Glassware for Beer

Pouring beer into a glass is like giving it wings. But aren’t there many different kinds of beer glasses? We’ve compiled some quick facts on the friendliest beer vessels you’ll ever lay eyes on.

Many thanks to our friend Chris Weibring for the original beer glass illustrations.

Goblet or chalice

Who doesn’t want to drink from one of these gaudy specimens? Beer goblets are ancient and regal, and designed for both visual aesthetics and liquid capacity.

Beer styles to serve in a goblet or chalice

Belgian IPA
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Berliner Weissbier
Dubbel
Quadrupel
Tripel

Our top 3 beer goblets on Amazon.com

Pilsner or pokal glass

A favorite for the lighter beer styles, the pilsner or pokal glass is tall and slender, useful for showcasing a beer’s color, clarity, and carbonation. It’s also designed to maximize aroma and head retention.

Beer styles to serve in a pilsner or pokal glass

Adjunct Lager
American Amber / Red Lager
American Wheat Ale
Bock
California Common / Steam Beer
Czech Pilsner
Doppelbock
Dortmunder / Export Lager
Dunkel Lager
European Dark Lager
European Pale Lager
German Pilsener
Helles Lager
Light Lager
Maibock / Helles Bock
Malt Liquor
Schwarzbier / Black Lager
Vienna Lager
Witbier

Our top 3 pilsner glasses on Amazon.com

Snifter glass

Sometimes beer just needs to be swirled. The snifter glass, famous for cognac and brandy, is all about focusing the power of stronger ales. The tapered lip concentrates aroma, and makes it easy to agitate the liquid without spilling.

Beer styles to serve in a snifter glass

American Barleywine
Belgian IPA
Belgian Pale Ale
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
English Barleywine
Flanders Oud Bruin
Flanders Red Ale
Fruit Lambic
Gueuze

Imperial Beers
Imperial / Double IPA
Old Ale
Quadrupel
Russian Imperial Stout
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Tripel

Our top 3 snifter glasses on Amazon.com

Stange glass

The stange glass is basically a tall cylinder. It’s a traditional German glass meant for accentuating the malt and hop aromas of the more delicate styles of beer. It is most often used for kölsch.

Beer styles to serve in a stange glass

Altbier
Bock
Czech Pilsner
Fruit Lambic
Gueuze

Kölsch
Rye Beer / Roggenbier
Smoked Beer / Rauchbier

Our top 3 stange glasses on Amazon.com 

Tulip glass

We think the tulip is one of the most beautiful beer glasses on the shelf. It focuses the eye and the nose, capturing flavor and aroma while also maintaining a big foamy head.

Beer styles to serve in a tulip glass

Belgian IPA
Belgian Pale Ale
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Biere de Garde
Flanders Oud Bruin
Flanders Red Ale
Fruit Lambic
Gueuze

Imperial Beers
Imperial / Double IPA
Quadrupel
Saison / Farmhouse Ale
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy

Our top 3 tulip glasses on Amazon.com

Weizen glass

Ah yes, the famous weizen glass. Tall and thin, designed to accentuate the wonderful features of wheat beer, especially their huge, foamy, highly aromatic heads.

Beer styles to serve in a weizen glass

American Wheat Ale
Dunkelweizen
Weizen / Weissbier / Hefeweizen
Weizenbock

Our top 3 weizen glasses on Amazon.com

Wine glass

An oversized wine glass is a great choice for the darker Belgian-style ales. Think wide, stemmed, 22oz beer glasses. They are sophisticated and classy.

Beer styles to serve in an oversized wine glass

Belgian IPA
Belgian Pale Ale
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Biere de Garde
English Barleywine
Imperial Beers
Imperial / Double IPA
Old Ale
Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Our top 3 oversized wine glasses on Amazon.com