All-in-one Guide To Beer Glasses
Using the proper glass for a particular beer is essential in having a full tasting experience. First of all, the proper beer glass makes you look more legit and awesome. Secondly, the shape and size of the glass affects the way the beer looks, tastes, smells, and how good the "head" develops. Beer enthusiasts refer to the "head" as the foamy substance at the top of the beer, which is produced by the carbon dioxide within the beer.
Why is it important to have good "head"?
It looks good! It's aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
It helps give off the beer's aroma.
It keeps the volatiles, the compounds that evaporate from the beer, within the beer until you're ready to drink it. Volatiles include hop oils, alcohol, spices, and esters.
Why is too much "head" bad?
More "head" = Less beer.
Less beer = Less happiness.
Less happiness = Bad.
Therefore, by the transitive property, more "head" is bad. In summary, the proper beer glass helps in head development and retention.
For the next part, my sources include Beer Advocate, True Beer, Craft Beer, and Jump Tonight. Here are a few beer glass types and their corresponding types of beer:
Flute Glass: It has a long and narrow body to prevent the carbon dioxide from dissipating too fast. It is good in showing off carbonation and releases volatiles quicker for a more pronounced aroma. A few beers that are used in this glass are as follows:
Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
Czech Pilsener
Dortmunder / Export Lager
Euro Strong Lager
German Pilsener
Lambic - Fruit
Weizenbock
Goblet: Also known as the chalice, allows for a soft 2cm head due to the nucleation points at the bottom of the glass which creates a constant stream of bubbles and carbonation to flow upwards and maintain the head. The goblet makes you look like a king, maintains head, and is wide-mouthed for deeper sips.
Belgian IPA
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Berliner Weissbier
Dubbel
Quadrupel (Quad)
Tripel
Mug: Heavy and large with a handle. The mug holds a lot of volume and is easy to drink out of.
American Brown Ale
American Dark Wheat Ale
American IPA
American Pale Ale (APA)
American Stout
Cream Ale
Czech Pilsener
English Stout
English Strong Ale
German Pilsener
Herbed / Spiced Beer
Irish Dry Stout
Source: Seth Woodworth
Pilsner Glass: Tall, slender, and trumpet-shaped. Maintains head very well and in my opinion, one of the more aesthetically pleasing beer glasses. It is able to show off the clarity, color, and carbonation very well. My favorite!
American Amber / Red Lager
American Double / Imperial Pilsner
American Malt Liquor
American Pale Lager
Czech Pilsener
Euro Lagers
German Pilsener
Happoshu
Japanese Rice Lager
Light Lager
Low Alcohol Beer
Vienna Lager
Tulip: Obviously, shaped like a tulip. The tip of the glass has a lip to capture the head.
This glass is good at capturing and enhancing volatiles, while supporting a large head.
American Double / Imperial IPA
Belgian Dark Ale
Belgian IPA
Belgian Pale Ale
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Bière de Garde
Flanders Oud Bruin
Flanders Red Ale
Gueuze
Lambic - Fruit
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Weizen: Bavarian Weizen glass is ideal for Weizenbier (wheat beer). It works pretty much the same way as the Pilsen glass because it shows off the beer's color and sustains a large head.
American Dark Wheat Ale
American Pale Wheat Ale
Dunkelweizen
Gose
Hefeweizen
Kristalweizen
Weizenbock
Snifter: It has a wide bowl and a stem. The snifter is good for strong ales, brandy, and cognac as they provide room to swirl the volatiles.
American Double / Imperial IPA
American Double / Imperial Stout
American Strong Ale
Belgian Ales
English Barleywine
Flanders Oud Bruin
Flanders Red Ale
Foreign / Export Stout
Russian Imperial Stout
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Tripel
Wheatwine