Tag: American Dark Wheat Ale

The Tulip Pint Glass or Irish Imperial Pint

Tulip Pint with a Nitro Beer
Tulip Pint with a Nitro Beer

The tulip Pint is also known as the Irish Imperial Pint or Guinness Glass. While you’re likely to see this glass a lot it’s not quite as versatile as some of the other  styles of pint glass.

This glass gets its name from it’s familiar tulip shape.  Unlike shorter stemmed tulips its top lacks a flared mouth and instead ends with walls pointing straight up.  These glasses are almost always 20 ounces but some mild variation can occur.

Benefits of the Tulip Pint Glass

Like other pint glasses the most immediate benefit is volume.  The Imperial Irish Pint holds about 20 ounces which is plenty of space for a large pour while still leaving a generous amount of space for a beer’s head.

With it’s smaller base and more pronounced bulb some people might also find it a little easier to hold than the nonic pint.

These glasses also provide a good look at a beer’s deeper colors while the wide mouth helps support head retention.  Of course it also helps with taking large sips of “Nitro” beers that have thick frothy heads.  For nitros keep a napkin handy ’cause a milk beer-mustache is in your future.

Other Notes

There are smaller versions of this glass floating around in various different sizes.  Many will be branded “Guinness” but will only be 16 ounces.

You want to be looking for a 20 ounce glass.  Due to a quirk in how we deal with fluid ounces there might even be some small variation there but that’s OK.  A true imperial pint will measure just over 19 US ounces and for our purposes that’s pretty OK.

Just avoid the 16 ounce ones.

What  Beer Goes with a Tulip Pint Glass?

Most people know this glass as a Guinness Glass so that’s a good jumping off point.  Irish Stouts are so tied to this glass it almost feels wrong to drink them in anything else.  The same goes for Irish Ales.

After that any beer billing itself with the term “Nitro” is a safe bet. The wide mouth at the top of the glass makes a beer’s creamy head and body that much more tantalizing.

This glass also works well as a utility glass for any ales or lagers poured from a large bottle.  Personally, I’d avoid lagers and keep them in something like a large pilsner or a stange but it’s not a huge deal.  You’ll have to go back to the fridge to retrieve the bottle more often but it’s worth it.

I’d also avoid beers with really active carbonation, sour beers, or beers with higher ABVs.  Those are better suited to other glasses.

Where Can I Buy Tulip Pint Glasses / Irish Imperial Pints?

These are going to be some of the easiest glasses for you to get a hold of.  Every liquor store, box store, and some supermarkets are going to have them.  Just check for either a 20 ounce volume marker or the imperial crown either on the bottom or lip of the glass.

They’re also a common inclusion in most craft beer glass sampler boxes.

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.