The Weizen Glass (AKA Wheat Beer Glass or Weizenbier Glass)

A Weizen Glass
Typical Weizen Glass

The Weizen Glass (or Wheat Beer Glass or Weizenbier Glass) is a tall glass with a narrow base and walls that flare out slightly.  Some versions of these glasses appear to be larger versions of the pilsner while others bulb outward and then taper back in.  This is the kind of “tulip bulb” look that’s almost similar to a Guinness Pint.

Another common feature presents as a type of twisting pattern along the outside of the body.  This  makes it look almost like the glass was “wrung out” as it cooled.

These glasses usually hold about a half liter which accommodates the larger volume of most wheat beer bottles.  Smaller versions often turn up for use in bars and breweries to offer a kind of “half-glass” option when pouring from a tap.

Benefits of The Weizenbier Glass

While they can be a bit top heavy and tippy, the weizen glass’ shape is easy to hold and carry.  Usually the narrower portion of the glass is large enough to be held comfortably while the flaring at the glasses foot and upper body allow for more volume.  The texture that many of these glasses have, also aid in holding the the glass similar to how the dimples on a seidel work.

This shape isn’t just about grip, though. It’s narrow middle helps showcase a wheat beer’s familiar color and (usually) unfiltered goodness while the wide mouth helps support the beers thick white fluffy head.

The bulb, and wide mouth, also help to collect and concentrate the beer’s familiar banana-like esters and spicier notes.

What Beer Goes with Weizen Glass?

This really doesn’t pose much of a challenge, this glass is made specifically for wheat beers.  This includes both dark and pale wheat ales and gose beers.

Where can I buy a Weizen Glass /  Wheat Beer Glass?

These glasses are often included in most craft beer glass sets like the Libbey set we’ve already reviewed.  Because of the style’s popularity you’ll also frequently find them in the glassware section of places like Target and Home Goods.

Cold Harbor Indian Summer IPA

Cold Harbor Indian Summer IPA in a Snifter
Cold Harbor Indian Summer

This juicy, or New England-style, IPA pours a murky golden yellowish-orange.  The head is a frothy off-white color composed of small to medium bubbles.

First smell is grapefruit and citrusy hops. Behind that are some hints of grain and, rather distinctly, corn kernels.

Sipping from the glass reveals bright citrusy hops with hints of orange peel and grapefruit.  As the beer warms I’m getting more of that grain / corn aroma and flavor.  It’s not overwhelming or off-putting but it’s definitely there.

This beer is thick bodied and almost pulpy with the occasional hint of some grit in the finish.  There aren’t huge pulpy particulates in it, it’s more like a thick orange juice.

Other Specs:

  • ABV: 6.5%
  • IBUs: 61
  • Available in the tap room as snifters, 32oz and 64oz growlers.
  • No brew date was easily visible in the tap room or on their site.
  • Growler consumed day of purchase.

Why That Glass?

Cold Harbor serves this beer in tulip glasses at the tap room so we decided to follow suit.  Because of the visual aspects associated with this beer I think either a seidel or a pint glass would also work well.  Both provide a good look at the beer’s thick, dense, haze and showcase it’s rather frothy head.

About this Juicy / New England Style IPA

Indian Summer is brewed by Cold Harbor Brewing Co. in Westborough, Ma.  Cold Harbor dubs this a Juicy IPA on their website but in their tap room they list it as a New England Style IPA.  Given its relative newness I believe that either of these terms applies.  I’ve also seen them referred to as Hazy IPAs, Hazy Pale Ales, and Milkshake IPAs.

Cold Harbor sells pints in their tap room along with 32 & 64 ounce growlers.  (I had a pint and brought a 32 home.)  I couldn’t find any reference to whether it was a seasonal, special or year-round offering.

Other Notes

Cold Harbor’s Indian Summer IPA is kind of serving as my introduction to this particular style.  As a result I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect.  Standing in the tap room, sipping a pint and chatting with friends I found it to be a really interesting beer.  As the smell of fresh BBQ wafted in from the food truck out in their parking lot I was quite content.

Getting home and tasting the beer in a more controlled setting I was still interested by the beer but was also slightly surprised by what I was tasting. Still an intriguing brew, but less inviting and kind of leaning towards “not my style.”

Not bad, just maybe not for me.  Of course that’s kind of how I felt the first time I drank a beer or had coffee.  Of course I’m still intrigued by this style, though, and am looking forward to finding more AND trying more of Cold Harbor’s Brews.

The Beer Goblet or Oversized Wine Glass

A Leffe Beer Goblet
The Leffe Beer Goblet

Similar to the chalice a beer goblet is a stemmed beer glass with a large bowl shaped top.  While the chalice is is a bit more stocky the goblet has a more refined look.  They tend to be a bit taller with thinner stems resembling large wine glasses.

Chalices also tend to be more bowl shaped while goblets are more rounded or balloon shaped.  In fact, you’ll find a lot of these listed as “Wine Balloons.”

The beer goblet (or oversized wine glass) can range from 8 to 22 ounces with larger glasses being on the more delicate side.  This is especially true when you’re subbing in a more modern oversized wine glass.

A lot of other sites will combine the chalice and the goblet for pairing purposes and that’s a fair approach.  We chose to separate them because there is definitely an aesthetic difference that’s worth noting.

Benefits of a Beer Goblet / Oversized Wine Glass

These glasses are similar to chalices and snifters in that they provide a wide bowl which showcases a beer’s color and clarity.  The bowl shape also traps more delicate aromatics in a concentrated space.

If you don’t have beer goblet you could easily sub in either a chalice, tulip or a snifter.  I’d recommend snifter for lower carbonation beers and either a chalice or a tulip for higher carbonation ones.

What Beer Goes with a Beer Goblet / Large Wine Glass?

While the glass is kind of a stand-in for other glasses I’d still recommend it for glasses with less active carbonation.  Sour ales, saisons, wild ales, farmhouse ales, barley wines, and wheatwines fit nicely with the glass.

Again, these are lower carbonation beers with more delicate or nuanced aromas that help with enhancing flavor.

Beyond that, it can be used as a substitute for a tulip or chalice when those glasses are unavailable.

Where can I buy Beer Goblets?

I have a few Leffe Beer goblets that I picked up as bar promotions but they also turn up at liquor stores that have more diverse beer selections.

Outside of that you’ll mostly be looking to grab a 22 ounce wine glass which can be found at box stores like Target and Home Goods and in the wine section of most liquor stores.

 

Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale Session Sour

Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale
SeaQuench Ale in a Tulip Glass

The SeaQuench Ale session sour pours cloudy straw yellow with thin bubbles that cling to the side of the glass. Crisp bright bubbles form a very thin head which dissipates quickly.

I’m getting a kind of candied lime aroma – bright and summery but also sweet.  This sour ale is clean bodied with a fresh mouthfeel yet only a hint of carbonation. It’s sweet and tart but with the slightest touch of saltiness and little bit of a yeasty twang.

For reasons outlined below we’re tasting using a tulip, again with a stange, and then again with a chalice.

The tulip glass brings out the beer’s sweetness a bit while the stange brings out more of the tangy sourness.  The head remains slightly longer in the stange but still ends falling to just a rim of medium sized bubbles.

In the chalice… wow… the sea salt is much more prevalent.  I didn’t really taste it in the other glasses but here its a much bigger part of the flavor profile.  A little crisp, very refreshing.  This would definitely be a great beer at a backyard fish fry or clam bake.

Dogfish Head bills this as a “session sour” I can definitely see this being the case if you’re out on the beach.  Sitting inside on a warm spring day one or two of these is likely my limit.

Other Specs:

  • ABV: 4%
  • IBUs: 10
  • Release: April – December
  • A “Born on Date” is located in the bottom corner of the label.

Why That Glass?

In their promo for this beer (below) Dogfish head calls this a hybrid beer consisting of three styles brewed in sequence: kolsch, gose, and berlinerweisse.  In recognition of their creativity we’re tasting from three glasses.  A tulip glass (common for a sour), a stange (common for a kolsch & gose) and a chalice (common for a berliner weisse.)

On the beer’s spec-site they mention a pint glass but in all honesty I think a chalice is the way to go, especially if you have one that features any kind of etching for nucleation.

More About the SeaQuench Ale Session Sour

SeaQuench Ale Session Sour is brewed by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery LLC. While the beer is listed as a Session Sour Dogfish Head refers to it as being a hybrid beer.  You can see their “Quick Sip Clip” below.

 

The Pilsner Glass and European Pilsner

Mama's Little Yella Pils in a Pilsner Glass
A Conical Pilsner Glass

Like the tulip glass, the pilsner glass comes in a variety of different shapes.  A basic pilsner glass typically has a narrow base with sides that flare outward.  Some versions of this glass look like an elongated tulip pint.  Others are more cone shaped.  Some are also very similar to a wheat beer glass.

A stemmed version of the pilsner glass is also known as a European pilsner.  European pilsner glasses typically have a short stubby stem which blends seamlessly with the glasses tapered walls.  They can resemble stretched out versions of tulip pints, willi bechers or fluted glasses.

You may also see taller stemmed pokal glasses referred to as pilsner or lager glasses.  I’ve included several pictures below for comparison.

Pilsner glasses can be 12 to 16 ounces depending on the style.  Bigger glasses exist but tend to overlap into the Wheat Beer Glass category.

Benefits of The Pilsner Glass

With it’s tall narrow body the pilsner glass behaves a lot like the stange.  It’s shape showcases a beer’s clarity while it’s top narrows the surface area helping with head retention.  Because pilsners are crisp and bright beers this helps with delivering some of the beer’s more delicate aromas.

What Beer Goes in a Pilsner Glass?

As the name implies, this glass is ideal for beers of the pilsner style.  This includes most pale lagers.

Because the glass is so similar to the stange and fluted glassware it can also be used for for  kölsch-style beers or even lambics. I also sometimes use my pilsner glasses for 12 ounce bottles of wheat beer.

The basic idea is that you’re looking for beers that share characteristics with the pilsner style.  That includes beers with clear pale colored bodies, medium to sparkling bright carbonation, and a crisp bubbly head.

Where can I get Pilsner Glasses?

Libbey has a four-pack of “Classic Pilsner” glasses for around $14 on Amazon. They’re 15 ounce glasses making them a bit big for your standard bottle of beer but they’re high quality glasses.  The same glass is also available in the Libbey Craft Brew Sampler Glass Set we’ve already reviewed.

Libbey also offers what they call a “Midtown” Pilsner in the same price range. These glasses are more like a narrow version of a wheat beer glass.

The quintessential pilsner is probably Pilsner Urquell.  They offer a couple different types of branded glassware including a stemmed pokal glass and a tulip-flute style pilsner glass.  Both of these also make great additions to your beer glass collection.

 

New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale

Fat Tire Amber Ale in a Pint Glass
Fat Tire Amber Ale

This amber ale has a clear copper / amber body with a head of dense white bubbles.  On the nose I’m getting a very mild hop character that plays second fiddle to sweeter smells like green apple and … maybe a little graham cracker.

Fat Tire is light bodied with mild carbonation and goes down very smooth.  Light, tingly carbonation fills out the mouthfeel and tickles a bit going down.

Mostly sweet and malty with a bit of biscuit-y tartness there’s only a mild hint of hops in the finish.  This is a well balanced beer that is easily session-able.

Why That Glass?

Amber ales (and red ales) which tend to be more balanced beers with even representation of both malt and hop flavors.  These beers are usually easy to drink and, with lower ABVs, can be enjoyed in larger quantities over longer periods of time.

That points us towards two glasses: either a pint glass or a seidel.

More About this Amber Ale

Fat Tire is the flagship brew of New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Co.  Like Yeungling before it, it’s a beer that has a bit of a cult following.  It’s like Taylor Ham or Poutine in that its regional popularity makes it a kind of comfort food.

Now that distribution has reached Massachusetts I highly recommend going out and finding a six-pack or case to see what all the fuss is about.

The Beer Snifter or Large Cognac Glass

Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout in a Beer Snifter
Pumpkin Stout in a Beer Snifter

The beer snifter is short, stemmed, glass featuring a wide round bottom and tapered top.  You can find snifters in sizes ranging from six ounces up to 22 ounces.  Beer snifters are typically in the 12- 16 ounce range.  These glasses are often made of thinner, more delicate glass but some glassware sets will have thick-walled sturdy versions as well.

This glass is also often referred to as a “balloon glass,” or over-sized brandy / cognac glass.

Benefits of the Beer Snifter

The beer snifter excels at holding some of a beer’s more ephemeral aromas and flavors in a tight space.  Its wide round base and tapered top trap everything in a space where it can be delivered directly to your nose while sipping.  This is especially true for beers with little to no carbonation.

The glass’ shape also helps with heat transfer.  As you hold the glass, warming your beer slightly, more delicate scents and flavors become unlocked.  Cold, dark beers might initially taste “like a stout” from the glass but as the beer warms and you inevitably swirl it around you’ll start to get those hints of cocoa, mocha, peet, or fruit that were hidden away.

How to Drink from a Snifter

The iconic image of a snifter typically involves a Bond villain swirling the glass between sips, maybe holding it up to the light to look inside and admire the color of what is almost certainly an evil cognac.

This is exactly how you want to drink from your snifter.  As you work your way through the beer swirl the glass slowly aerating your beer.  Take a sip, enjoy, swirl, sip, repeat.  For a good beer you’ll notice that the flavor starts to shift the more you drink and the more you swirl.

It’s very much like drinking good scotch or brandy … which brings up another point.

When pouring into a snifter keep the liquid portion of your pour (not counting the head) to just around the part of the glass where it begins to curve back in.  Yes, you may end up pouring a 12 ounce beer into three or four glasses but over-pouring kind of works against this glass’ benefits.

What Beer Goes with a Beer Snifter

You can use a beer snifter for any beer which has been aged, especially when aged in barrels. Similarly, some beers that you chose to “cellar” might be worth pouring into a snifter.

I’m also partial to using the beer snifter for dark beers that mention chocolate or coffee in their billing.  Stouts and Porters that are higher ABV (Imperial Stouts for example) will also find typically end up in a snifter.

If you’re a big hop-head you might also look to a snifter for some lower carbonation IPAs.

Where Can I buy a Beer Snifter

I’d recommend looking for snifters or cognac glasses in the 12- 20 ounce range.

A four piece set of 12 ounce cognac glasses sells for around $15.  While a four piece set of 16 ounce glasses is more like $30.

You may also find a few tulip glasses, like the one included in the Libbey set we’ve reviewed previously, are close enough to snifters to fit the bill.  Just under-pour the beer as mentioned above for best results.

The Right Glass for an American IPA

American IPA
American Double IPA

For an American IPA start by reaching for your nonic pint glass.  You could also reach for a seidel or mug.  The wider mouths and bodies will allow for bigger sips and better enjoyment of the beer’s aroma.  These glasses can also showcase the different colors and clarities that an American IPA may exhibit.

For higher ABV or more flavorful entries go with either a tulip glass or snifter.  These glasses help focus the beer’s more subtle aromas making for better enjoyment of the bolder versions of the style.

About the American IPA

American IPAs have strong floral or citrusy hop flavors which can include piney and resinous notes.  These bright flavors are often followed up by a malty backbone which gives the beer a bit of a sweet, sticky finish.  The beer can be smooth or sticky bodied and on stronger versions the head can stick to the glass almost like a foamy syrup.

American IPAs range from 5.5%- 7.5% ABV.  Stronger versions are also split into the Imperial IPA category.  These beers can be clear to slightly hazy and pale to reddish in color.

While the style is immensely popular on the craft brew scene I personally find it to be a bit overpowering at times.  I usually find it best in warmer weather and in limited quantities.  There’s something about the strong hop characters (especially in the bolder takes on the style) that overwhelms my palate very quickly.

Sub-Styles

Imperial IPAs or Double IPAs are American IPAs with higher ABVs.  These beers range from 8% ABV up to a whopping 15% depending on ingredients and brewing techniques.

Notable American IPAs

  1. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: 60 Minute IPA
  2. Ballast Point Brewing Company: Sculpin IPA
  3. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
  4. Anchor Brewing Company: Anchor Liberty Ale
  5. Lagunitas Brewing Company: Lagunitas IPA

The Beer Seidel or Dimpled Mug

Beer Seidel filled with Stout
A Beer Seidel or Dimpled Mug

A seidel is a wide-mouthed glass mug with thick walls and a sturdy handle.  They’re often dimpled and can be short and rounded or large and barrel shaped.

These beer mugs are made with thick, sturdy glass walls and a strong handle which makes them easy to hold and carry.  They commonly hold about 20 ounces but larger versions certainly exist.  Bigger, barrel shaped beer seidels can hold up to 44 ounces.

Seidels (especially the over-sized ones) are sometimes referred to as “steins” but steins are earthenware (vs glassware) and are much more ornate and decorative.

Benefits of a Seidel

The most immediate benefit of the seidel is it’s wide mouth.  It provides you with plenty of space for taking deep sips while getting a good sense of the beer’s aroma.  The glass’ thick walls, handle (should you use it) and short stature also provide a degree of insulation that help keep your beer at quaffable temperatures.

In practical terms the seidel is probably one of the most sturdy of all the beer glasses.  With it’s thick glass walls and handle it’s not something that’s going to be easy to break.  Due to its proportions this mug is also pretty difficult to tip over.  The glass’ dimpling also makes it easier to hold.  These glasses are pretty decent utility glasses for serving soda, floats or milkshakes to kids.

When it comes to the drinking experience there’s also something visceral about holding a beer seidel.  They feel good to hold and to drink out of.

Other Notes

Frosted mugs are great for soda, frappes, and floats.  Not for beer.

Avoid freezing or chilling seidels.  As cool beer hits colder glass condensation can form leading to unintended moisture watering down your good beer.  So skip chilling whenever possible!

What Beer Goes with a Seidel or Dimpled Mug?

Normally you’d pair porters, stouts, and german style lagers with a seidel.   Beers with strong malty flavors and lower hop profiles are also great choices.

A seidel can also be used for serving cream ales, scotch ales and even rauchbiers. Basically anything with a medium to thick body.

Where Can I Buy a Seidel?

You can find 20 oz dimpled beer mugs like the one pictured above for about $11 a pair on Amazon.  44 oz steins and can be found for around $13 a piece.

The Tulip Beer Glass

Ballast Point Red Velvet on Nitro in a Tulip Beer Glass
Ballast Point Red Velvet on Nitro in a Tulip Beer Glass

The tulip beer glass is similar in stature to the snifter but rather than ending at a taper, it flares out at the mouth. The flaring at the top of the glass can be relatively mild or rather pronounced depending on the glass maker. Below you’ll see a variety of different tulip glasses.  They’re all tulip glasses but they’re slight variations are worth examining.

You may notice that the term “tulip” is also used to describe other types of glassware.  Glasses like the tulip pint glass and Stella Artois’ Tulip Chalice either end mid bulb or round back in slightly.

Benefits of the Tulip Beer Glass

You’ll usually be using the tulip glass for beers which pour with thick foamy heads or lots of effervescent bubbles.  The bulbous body and tapered neck of the tulip beer glass helps to support this head and capture volatiles in and around the glass’s mouth.

When you’re drinking from this glass you’ll be able to pick up on some of the beer’s more subtle characters which might otherwise be overwhelmed in a glass with a larger mouth.

What Beer Goes with Tulip Beer Glasses?

The tulip glass is also occasionally called a “Belgian Ale Glass” which can give you a clue where to start.  This glass will handle most Belgian ales including Darks, Pales and Strongs.

The glass also goes well with double and imperial IPAs.  Because it focuses subtler characteristics, it’s great for picking out hoppy or floral notes over some of the alcohol bite that comes with the finish.  The same is true for wild ales and farmhouse ales.

A modified, or tweaked, version of the tulip beer glass is the thistle glass.  If you don’t have one of these the tulip will serve well for Scotch Ales as well.

In all, the tulip glass is pretty versatile!  There are some that even argue it may be the only glass you need in your collection … but where’s the fun in that?

Where can I buy a Tulip Beer Glass?

Libbey has a great starter set called the “Libbey Craft Brew Sampler Clear Beer Glass Set.”  This set includes a “Belgian Ale Glass” which is essentially a taller version of the tulip glass.  This set runs about $30 on Amazon but can be found for around $20 in places like Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

La Chouffe, Duvel, and Tripel Karmeliet often have gift sets around the holidays which contain tulip glasses as well.

There are also sets of four Tulip Beer Glasses available on Amazon for around $15.