When Drinking Ale, The Glass You Use Matters

The reasoning behind choosing the right beer glass

Are you really going to spoil a wonderfully hoppy craft IPA by using the wrong glass? Unlikely. While the way you pour the ale is important, selecting the right glass can significantly enhance your beer-drinking experience. For one, using a different style of glass instead of the usual pint adds a fresh visual and tactile dimension. Higher-quality ales deserve to be served in elegant glassware, which not only signifies their quality but also elevates the overall experience.

Interestingly, the shape of the glass can affect how we perceive the taste of beer. A 2017 study published in the journal Food Quality and Preference found that participants who drank beer from a curved glass perceived it as fruitier. Therefore, a tulip-shaped glass, for example, is ideal for accentuating the fruity notes in certain ales—even if it’s all just in our minds!

Serving beer in a stemmed glass helps keep it cold longer, as it prevents your hand from warming the liquid by gripping the center. Lighter beers are typically consumed more quickly, so a wide mouth and easy grip are often better suited for something like a pale ale. On the other hand, beers with stronger flavors and higher alcohol content are meant to be savored, making a more delicate glass—preferably with a stem—ideal for enjoying them at a leisurely pace.