Styles of beer glasses vary in accord with national or regional traditions; legal or customary requirements regarding serving measures and fill lines; such practicalities as breakage avoidance in washing, stacking or storage; commercial promotion by breweries; artistic or cultural expression in folk art or as novelty items or usage in drinking games; or to complement, to enhance, or to otherwise affect a particular type of beer's temperature, appearance and aroma, as in the case of its head.
Drinking vessels intended for beer are made from a variety of materials other than glass, including pottery, pewter, and wood.
The shape helps trap the volatiles, while allowing swirling to agitate them and produce an intense aroma.
[7] Originating in Germany, the glass is narrow at the bottom and slightly wider at the top; the width both releasing aroma, and providing room for the often thick, fluffy heads produced by wheat beer.
[8] It tends to be taller than a pint glass, and generally holds 500 ml (7⁄8 imp pt) with room for foam or "head".
[citation needed] Beer stein or simply "stein" (/ˈstaɪn/ STYNE) has been for over a century an English expression for a traditional German beer mug made out of stoneware, whether simple and serviceably sturdy, or elaborately ornamental with either a traditionally cultural theme, or so embellished as to be sold as a souvenir or a collectible.
The former may be made out of stoneware, but rarely the inferior earthenware or wood, while the latter is usually of glazed pottery, but often porcelain or pewter, or even silver or crystal.
Some believe the lid that excludes flies from the beer today was originally intended for those so diseased in the age of the Black Plague.
[12] The high, narrow and cylindrical Stange (German for "stick" or "rod", plural Stangen) is traditionally used for Kölsch.
Boot- and shoe-shaped drinking vessels have been found at archaeological sites dating back to the bronze-age Urnfield cultures.
It is commonly believed that a general somewhere promised his troops to drink beer from his boot if they were successful in battle.
At gatherings in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, beer boots are often passed among the guests for a festive drinking challenge.
Flute glasses display the lively carbonation, sparkling color, and soft lacing of this distinct style.
Chalices and goblets are large, stemmed, bowl-shaped glasses considered suitable for serving heavy Belgian ales, German bocks, and other big sipping beers.
A tankard is a form of drinkware consisting of a large, roughly cylindrical, drinking cup with a single handle.
Metal tankards were popular in 18th and early 19th century Britain and Ireland, but were largely superseded by glass vessels.
Wooden and leather tankards were popular before the 17th century, but being made of organic materials have rarely survived intact to the present day.
The glass is approximately 1 yard (90 cm) long, shaped with a bulb at the bottom, and a widening shaft which constitutes most of the height.
[20] Bock Hollandais Buisje, Pijpje Herrgöttli (German) Bock Chope, Pintje Emmertje, Rendsje, Amsterdammertje (though not in Amsterdam) Rotterdammertje (only in Rotterdam) Ten, Half Ten, Half, Glass Pot, Handle, Half Seitel, Seiterl Stange, Rugeli Klepke Mediana Chope, Pinte, Sérieux Seidla, Halbe (Southern Germany) Krügerl, Halbe Grosses (German) Parfait, Double Pinte, Formidable Lunette, Litron Mass (German) Liesl Prior to metrication in Australia, one could buy beer in glasses of size 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15 or 20 imperial fluid ounces.