Beer glasses; how much of it is nonsense and how much of it matters in the taste?

[berettafan]

Got my first delivery from the beer of the month club (bday present from wife) and last night i was reading the info sheet that talks about the beers included.

each beer has a particular temp range for serving, particular food pairings that are recommended, and, most interestingly, particular glassware suggested for it. the eisenbock i tried last night was, according to the paper, to be served in a snifter at 55-62 deg.

how much does this matter?

[930LDR]

Oops... thought you were starting a thread on 'Beer Goggles'. Can't help on the glasses.

[VINMAN]

I usually dont leave it in the glass long enough to matter.......

[Palum6o]

I prefer a new glass, older glass will tend to develop an odor and more friction when pouring the beer into your mouth. There's nothing better than new glass and cold beer inside it. Getting more specific, I like the 6oz beer glasses that are often used at bars to confuse patrons that they are getting a full beer when actually they aren't. The thing is, you have better temperature consistency when having less beer in the glass. I can't stand the large glasses, the beer gets too warm as you work through.

[DonDavis]

Beer has such a wide audience that you are going to hear a ton of differing opinions. My take is go with what the brewer says. Afterall, they have spent a LOT of time perfecting their craft and know what's best. Look at wine. Would you question what they say about "how to drink" their Pinot Noir or Merlot?

I know a guy that makes some EXCELLENT home brew. When I just drink it out of any type of glass it tastes good. When I drink it with him, in his glasses, at the right temp, it's GREAT!

My local watering hole serves Four Peaks Brewery products. I just started drinking Hefe this past summer. Never have liked the wheat beers for some reason. Anyhoo, they put a lemon with it. Hokey dokey, whatever. Tastes ok. Then I went to the brewery in Tempe and had some. They served it without lemon. When I asked, they said their Hefe is Bavarian style and is NOT supposed to have a lemon or any fruit at all. It was much better that way.

Cheers!

[Christien]

I also believe the glass makes a difference. Consider how much your sense of smell affects your sense of taste (why things taste bland when we're congested). With a run-of-the-mill beer like Bud or Coors or whatever, there's little if any subtlety in the scents and flavours, but with a crafted beer, there's a ton, and the shape and size of the glass can help direct certain scents towards your nose, which can subtly alter the flavour in the way the brewer intended. I do find this is much more obvious with wine, but it holds true for beer as well.

Of course, it does make a difference even with cheap beer. Try pouring half a budweiser (regular, not light) into a glass and leave the other half in the can or bottle. Now take a sip from each, making sure you inhale fully through your nose as you drink. The taste difference is remarkable. It's how I make *****ty beer palatable

(man, it's only 10:30am here and I want a beer now!)

[Aerkuld]

Check out this article on glassware for beer. Very enlightening...

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware.php

[Jeff Higgins]

Whoever started putting Guiness in a can (regardless of the funky little nitro blaster) should be taken out and shot. Glass makes a huge difference; temperature, size, and shape.

[Christien]

I don't think the Guinness is meant to be drank directly from the can, though. I think they found that that was the best way to 1. preserve the beer in transport and 2. carbonate it.

[Freybird]

Shape has much to do with beer's flavor, aroma and sustanance. Some glassware will have nucleation points in the bottom to maintain a straem of c02 bubbles adding to the head.

Check this out-

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Palumbo

I prefer a new glass, older glass will tend to develop an odor and more friction when pouring the beer into your mouth. There's nothing better than new glass and cold beer inside it. Getting more specific, I like the 6oz beer glasses that are often used at bars to confuse patrons that they are getting a full beer when actually they aren't. The thing is, you have better temperature consistency when having less beer in the glass. I can't stand the large glasses, the beer gets too warm as you work through.

I manufactured glass containers for over 40 years and this is the first time that I have ever heard that old glass will produce an odor. Please educate me about this?

Glass can withstand both high and low temps, is very hygeinic, it's chemical inertness makes cleaning very easy, and it is virtually imperceptible to pharmaceutical and medical products and certainly not beer!

[Tobra]

it matters for beer and wine, has to do with concentration of aroma, surface area, lot of stuff but it makes a difference

he is kidding about the old glass thing

[The Gaijin]

Mostly does not matter.

But like coffee - rinse off ALL detergent and soap residue. That will KILL the taste..

[berettafan]

appreciate all the input!

my wife laughed at me last night pouring the Kulmbacher Eisenbock into the closest thing to a snifter that we had; i imagine she'll absolutely pee herself when i drag out a champaign flute for the pilsner!

[berettafan]

i hope i'm not a complete idiot here but i thought mike's comment about the 6oz glass made a lot of sense. didn't follow on the dirty bit but the temp change thing i get.

[dhoward]

Be sure to wear your biggest gold chain and Rolex, whilst speculating how the recent dry spell in the Rhineland has affected the alpha rating of the Hallertauer...

It's BEER you poncy hairdressers...

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by berettafan

i hope i'm not a complete idiot here but i thought mike's comment about the 6oz glass made a lot of sense. didn't follow on the dirty bit but the temp change thing i get.

Glass that's not 'squeaky' clean spoils the head.

[cashflyer]

Glass?
I drink my PBR right out of the can.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Glass?
I drink my PBR right out of the can.

So you are the damn guy who put my business in such dire straights!

[DanielDudley]

I have heard you should pour an inch of beer out of the bottle, and then drink from the bottle.

I always pour it into my mouth.