Drinking beer is an art form and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You have every right to feel classy while you enjoy your favourite alcoholic beverage just as much as all those self-proclaimed “wine connoisseurs”. There are as many types of beer glasses as there are types of beer. However, if you ask any beer lover (except maybe the snobs from the craft beer community), the favourite part of drinking beer is the beer itself. What I’m trying to say is, the type of container you choose is completely up to personal prefference. Sure, the type of glass can alter the aroma and taste of beer, along with the way we perceive it, but most people can’t really tell that much of a difference and again it all comes down to what type of glass feels right for you.

Whether all the different beer glasses are just a marketing stunt or they really serve some purpose, doesn’t really matter. But, you certainly can’t deny the careful craftsmanship that goes into beer glasses. With that being said, lets have a look at some of the more popular glasses designed specifically for serving beer.

The mug or often referred to as the beer stein, is the glass of choice for many beer lovers around the globe. Traditional ones are often made from porcelain or stoneware and some of the German varieties often include a lid, but in the rest of the world they are almost exclusively made of glass. The mug is large and sturdy which means it can hold more beer and can be handled with more confidence. This is the preferred vessel for “manly men” around the world.

One of the most common beer glasses is the pint and I have to say it is my personal favourite. You can find it anywhere, even in fancy pubs where the bartender is trained to use specific glasses for specific types of beer. The pint is popular mostly because of its simplistic design, its versatility, and the fact that it’s pretty cheap.

The chalice, along with its cousin, the goblet, is designed not only to look good, but also to retain the layer of foam that forms once you pour the beer. It is perfect for CO2-heavy beers since it is usually riveted at the bottom in order to create a steady stream of bubbles.

The pilsner is one of the smaller beer glasses and despite the name they are suitable with any pale lager, not only pilsner. This type of glass is long, thin, and slightly tapered at the top in order to retain the foam of the beer.

One of the pretties beer glasses is probably the tulip. It has a distinctive flower shape which helps retain both the aroma and the foam.

And finally there’s the stange which is very similar to the pint, however it is narrow and cylindrical which helps to preserve the aroma. They are mostly used for serving beer in large pubs since waiters can fit more of them in a tray.

There are a ton of other types of beer glasses and even more with slight variations. There are even glasses shaped like a boot and they are also quite popular. There is really no need to overthink this, just choose the glass that catches your eye the most and enjoy your beer.