How Do You Serve Your Beer?

[Beer Nazi]

Room temperature glass?
Chilled glass?
Frosted glass?
Bottle?
Ceramic Stein?
32oz plastic slurpee cup?
Can?
Soda straw out of an ashtray?

[BeerSponge]

In a dirty glass with dirty company, yea baby !!!

[BeerCheese]

Mostly in the everpresent "pint" glass. However, I try to respect certain styles by serving in the proper glass i.e. wheat beer in a tall glass to accomodate the head, certain belgian styles in a goblet, etc. I don't beleive that one should chill or frost a glass. This will detract from the flavor of the beer. Though, it is sometimes advantageous to wet or rinse a wheat beer glass to allow some control over the head.


As always, serve the beer with cheese!

[patra7]

Of all beer-related things, I have become quite particular about beer-glasses.
This, after a few negative -- but yet enlightening as to the impact of the glass on taste -- experiences, in places that called themselves beer-pubs. Try drinking a weissbier from a lager glass and you'll see what I mean. It's almost as if the tasting of the beer is... interupted halfway. That's the best way I could describe it anyway. I have made it a point not to drink beers for which I do not have a reasonably suitable glass.
Fortunately, a local micro-brewery has started selling its own glasses, if you ask for them and at any quantity you desire. So, I'm building my stock, gradually expanding the beers that are really available to me...

Also, some RealBeer articles/stories on the value of serving beer slowly have influenced me and I'm now doing my best to do just that.

[mbritojr]

Hey! I think serving beer takes up precious seconds you could spend drinking it! WHERE'S THE TAP?! Kidding.;) Anyway, I brew mostly Irish Porter which I serve at room temp in nothing but a slightly chilled pint glass (painted with logos from my local micro brewery). As for those who prefer a proper glass with thier beer, I suppose it is all personal preference. Me? I just wanna get a good look at it through a thick, clear class...take a deep sniff...and send it down the hatch!

[Beer Nazi]

A man after my own heart!!!

The perfect glass is a BIG glass!!!

[s00z]

Hey wait just a minute! Having spent more than a few years in the business, I decided I had to come up with something to collect. Because, you know, everyone collects something. SO I decided to collect glassware. Little did I know it would run me out of my home! I firmly believe there is a glass for every beer. You can't just go pouring willy nilly a Duvel into a pint glass! For shame! Where oh where will the head go? (silly comments not withstanding) And can we define "room temperature" for the newly initiated? Room temperature does NOT mean a comfy 70 degrees in the home. A nice "room temperature" Guinness should be served at appx 55 degrees...you know..."cellar temperature." for shame....-BeerGal

[mbritojr]

Ahhhh, you are right. I should have elaborated. The temp for serving almost anything that calls for room temp. (including many fine wines) shouldn't exceed 65F, with 60 - 50 being most optimal. True room temp, specially in winter w/ the heat blasting, is way too warm for most beers or wines.

Back to the glasses: Yeah Beer Nazi! I don't see what the big fuss about the glassware is, but apparently it is all the rage in Europe. My roommate just got back from a semester in Italy and said that at some bars they wouldn't even serve him the beer he wanted if the appropriate glass wasn't around! I think that particular beer he was ordering most was a Dutch beer by the name of Gordon's Finest Gold, I guess it comes in a fat-bottomed chalice-style glass. I think it is available at a few specialty importers in the states, but watch out for that $80 price tag.

[YamahaXS]

In either a pint glass, or a larger glass mug (holding room for head).

The only thing I get real particular is that the glassware be CLEAN, free of any soap or disanfectant residue. yuck!

[Beer Nazi]

Temperature does matter, but shape of the glass does not matter all that often.

Poor BeerGal....so many beer glasses, so little time. ;)

Rice Rocket - I agree.......a clean glass is WAY better than any ol' boat-bailin' coffee can!!! Seriously tho, dirty glass is a pet-peeve of mine. For God's sake, if anything in your household should be clean, it should be your beer glasses.

[Beerkiller]

Whatever the temp. is on the back porch. Just joking.

[paul84043]

I have a fairly extensive beer stein collection and with the impending finalization of my first couple batches of homebrew, I have been pondering this very topic....
My first batch is a midline Amber ale, which I am thinking needs to be served in a clear glass container so one can enjoy the reddish amber color....
I have thought many times of using my HoffBrau Liter mugs, I have never drank a liter in one sitting, then there are the nice lidded steins....what are those lids for anyway? Keep the head down? The heat in? The Cold in? The soot and bugs out?

I have several hundred beer steins and mugs and the possible choices are driving me crazy....

[Bruno_78]

The only thing I get real particular is that the glassware be CLEAN, free of any soap or disanfectant residue. yuck! [/B]

I have to agree with this. Only thing is, I don't fully understand what a beer clean glass is. Could some of you share your methods of how you clean your glassware?

Thanks

[Tweek]

Originally posted by BeerSponge
In a dirty glass with dirty company, yea baby !!!

seriously!

[fretlessman71]

I just find the nearest tap, pull it with my teeth, and cup my hands underneath...

[wortchillergoal]

I think there is a thread like this already. That being said, I like mine in a glass served to me by scantily clad red heads.

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
I just find the nearest tap, pull it with my teeth, and cup my hands underneath...

Now that's a beer drinker!!!! Although, Fret, why not pull it with your hand and plant your face under the flow? That's how I like to drink, though it really drives the wife crazy when I do this out in public!

[skahtboi]

Anyone notice how many of the original posters in this thread seemed to want to say something here, and then, after a handful of posts have simply disappeared off the face of realbeer.com? In the back of my mind I keep hearing Rod Serling's voice trying to coax me into this alternate beer universe, located in a road house on a dusty road somewhere in "The Twilight Zone."

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by skahtboi
Now that's a beer drinker!!!! Although, Fret, why not pull it with your hand and plant your face under the flow? That's how I like to drink, though it really drives the wife crazy when I do this out in public!

It drips into my ears. I HATE that....

[chazwicke]

Doesn't the eustachean (sp) Tube run from the ears to the throat?:D

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Doesn't the eustachean (sp) Tube run from the ears to the throat?:D

Why, yes, I believe it does! LOL. That's funny as hell!

[fretlessman71]

Yep... I've had to garner a taste for beer drained through my earwax. Yummy! :rolleyes:

[fretlessman71]

Oh, yeah... chaz wins the race to 1200! Well done!

[hopjack13]

your STILL trying to race? for lack of a better beer....uh i mean word :rolleyes:
look at steveh
hes got over 1000 post and i would say 95% of them were all contributions to the board for better beer drinking. informative and worth reading. Mr. English does not post everyday either but most of them are well thought out and i've learned a great deal from his posts as well. im must admit i got caught up in the race too, but this is not about the most posts....it's about the beer!
im not trying to come at you wrong, i enjoy reading your post as well.....but this is getting too competitive (sp?)

oh ........and who brought back this old ass thread?
i serve my beer in my wifes....uh......... never mind

[chazwicke]

Nope, I'm not racing anymore either. 1000 was the end of it. I just happen to have have too much time on my hands.

[barley ben]

What, No more racing? I was just starting to gain on ya's!!

[kgaugler]

I'll just take mine intravenously:D

Actually, I have a favorite "mug" that I mostly use (never frosted). It is basically a thick pilsner glass with a handle. Holds a pint (16oz, sorry English). Only problem is I have to make sure I wash it before wifey gets ahold of it or she nukes it with dish soap.

[Fast_Eddy]

I use my pint glasses from England(Richard would be so proud - no girly US pints for me) - they have the royal seal(or is it the Weights and Measures seal) stamped right on them. I've seen them called 'Nonic' glasses somewhere.

[paul84043]

Wow, this thread was a blast from the past...

In light of the fact that I now have about 50 batches of beer under my belt (literally...) My favorite glasses have turned out to be the American pint glasses that I have purchased from online brewery stores. I have 4 Arrogant Bastard (Stone Brewery) glasses, three Uinta (local Micro), two Smuttynose glasses that both got broken in the same night by the same person! (replacements on order, should be here any day).
I occasionally swill a few down in my pewter beer mug, but I really like to see my beer, it's easily half of the enjoyment.

My glasses are never allowed to go into the dishwasher, hopefully this will make the logos on them last longer. They get handwashed and rinsed thoroughly after use and put away on a very high shelf that the kids cannot reach.

I am always looking for new glasses to add to my collection, but I have reached the point that they need to be something pretty special to take up any more shelf space...

[Summer]

I serve/have my beer from imperial pint glasses that have Guinness text on them. Those are the only one's I have home;)
And most of the time I enjoy ales of stouts at home. But sure it would be nice to have "proper" glasses for eg. trappists.

J.

[bigmf]

I like having my homebrew out of a 25 oz. mason jar. We have collected them over time as they go with the classical country decor or shabby chic or whatever the wife calls it. They have no handles so the beer will warm from holding the glass. i like that as well because I like to ease into a beer starting out colder and ending up warmer.

It also holds enough beer for my preferences.

M.

[Beaver]

I just use standard American pint glasses. That's all I have. It's not the glass that counts, it's what's in the glass! :)

I wouldn't mind different glasses for different styles. It's not a big priority for me, and I don't have the space for them.

[DreamWeaver]

Cold & Fast! With some LOUD Van Halen!

[CapsFan1974]

Back when I was in the Navy, we had a port call in Sydney. (One of my few truely GREAT port calls...) An officer on an Aussie ship showed me it is very easy to chug a beer while standing on your head. In fact, just to make sure; I chugged 2! Try it some time!

In that same vein, we used to do "keg stands" in college. Faucet in the mouth while handstanding over the keg. I had our house record of a little over 60 seconds. (Kids, don't try this at home!)

[chazwicke]

Remember "shot gunning" beer?

[Jeff]

Or complex beer bongs with mutilple house, ball valves and all. I guess it paid to have roommates in college who were business majors.:)

[bigmf]

I remember shotgunning beer. Thats what macroswill is made for. As I recall, you don't want any taste slowing you down. The fizzyness makes for an impressive belch after the feat.

Oh those days of university...

[WobblyPop]

...frequently. :D




oh yeah DreamWeaver... forgot to mention... forget the Van Halen and give me The Tragically Hip!!

[wild]

I normally serve company with pint glasses bearing our local beer club logo on them or 22oz. lagers. For special treats, I have 2 beer mugs that I inherited from my father.

W

[O2 Mash]

By the way, there must be an article or something out there that illustrates which glass to use with which beer. I know the basics, but so many styles of beer. Presentation is everything.

[wild]

Originally posted by O2 Mash
By the way, there must be an article or something out there that illustrates which glass to use with which beer. I know the basics, but so many styles of beer. Presentation is everything.


I found this little entry about Beer glass styles:
http://www.leebrewery.com/beerglas.htm

W

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by O2 Mash
By the way, there must be an article or something out there that illustrates which glass to use with which beer. I know the basics, but so many styles of beer. Presentation is everything.

I have found that each brewery in Europe has special glasses it deems fit for it's beer. Everything from litres to tulip shaped glasses. In the UK the 20 oz. Imperial pint is preferred.

[I'mRocketMan]

I serve most of my beers in pint glasses, but the Charon "Chimay"- clone is served in Chimay goblets!! (I have two sizes 25 cl and 50 cl!!) I hope to have a shelving unit dedicated to glassware sometime soon! I also want to display the cool bottles I've saved over the years....

Cheers! Rocket

[Beaver]

Originally posted by O2 Mash
By the way, there must be an article or something out there that illustrates which glass to use with which beer. I know the basics, but so many styles of beer. Presentation is everything.

Here's a couple more articles:
http://ratebeer.com/Story.asp?StoryID=124
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware.php

[O2 Mash]

Thanks guys, that's perfect. By the way, I just picked up some pint ale glasses (the kind with the slight bulge about 3/4 up from the bottom) for .99 each. I bought twelve, so my friends can break a few before I need to buy more.

[toneyc]

I think those are called "Nonic" glasses. Didn't Fast_Eddy just get some of those for his birthday?

:)
TOney.

[Richard English]

At home I always drink from a pewter tankard - an Imperial Pint, of course.

When I started drinking, in a bar at Simpsons restaurant, 36½ Cornhill, the beer (the most wonderful draught Bass) was always served in pewter tankards. Sadly they stopped doing so in the mid-1960s when people began to steal them.

In pubs nowadays beer will always be served in Imperial Pint or half-pint glasses (officially marked with their size), as it is illegal here to serve draught beer in quantities other than Imperial Pints or exact fractions or multiples thereof.

Thus, if you want to use your own (unstamped) tankard (many locals will keep regulars' tankards for them), then the Landlord will fill a stamped glass and decant it into your tankard. You will see this happening all the time at the GBBF.

One great benefit of the pewter tankard (and they are readily available in the USA) is that nobody will complain if your homebrew is cloudy, as they won't be able to tell!

[BigRed]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
I think there is a thread like this already. That being said, I like mine in a glass served to me by scantily clad red heads.

Wouldnt we all?

I like my beer poured in a Room Tempature glass (about 70 F) straight from the frig.

BTW, I like it in the biggest glass I can get!

[BrewDog]

I like mine in a standard pint glass.

Oh, and all the beerbong/shotgun stories earlier reminded me of a story one of my friends' frat houses. He told me that they used to send a couple of pledges up on the ROOF (2 stories up) with a keg of macroswill, a garden hose, and a funnel....