Andy Crouch writes Breweries And Bars Should Kill The Shaker Pint . . . which is a fine idea.
I posted a comment at hit site that economics could get in the way. At issue is not just the shape and size of the glasses, but the quality of the glass itself. Check out wine stemware some time, and you’ll see the lighter, easier to break, stuff costs more. While I would agree that Riedel seems to have a scam going by suggesting you need a different shape glass for every variety of wine grape I also agree that lighter glassware better serves flavor and aroma — of beer or wine.
Before I wander off on a tangent about how breweries could learn a little about glassware, because the Hoegaarden glass Pierre Celis is lousy for drinking Belgian Whites or that I’d rather drink Chimay from a Rochefort goblet than the Chimay branded one . . .
Although Andy’s comment about my comment would indicate he disagrees about the economic issue pleasure humor me. Pretend you are sitting in a pub or restaurant and your beer arrives in a shaker glass. You ask the server to put it into something better. Could be a glass reserved for other beers. Could be good wine stemware (obviously a hypothetical because plenty of restaurants stick with small, cheap, hard to break glasses).
You are told that will cost another quarter.
Is it worth two bits to you?
If it’s really good beer,,just bring me a bucket?
Let me be the first. Yes.
That’s a tough call to make. If my waitperson told me that I could have a beer in a standard pint glass or for an extra expense I could have it in a glass that better fit the style I’d have to think about it. If the extra cost was like a quarter then perhaps, but if they would charge much more than that then I’d have to say No Thanks.
Most restaurants I’ve seen (with a few exceptions) serve up all beer in the same glass type. Typically the only choice you have is a small glass or a bigger glass.
I’d welcome more establishments to stock better glassware. I realize it would be more difficult for them to do this and it would most likely drive up the price for beer there. I can drink a beer in a non-style glass without much problem. If I want the full experience then I’ll buy some for myself and take it home to my own glassware.
I’d pay it – sure. But I’m a big beer geek. I suspect I pay more when I go to places that serve me beer in fancy glassware, anyway.
The trick, at the bar level, is to not give your patrons the choice. Get the fancy glassware. Raise your price a quarter. Done.
How long does it take to get the return off of the cost of the actual glassware?
At the smaller fairs and beer-fests in Germany, they charge a deposit on the glassware — usually pretty nominal and you get a little token to return with the glass for your refund, not a bad way to go.
Then again, Resi’s Bierstube in Chicago doesn’t allow the Maßkrugen to be served in their beer garden because of “loss,” so we asked if we could bring our own. They said yes, we did!
The other side to this question is that you have to find a place serving better beer to be made better in the proper glassware — not many around me doing that, and the ones that have the better beers, also have the proper glassware.
Yes.
I frequently pay extra for a better *experience*, of which decent glassware is just one element. It sends a signal: this is a pub or bar where beer is respected.
Some of the bad glassware we get in the UK is really bad — scratched, almost opaque, and dirty-looking. British pint glasses seem to be more-or-less indestructible, which is why they end up hanging around long enough to get into that state…
I would probably pay more. I think it is worth it, but feel like the pub should only offer the best glasses. Don’t like the idea I must pay for an upgrade.
How does the weight of the glass effect aroma & flavor? I understand shape but am in the dark on the weight.
I should have been more concise. The issue is the thickness of the glass (and thicker is heavier). I don’t know the science (or perhaps voodoo) behind it but thinner is supposed to be better for tasting. Perhaps it is the power of suggestion but that seems to be true for both wine and at least some beers.
So Stan, is the upshot that warmer beer due to thinner glass gives more flavor and perception of flavor?
I think Todd is on the money. Personally, I prefer a thicker glass for my beer, assuming I’ve served it at the right temperature. No, I’m not talking the ridiculous goblets they have at Cost Plus, but I have 2 snifters for my beer and I really dislike the ultra thin one.
Would I pay for a better glass? When you go to a place that serves better beer, they usually have something better, and if you ask, they’ll get it for you.
As for the damaged glasses that keep getting served, there’s no reason for that. Pubs and bars are always getting glassware pushed their way from the breweries, it’s free advertising. If you’re too lazy to take advantage, then you deserve to lose business. If you’re still buying pints in those glasses, tell the bartender.
I’m going with voodoo. 🙂
Thinner glass shrinks your head, allowing your head to fit in said glass to get more aroma and flavor.
I am still not sure, for the most part, that glasses improve the flavour although they may alter the perception of it. The discussion seems to sound a lot lot audiophiles and reminds me of one pal who had various amps rigged up – one for punk, another for thumping bass. I honestly can’t say I have been put off a beer by any clean glass. I had a fantastic brown beer yesterday from the bottle. Three in fact.
Sure, I have my favorites (an apparently discontinued shape of Petrus is most favoured these days) when I want a schnozzful of aroma. But sometimes they confirm that the particular beer in question is just not that aromatic and I could have had more than an acceptable experience with the shaker glass anyway. These can be dangerous waters which may come with signs that say “Warning: the enemy of the great is the excellent”… or maybe the pursuit of the excellent.
So what ever happened to the cool pewter mugs with glass bottoms? What happened to just pewter mugs period? Bad flavor reality and perception?
The glass or container a beverage is served and consumed from is supposed to affect flavor and perception. Look at the Moscow Mule mugs of old,,,they are heavy copper,,,for flavor and temperature “correctness”.
Oh, I forgot. Look at the cost of each of these mugs,,pretty pricey. Is cost why pewter ale mugs and Moscow Mule mugs aren’t used for serving now?
Glassware became more popular when you would actually want to look at your beer. Mugs were a better choice when beer was dark and cloudy.
And ceramic mugs certainly have a following today. Not everybody needs to “study” their beer while drinking.
I was just at Dark Horse in Michigan and they seem to encourage the use of clay flower vases. I don’t know if I was that attracted by the idea.
Alan – You know you’ve had enough to drink when you ask if it is OK to wear one home.