The Pinup Bartender
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beer Holder:
Proper Glassware & Service for Beer
Y
ou sit at the bar, eagerly anticipating your refreshment with great excitement. You place your order after some perusal of the beer selection. And the bartender serves it to you in a coffee mug. What is your reaction? I doubt such an occasion will arise, but being in the business of beer service glassware is something I think about all the time when on the clock. I recently came across a quandary that my coworkers and I discussed. In what type of glass would one serve a winter white ale that describes itself as a wheat beer? This type of question is obviously a point in the finer minutiae of beer service, but glassware is often complimentary to the type or style of beer being served. The appropriate glass will showcase the beer in all types of ways. A proper glass is visually appealing. For example, a pilsner glass. In case you have never seen one, or did not realize what you were looking at, picture a martini glass. It is a fairly recognizable shape. Now, remove the stem from your visualization and elongate the glass. Before you panic about stability, widen the bottom of that glass and give it a
Jenna Bailey, The Pin Up Bartender
sturdy base. That is essentially a pilsner glass. Back to aesthetics. The pilsner’s wide mouth allows the head to foam freely and trap all the goodness of the beer. (This is the purpose of a proper amount of “head” on any beer!) The long shaft of the glass showcases the effervescence of the pilsner as well as the striking color; usually pale blonde, gold, to straw. The opening of a glass is also an important component of the proper glassware equation. Beer glassware will often have a fairly large mouth. Think of your standard tumbler pint or beer mug. However, too large and the aroma can be lost. On the flip side, if the opening is too narrow, the nose of the beer can be too biting. Think of when you smell whiskey or any other liquor. The sharp, burning feeling you get in the top of your nose? Serving beer that has a higher ABV (Alcohol by Volume) in a glass that has too narrow of an opening can have that same effect. In short, beer can be served in a variety of glasses but a great beer bar will have a variety of glasses to best showcase all the unique styles of beer they have to offer. Beer is multi faceted and complex, which is why we love it and glassware is just another interesting piece of its great appeal.
Contributed Image - TalesOfFroth
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Carolina Brew Scene
Summer 2016
