Craft beer glasses: your guide to serving beer properly
Why is traditional kölsch beer in German beer restaurants only served in narrow, elongated, small glasses? Why is it that local brews in other countries are served, for example, in pint glasses? It’s not a marketing move — the point is that in a properly shaped vessel beer better reveals its flavor and aroma, as well as retains a stable foam. And if you choose the right container, you can even at home to get maximum pleasure from your favorite varieties. To help all beer lovers — our guide to glasses!
A pint of Nonic
Suitable for styles: india pale ale, porter, brown ale, cider
This is a versatile glass that is ideal for drinkable, low-alcoholic varieties. There are three types of pint glasses, the most popular being the 0.6 liter Nonic from the UK. It is a container with slightly curved walls that widen slightly at the bottom.
Snifter
Suitable for styles: stout, porter, barleywine
The same «pouzat» glass that is also often seen in beer restaurants. The deep bowl retains the distinct flavor of the drink well, and the short stem allows it to be slightly warmed by human body heat, thus bringing out the aroma. The snifter is ideal for aromatic brews such as strong ales.
Tulip
Suitable for styles: Belgian ale, wild ale
This glass is somewhat like a snifter, but with an elongated rather than narrowed neck. The tulip retains foam well, and the container also helps to capture volatile substances. A great choice for strong styles, although experts say it’s the perfect shape for any variety if you plan to drink just one glass.
Pilsner
Suitable for styles: lager, pilsner, bock
A glass for serving all light lagers, including pilsners. It has a long shape with pronounced straight lines and a slightly tapered neck, which helps to stabilize the foam. The pilsner is also ideal for showing off the color and carbonation of the drink.
Weitzen
Suitable for styles: hefeweizen, witbier
A smoothly shaped glass with a wide neck, originally from Germany. It is ideal for serving a variety of wheat beers, such as Hefenweizens and Belgian Witbiers. In such a glass, the flavor of the beverage will unfold well and a lush, high foam will be retained.
Teku
Suitable for: double IPA, saison, lambic
This 0.3-liter glass is a relatively recent development and rather resembles a version of the famous tulip, but with sharper corners. The container well reveals the flavor of the drink and preserves the foam, and the long stem prevents it from heating up.
By the way, in Lambic restaurants beer is served only in the right glasses. Come and see for yourself!
What is the difference between lager and ale: let's understand the nuances
Many people believe that it's all about color: lagers are light beers, ales are dark beers. In fact, this is not the case: there is a wide variety of beers in both families. Indeed, due to the production technology, lager is mostly a light lager beer, while ale has a rich flavor and is often quite strong, but it would still be wrong to separate them by this characteristic. What is the difference, then? It's the yeast Ale, historically considered to be the first beer, is made by top fermentation. Special yeasts are used for this and the process takes place at high temperature (from 15°C to 2070°C). As a result, the yeast accumulates on the surface - hence the name. A lot of higher alcohols and esters are produced during top fermentation, which affects the taste and aroma of the beer - it is richer than that of lager. Lager is produced by bottom fermentation, which is considered the most modern and popular method today, primarily because of the fact that such beer can be stored without pasteurization for up to 2 years (ale - up to 6 months). The process takes place at lower temperatures (from 8 to 13 degrees Celsius) and the yeast settles to the bottom after refining. The lager matures in even colder conditions - at temperatures close to zero. The taste of the lager is smoother and less sweet. Lager is considered a universal beer - no wonder it is the most common beer on supermarket shelves. It goes with any dish, even simple ones, and is suitable for any event. In addition, it can and should be drunk chilled, which is especially important in the hot season - not every beer can boast such an option. Ale can rather be compared to wine - its taste and aroma are more complex, which means that you need to treat it in a special way: choose appetizers carefully so they do not drown the taste of the drink, serve at the right temperature (the best way to taste ale is warm) and so on. In addition, ale and lager usually differ in strength: for the former it is on average 4-9%, while the latter can boast only a modest 3-5%. But this condition is not strict: you can find both light ales and lagers with a strength of up to 13%. Despite some advantages of the ale, it cannot be said that it is somehow better than lager. They are really very different families, and not all beer lovers are looking for complex flavors and high strength. So just choose what you like, and in the beer restaurant Lambic you will be served the chosen beer according to all the laws of the genre - for maximum enjoyment!
28 March 2021
Harmony of flavors: seven best beer snacks
Real beer connoisseurs know that the flavor of beer is revealed better if it is served with the right dish. But even if you don’t consider yourself a gourmet, drinking beer is always more enjoyable with an appetizer. In this article we will list ten dishes that will make a perfect pair with your favorite drink. Chicken wings and strips Fried chicken goes great with different types of beer. The most popular poultry appetizers are wings (can be spicy or non-spicy) and strips. They are often served with sauces, such as barbecue or cheese sauce. Fried fish The most popular appetizer with fish is, of course, fish & chips. For the preparation of this dish, cod is most often taken, but pollock, flounder, halibut or pike-perch are also common. Fries are fried in oil or baked in the oven. Fish and chips in restaurants are usually served with tartar sauce, green peas, or cole slaw. Restaurants also often offer fried fish separately with beer, such as smelt or mullet. Garlic croutons A simple but very tasty dish that goes perfectly with both light and dark beers. Hot, crispy and generously sprinkled with garlic, garlic croutons are served with beer in almost all beer restaurants. They go well with all kinds of sauces, but we recommend ordering bleu-cheese with the croutons. Grilled cheese Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside — breaded cheese has long been in the top of the best beer appetizers. Different kinds of cheese are used for preparation. And sometimes — several at once: for example, in cheese sticks often put mozzarella and parmesan at the same time. If you want something more refined, you can order baked Camembert with truffle paste or brie cheese in crispy breading with cherry chili sauce. Shrimp Served both fried and boiled, often with garlic. Shrimp is also used to make airy chips that go well with mayonnaise dips, and more complex appetizers, such as mini seafood burgers. Jalapeño fries An appetizer that’s just gaining popularity so far. Jalapeño peppers fried in batter go well with fresh beer and add a pleasant spice to the meal. Served with sauces or cheese. French fries An all-time classic. If regular potatoes are boring, try yam fries with ginger sauce. Almost all of the above appetizers can be tasted in Lambic beer restaurants. And we also have hundreds of quality beers from all over the world. Come — we will find something to surprise you!
14 June 2024