Information on the history, evolution and selection of beer glassware. There are many styles of beer glasses and this presentation will offer information on selection the proper glass as well as other helpful and interesting glassware tidbits.

1. Beer Glassware
Everything you ever wanted to know and then some..
Presented by TrueBeer.com

2. Overview
• Evolution of beer glassware
• Types of beer glasses
• Why glassware matters
• Required glassware for your bar or homebar
• Pairing glasses with beer styles
• Beer Glass Tips

3. History
• Sumerians are thought to have invented beer
over 7,000 years ago. Sumerian tablets included
beer recipes, beer laws and depictions of beer
drinking.

4. Sumerian Beer continued..
Figure 4.1 Figure 4.2 Figure 4.3
• A 3900-year-old Sumerian tablet (fig.4.2), with a poem honoring Ninkasi (fig.
4.1), the patron goddess of brewing, contains the oldest surviving beer
recipe, describing the production of beer from barley via bread.
• Figure 4.3 shows a Sumerian god enjoying a beer. This is perhaps the
oldest depiction of beer consumption.

5. First Beer “Glass”
• First documented beer serving vessel was the clay jug
used in ancient Sumeria. Figure 5.1
• Beer was served in a jug with long reed straws. Figure
5.3.
• Clay tumblers were also used to serve beer. Figure 5.2
Figure 5.1 Figure 5.2 Figure 5.3

6. Egyptian Beer
• The Egyptians continued what the Sumerians began. Beer was enjoyed in
tumblers (fig. 6.2) and clay jugs with reed straws (fig. 6.3).
• Beer was often known as "Hqt" ("heqet" or "heket"), "tnmw" ("tenemu") and
haAmt ("kha-ahmet")
• The determinative of the word Hqt (beer) was a beer jug. Figure 5.1 show
beer being brewed and clay jugs being filled.
Figure 5.1 Figure 5.2 Figure 6.3

7. Middles Ages
• Common beer drinking vessels in Europe during the middle ages
were wooden tankards (fig. 7.1), Clay mugs (fig. 7.2) and carved
horn (figure 7.3).
• Glass was rarely used in ancient and middle ages. The Church
suppressed glassmaking (considered it an unholy art).
Figure 7.1 Figure 7.2 Figure 7.3

8. Steins
• Invented in Germany in 1500’s. Lid was
required by law to keep plague causing
insects from getting in the beer.

9. Glass Introduced
• Glassware production increased in Europe as the power of the Catholic church
waned in the 1500’s.
• Germans were the first to embrace glassware for beer. These early enameled items
were mainly tumblers and pokals.
• Glassware was produced for more affluent people. Cost prohibitive for average folk.
• Early beer glasses were made from mouth blown glass and were very delicate.

10. Pressed Glass
• Pressed glass is a type of glass made using a plunger to press
molten glass into a mold. It was first patented by American inventor
John P. Bakewell in 1825 to make knobs for furniture.
• By the mid-19th century most inexpensive mass-produced
glassware was made from pressed glass. (1850–1910)

11. Beer Glasses in 1900’s
• Popular beer glass styles in the 1900’s included the Pilsner, Mug, Goblet
and Schooner (Chalice).

12. Modern Beer Glasses
• Competition in the beer industry triggered the creation of many branded beer items
including glasses. This led to the diversification of beer glass styles as breweries
used glassware a point of differentiation in the market place.
• Styles coalesced in Europe and America after prohibition.
• Use of obscure glass styles waned in the USA as beer became more homogenized
by the major national breweries.
• Beer glassware in Germany is paired by style of beer.
• Belgium pairs glassware by individual beer brand.

13. Types of Modern
Beer Glasses

14. Why You Need The
Proper Glassware
• Three reasons why you need proper beer
glassware:
#1 – Improved experience
#2 – Beer style diversification
#3 – Consumer Expectations

15. Improved experience
• Serving beer in glassware make the beer
taste better.
• 50% of taste comes from smell. Serving
beer in a bottle does not allow for enough
exposed surface area for the aroma of
beer to be released.
• Pouring beer in right glass allows a head
to form which releases scent molecules
that are inhaled enhancing the
experience.

16. Growth and craft Beer Diversity
• Growth of the craft brewing industry in 2011 was 13% by volume and 15% by dollars
compared to growth in 2010 of 12% by volume and 15% by dollars. Source: Brewers
Association 3/26/2012
• Craft brewer retail dollar value in 2011 was an estimated $8.7 billion, up from $7.6
billion in 2010.
• The styles of craft beer are diverse. Serving beer in the style appropriate glassware
shows your knowledge and commitment to craft beer.
• Here is a breakdown of the top beer styles sold in the USA:
Source: SymphonyIRI 2011

17. Consumer Expectations
• Great expectations
• Craft beer drinkers are knowledgeable and
expect establishments to share their enthusiasm
and knowledge of the segment.
• If this is the only beer glass behind your bar,
you’re not meeting expectations.

18. Required Glassware
Yes, all of them.
Pokal Glass Mug Pint Tulip Wheat Beer
Snifter Flute Goblet Wine Glass Stange

19. Pairing Beer & Glasses
Visit www.TrueBeer.com for full list of pairings.

20. Beer Glassware Tips
• Never place beer glasses in the freezer.
Cool beer not your glass.
• Only stack glasses that are designed to be
stackable.
• Don’t pour cold beer into hot glasses, i.e.,
fresh from the dishwasher.
• Dry glasses using a bar mat to allow for
drainage and air flow.