Beer glasses, like beer drinkers, come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

 Some say that this is simply a marketing issue, that is, building the “brand” by designing a unique vessel that might influence the buying decision more than the beer itself.  InBelgium, where beer glasses are a true art-form, breweries have been known to design the glass before they even craft the beer.  And yet my senses tell me that a fine beer really does taste better in the right glass.  Is it psychological (those marketing people again), or is there is real science backing it up?

In truth, using the shape of the glass to affect the beer-drinking experience does have a basis in science.  As we each developed our own awareness and appreciation for fine brews, we’ve become aware of these characteristics:  a hoppy aroma, a creamy head, a hint of fruit, or the visual appeal of a freshly poured beer.  Choosing the right glass will help bring out the best in that brew whether it’s a fine craft beer from a microbrewery or one that you put a lot of love into brewing yourself.

I will admit that, as I watch the beer leave the bottle and roll into a glass, I do get a little spacey watching it all develop.  It’s all about that foamy head.  The head acts like a net, capturing the volatiles that create the beer’s aroma. These compounds (which evaporate when the beer is poured) include fruity esters, hop oils, spices, and other additions. And since different styles of beer present different appearances and benefit from different levels of head retention, it follows that the glassware used should “exploit” the characteristics of the beer within the glass…

To read the rest of the article download this Adobe pdf:  Beer glasses by Bill

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