce tulip-like bowl, a remarkably thin lip, and an elegant long stem that prevents your hands from transferring warmth to your beer.

12. Beer Mugs

Beer mugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are even dimpled. What holds true for all beer mugs, however, is the handle projecting from one side. It’s a design feature that, like a stem, helps prevent heat transference from your hand to the beer. Beer mugs also tend to have relatively thick glass walls for durability and insulation. They are classic pub glassware.