Glassware

[HogieWan]

If you could use only one glass (or type of glass) for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Poll options come from BeerAdvocate.com's glassware page (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware.php).

[Payson]

I'd go the goblet route. Love the Belgians! Hard choice though!

[corkybstewart]

Most beer tastes good in a chalice, and I use a Val de Dieu for most of my drinking. But there's something about that pint of 11% Imperial stout that just tastes best in a traditional pint glass.

[MeridianFC]

If it has to be just one than it's going to be the nonic pint glass. A Willi Becher or Dimpled Mug would be a very close second.

[nwcw2001]

I chose the tulip. It makes the beer great! Does anyone have any idea of where I can get some without the word Duvel all over it! I like Duvel but not on a glass full of my belgians!

Thanks
John

[IceAce]

Originally posted by nwcw2001
I chose the tulip. It makes the beer great! Does anyone have any idea of where I can get some without the word Duvel all over it! I like Duvel but not on a glass full of my belgians!

Thanks
John


I raided my local BevMo for these four-packs of Michael Jackson glasses. At $1.50 per glass I almost felt the need to go straight from the store to the confessional...

...and I'm not even Catholic.

BevMo Glassware (http://www.bevmo.com/productinfo.asp?sku=00000078483&sasrc=HomeNav&N=168+42+4294961814+4294956601&Nr=Store%3A99&Nr=Store%3A99&area=more)

[jesskidden]

I don't like my choices here. I tend to prefer a Nonic imperial pint for most beers, but can't vote for the generic "pint" glass option you've given because it also contains the glass I've come to hate- the US shaker/mixer/tumbler what-ever-you-wanna-call-them that's often not even a full pint. (I don't like that Guinness style curved pint, either).

The Nonic has a classic feel, the glass' lip is thin and it's easy to hold. The "US pint" is, OTOH, clunky, awkward and heavy and the various sizes (14-15-16 oz) just makes it feel questionable when served to you- no matter what size, you're not getting a pint of beer (unless it has no head at all). It was designed for mixing drinks, not for serving beer.

My only complaint with the Nonic is that, for home use with bottled US beers, it would be nice to have one designed to fit the contents of a standard 12 oz. bottle (without having an inch of empty glass). Purists might not agree.

[HarkJohnny]

regular old pint glass or nonic would be just fine please.

[threecb]

Pint for me. It's the workhorse of the glass world. I dig the willi becher .5l, too.

[HogieWan]

I put my vote in for the standard pint. I could drink anything out of it. I really dig my snifters, but the shaker pint is the definition of unpretentious.

BTW - I just found some really great glasses. They are pricey, but cool:

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/THERMO_GLASS_INSULATED_GLASSWA_C238.cfm

[chazwicke]

Imperial nonic. I use it for almost everything. I buy cases from Superior Products. There is no better glass. I agree with Jesskidden and Meridian. I often champion the nonic.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by jesskidden

My only complaint with the Nonic is that, for home use with bottled US beers, it would be nice to have one designed to fit the contents of a standard 12 oz. bottle (without having an inch of empty glass). Purists might not agree.
That just leaves enough room for the head! Pour it extra hard, and when it dissipates, revel in the extra aromas trapped in the resulting airspace. Not a bad way to go. :)

[HogieWan]

I normally use a glass 25-33% larger than the beer I'm pouring in to make sure there is plenty room for the head. ie - 12oz goes in a 16oz glass, 16oz goes in a 20oz glass, wtc

[chazwicke]

Yeah but I've been pouring from a lot of growlers recently. :)

[fretlessman71]

Use a slurpee cup instead. :D

[chazwicke]

:eek:

[M.K. Jeeves]

Nonic, However if a 1L krug had been listed I would have voted for that. Fill er up! ;)

[steveh]

Originally posted by jesskidden
My only complaint with the Nonic is that, for home use with bottled US beers, it would be nice to have one designed to fit the contents of a standard 12 oz. bottle

2 suggestions: the 1/2 pint nonic fits a 12 oz. bottle very well, as does the .25l Willi Becker (or any .25l configuration - I have a few clay Krugs in that size).

S.

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
That just leaves enough room for the head! Pour it extra hard, and when it dissipates, revel in the extra aromas trapped in the resulting airspace. Not a bad way to go. :)

I envision a glass with the Nonic shape, that would hold about 16 oz. of liquid (if filled to the lip) as being ideal for drinking a standard US 12 oz bottle of beer. Lot's of room for a nice head (and, after the first couple of mouthfuls, lots of room for aroma) but without that psychological effect of looking at that empty space, and see it as a *missing* inch of beer and feeling somehow "cheated".

Granted, it would have to be called something different (not use any variation of the "pint" name at all), maybe have a line for 12 oz. with some American iconic symbol to replace the crown. Oh, yeah, and it would be illegal to use for draft beer/on premises.

Even comes with a sticker (which will warn "Do not remove this tag under penalty of the law, except by purchaser"):

"FOR HOME USE ONLY WITH BOTTLED BEER.
ANY OTHER USAGE A VIOLATION OF US BEER CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS"!
(I am just kiddin', of course).

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by steveh
2 suggestions: the 1/2 pint nonic fits a 12 oz. bottle very well, as does the .25l Willi Becker (or any .25l configuration - I have a few clay Krugs in that size).

S.

Yeah, I have a Samuel Smith 1/2 pint somewhere around here but couldn't find it to check. I remember having to "swig" the last oz. or so of the bottle so prevent a puddle on the counter. For a "less than bottle" capacity glass, I've gone back to using my branded sham pilsners for that (mostly for nostalgic reasons, I suppose).

Here's a nice example (one I don't own, tho'):

http://www.brewerygems.com/images/lazy%20L%20sham2.jpg

[steveh]

Originally posted by jesskidden
I remember having to "swig" the last oz. or so of the bottle so prevent a puddle on the counter.

I must be pouring into the 1/2 pint more carefully, but I've used the .5 Becker the past couple nights and know for sure that it takes a 12 oz bottle, with a respectable head, very nicely.

S.

[chazwicke]

Nice glass Jesskidden. I wonder if any of our west coast contingent remember the Lucky brand? By the time I drank any of it in the 70s it was owned by the same syndicate (Paul Kalmanovitz) that owned General, Fallstaff, Narragansett, Ballantine and others like Lone Star. And their beers were not very good. I'm not sure if this beer still exists today. I'm sure someone still owns the brand name though.

[threecb]

Originally posted by steveh
I must be pouring into the 1/2 pint more carefully, but I've used the .5 Becker the past couple nights and know for sure that it takes a 12 oz bottle, with a respectable head, very nicely.

S.

I think jesskidden was referring to the .25l becker that you referred to. Typo? or is it a .3l? I use my .5l Spaten Ofest becker all the time and I think it's even really great for 12 oz weissbeers.

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Nice glass Jesskidden. I wonder if any of our west coast contingent remember the Lucky brand?---- I'm not sure if this beer still exists today. I'm sure someone still owns the brand name though.

Yeah, Lucky was just an economy brand from General by the time I had it in LA in the mid-70's. But, they did make an *interesting* beer called Lucky Red Carpet Beer, sort of their version of a super-premium and that wasn't too bad for the era. (I think I've read that Pabst still markets"Lucky Lager" but it's now a "store brand" for the Lucky supermarket chain?)

Originally posted by chazwicke
By the time I drank any of it in the 70s it was owned by the same syndicate (Paul Kalmanovitz) that owned General, Fallstaff, Narragansett, Ballantine and others like Lone Star.

Well, in the pre-micro era, I was a Ballantine XXX Ale and IPA drinker (Pickwick and Croft ales, too, when I'd visit New England), so I well know the evil that Kalmanovitz did to that brand and all the breweries he bought, ran into the ground and then closed.

S&P, the parent company of those breweries, of course, is better known today for owning Pabst which owns all those old brands plus most of Heilemans and Stroh's brands and owns no breweries.

Oh, yeah, it was Pearl Kalmanovitz owned in Texas- in fact, it was the one of the last breweries he closed and was the most recent headquarter for Pabst (recently moved to Illinois, IIRC). Lone Star didn't become an S&P brand until the purchase of the Stroh-Heileman brands. It was Olympia that was the first to buy Lone Star. Don't ask me why I know all this- I think unemployment's given me too much free time lately...

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by steveh
I must be pouring into the 1/2 pint more carefully, but I've used the .5 Becker the past couple nights and know for sure that it takes a 12 oz bottle, with a respectable head, very nicely.

S.

Yeah, you could be right and I'm thinking of a different glass. (And you being "more carefully" might just mean I'm sloppier, and that's for sure.)

I just got out the step stool to check the top shelf and can't find my 1/2 pint Nonic Samuel Smith glass to double check but did find a lot of glasses I'd forgotten (nice Pilsner Urquell .5l for one) and, for some reason, I *feel* like having a beer...

[chazwicke]

But, they did make an *interesting* beer called Lucky Red Carpet Beer, sort of their version of a super-premium and that wasn't too bad for the era.




****I remember drinking this too. ****




Well, in the pre-micro era, I was a Ballantine XXX Ale and IPA drinker (Pickwick and Croft ales, too, when I'd visit New England), so I well know the evil that Kalmanovitz did to that brand and all the breweries he bought, ran into the ground and then closed.





****The Ballantine Ale at one time was a nice brew. I recall it. ( I had an occasion to open two of the 4 Ballantine Burton Ales that I have awhile back for a tasting. I wrote about that 71 year old brew in another thread then. ) I also remember Pickwick and Haffenreffer from trips to New England****





Oh, yeah, it was Pearl Kalmanovitz owned in Texas- in fact, it was the one of the last breweries he closed and was the most recent headquarter for Pabst (recently moved to Illinois, IIRC). Lone Star didn't become an S&P brand until the purchase of the Stroh-Heileman brands. It was Olympia that was the first to buy Lone Star. Don't ask me why I know all this- I think unemployment's given me too much free time lately




****Your are correct. I knew it was Pearl but wrote Lone Star. It's hell gettin old.****

[steveh]

Originally posted by jesskidden
Oh, yeah, it was Pearl Kalmanovitz owned in Texas- in fact, it was the one of the last breweries he closed and was the most recent headquarter for Pabst (recently moved to Illinois, IIRC).

The Pabst HQ is moving in a sort of figurative way, it will still answer to the big Texas conglomo that owns it and the 2 dozen, or so, other old known names. It will still be brewed in Texas too, IIRC.

S.

[chazwicke]

I had heard that they moved thier offices to Chicago too. They were banking on the hipster trend continuing. Too bad they aren't making good beer as far as I can tell. It is my belief that all of those brands are brewed by Miller under contract and all probably are the exact same beer. I find it hard to believe that any of them would still be brewed to their old recipes.

[fretlessman71]

For somewhat of a return to topic... I shall expect delivery of my new Samuel Adams glasses on Wed. the 28th. Will give a full report at that time. :)

[steveh]

Originally posted by threecb
I think jesskidden was referring to the .25l becker that you referred to. Typo? or is it a .3l?

The .5 I typed was a typo (though I have many of the .5l), but I think you're right - it's probably a .3, not a .25.

S.

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by steveh
The Pabst HQ is moving in a sort of figurative way, it will still answer to the big Texas conglomo that owns it and the 2 dozen, or so, other old known names. It will still be brewed in Texas too, IIRC.

S.

Pabst is owned by Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation which is some sort of sham set-up after Kalmanovitz died. It pretty much exists just to own Pabst and the rest of his estate and has been investigated for not giving more to charity. The S&P Corp. used to be located in the Bay Area and made national news when Kalmanovitz wanted to build a Statue of Freedom there during the Bi-Centennial at the same time he was closing breweries and throwing workers out in the street.

I read many years ago that the "Charity" had to sell the company due to tax laws, etc., but they still control it as far I know.

I think I read that the new President (formerly from some big food company) is from Ill. and that's why they picked the area- altho' the "headquarters" is probably where ever his laptop is- I don't think they have many employees but they're always in the business pages over some lawsuit or another, so they're probably all lawyers.

I've heard that some of the Pabst/Heileman/Stroh brands are also contract-brewed by The Lion and City Brewing but I've never seen them (not that I look). Once a year or so, I'll pick up a six of Ballantine Ale and get pissed off all over again what they've done to it- it was still pretty respectable (even as an S&P product) when it was coming out of Cranston and Ft. Wayne.

[dparsons]

I'll just say that if it has to last me the rest of my life it better be real big.

[barleyburps]

Even though lately I've been using 20 oz tulips moreso, I have to go with the standard dimpled mug, either pint or 20 oz.

It gives me more to hold onto and is harder to knock over. And still gives me a snoutfull of aroma.

[fretlessman71]

So I got my glasses, and I have to say I'm impressed. :)

They hold a standard (American standard, Richard) 12 oz. bottle of beer, so they're a bit smaller than I expected. However, Samuel Adams sells bottles in 12 oz. quantities, so really, it makes sense. The glass fits in my hand well, the lip isn't so drastic that it keeps my nose from getting into the glass, and it supports a head very well. I had a Paulaner Okto from last year (of course) and I have to say it did very well.

At some point soon I'm going to pour identical beers, one into a standard nonic and the other into an SA glass and see what the differences are.

OH YEAH: Included in the box was a bartender-quality bottle opener with the company logo (this thing is BIG - it could hurt someone!), and a hermetically sealed pillow pack with NOBLE HOPS inside. Jim Koch wants everyone to know what he knows about hops, I guess - the instructions are to open the pack, rub the hops hard between your hands, and - well, you get the idea. I LIKE this - say what you wish about his company, I get the notion that he really does care about his beer.

So far, my feeling is that they're a little pricey for $7.50 a pop plus shipping, but they're pretty cool nonetheless!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
So far, my feeling is that they're a little pricey for $7.50 a pop plus shipping, but they're pretty cool nonetheless!

Well, you're also paying for a bottle opener and a bag o' hops.
Though, they don't tell you that on their e-store.
Nearly $40 to ship 'em down the road to RI.
I'll pass for now and keep my eyes peeled at Goodwill.

[fretlessman71]

No, but I did know what it was going to cost me and was okay with that... so these feel like freebies, whether or not I paid for them anyway. So I's happy, boss. :)

[wortchillergoal]

I went with mug(stein) as I have my grandfather's stein. It predates the Berlin Wall. I would have to drink from that in his honor.

[Dextolen]

If you ordered the new Sam Adams glasses from their webstore and didn't receive an email notification, your order might have not been processed 100%. My wife called to check on an order and the nice lady explained the situation. There was some tech. difficulty and she was going to make sure our order got processed that same day.

Long story short, you may want to call and verify your order was successfully processed.

[hmpitags2006]

I am a big fan of schooners, but since they weren't on the list I went with pint glass.

[Arassuil]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I wonder if any of our west coast contingent remember the Lucky brand? By the time I drank any of it in the 70s it was owned by the same syndicate (Paul Kalmanovitz) that owned General, Fallstaff, Narragansett, Ballantine and others like Lone Star. I and my best mate in high school used to drink Lucky Draft by the half-case. It was usually cheap enough for us to afford and it wasn't Olympia or Rainier, and they had those cool symbol puzzles on the inside of the cap.

As for the one glass... I would have to go with the 568ml 'pint' dimpled mug as served in many pubs in New South Wales.

[petitbilbo]

I'm from Belgium where every beer comes with its own, specially shaped, glass.

I went for the Chalice (as a second choice, I would've taken the tulip).

[Bob E.]

I like my trusty mug

[ClockworkOrange]

I had to go with the pint glass. The proper 20oz. glass, not the godawful 14oz "shaker" glass.

[beerking]

I'd have to go for the oversized wine glass. Brings out the aromatics in many of the stronger beers, such as most Belgians, Imp Stout, and Barley Wine.

[jesskidden]

Notice that this thread has been revived (and is even referred to in this blog (http://vadavid.blogspot.com/2007/12/choosing-glassware-perfection-or.html) ) and re-read this post of mine, wishing for a "nonic" that nicely held a 12 bottle of beer.



Originally posted by jesskidden
I envision a glass with the Nonic shape, that would hold about 16 oz. of liquid (if filled to the lip) as being ideal for drinking a standard US 12 oz bottle of beer. Lot's of room for a nice head (and, after the first couple of mouthfuls, lots of room for aroma) but without that psychological effect of looking at that empty space, and see it as a *missing* inch of beer and feeling somehow "cheated".



Well, the good (and bad) news update is I actually found such a glass. Listed as 16 ounces, so it's taller and larger than a UK half pint nonic, held a full bottle of beer poured with a nice 1" head- it was for a time my favorite glass for a pilsner or light ale.

The "bad" news, is two-fold. It's this Killians glass (http://www.samssteins.com/Bar-Decor/Killians-Irish-Red-Nonic-Pint-Glass__GKPG04.aspx) and while I do enjoy the irony of drinking good craft beer out of the glasses from old local/regional breweries (a coupla sham pilsners from Pabst and Schaefer, a Falstaff mug, a JAX 4 ounce sampler, etc) Coors and Killians are not in any way "nostalgic". And, "was/were" the past tense is used, since the glass came crashing down a few months back.

But, when Mom asked for "anything" I wanted for Christmas, I thought of my usual speil that a Christmas present should be something small, but something one wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves, and those glasses fit the bill. (This way, when asked, "YOU bought something from COORS?" I can say, "Nah, somebody gave 'em to me...". ;)

I see they also have "nonic" 4 ounce sampler of the same design on the "Coors and Co." merchandise website.

[Mill Rat]

Originally posted by jesskidden
And, "was/were" the past tense is used, since the glass came crashing down a few months back. Several years ago, after having several nice pieces of glassware experience a sudden stop after an unconstrained exposure to gravity and come out far the worse for it, I told my wife that they didn't break, that's just how glassware wears out. If you use something long enough, it will wear out, and you end up having to buy another. It's just that when glassware wears out, it's a rather sudden and surprising event, kinda like what happens when a ball joint wears out on a car's front suspension. The only way to prevent glassware from wearing out is to not use it, and what's the point in that?

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by Mill Rat
Several years ago, after having several nice pieces of glassware experience a sudden stop after an unconstrained exposure to gravity and come out far the worse for it, I told my wife that they didn't break, that's just how glassware wears out. If you use something long enough, it will wear out, and you end up having to buy another. It's just that when glassware wears out, it's a rather sudden and surprising event, kinda like what happens when a ball joint wears out on a car's front suspension. The only way to prevent glassware from wearing out is to not use it, and what's the point in that?

Yeah, I agree. A few decades ago, I "saved" my "collectable" glasses but as I got older, and with no obvious "heirs" as far as all this breweriana and beer literature goes, I've long since decided "Saved- for what/whom?" and just use the stuff - even ocassionally put 'em in the dishwasher where some of them get that awful looking white discoloration. I figure someone's just gonna toss 'em or give them to the local charity thrift store anyway after I'm gone - if I don't drink out of them, who will?

So, yeah, some "wear out", some are murdered (by one's self or someone else in the house), some seemingly commit suicide (usually by jumping off an end table or smashing into something in the sink) but they all served their purpose.

[chazwicke]

I still collect em. I have non branded nonic 20 ozers that I drink from. I have approaching 500 brewery glasses mostly from the past 30 years of collecting at their sources. However I do have more than a few Pre Pro brewery glasses. I also have a smaller collection of mugs which interests me less. Excepting the pre pro items. My brother also collects pint glasses and we have gotten my niece into collecting as well. Both she and my brother have most of theirs displayed. Mine are in boxes and all over my office here at home waiting to be catalogued. When I sell off my breweriana and beer collectables eventually, my glasses will be the last to go. They are cheap collectables but most of mine have personal stories with them. I'll have them displayed eventually.

I buy my daily drinking nonics from Superior Products. They are made by Libby and I get them by the case. They are the same as the imperial pints severd in the pubs of Britain.

[seafra]

Whatever shape of glass you prefer, beer is best served in double walled thermo-glass. The temperature, carbonation and head are preserved longer than any single walled glass. If you have tried it, you have been denying your beer optimum treatment.

Bodum is a good brand.

[dancinwillie]

if i can only choose one, gotta go with a goblet. makes you feel like a king!

give me a big turkey leg, and a big belgian (beer), in a big goblet, I'm good to go!