Columnist George Lenker shares his favorite beer glasses. George Lenker

As I’ve mentioned over the years, I’m not overly fussy about my glassware for beer.

Don’t get me wrong: The choice of the right glassware can certainly enhance certain types of beer. And whenever I can, I try to use the glassware that is made for a specific style. I just refuse to be priggish about it. In the end, a good beer isn’t going to be ruined by the wrong type of glassware.

But after receiving a gift of a proper Guinness imperial pint glass from one of my favorite pubs (Tig Coili) in Galway, Ireland, I had occasion to reshuffle my four shelves of beer glassware, and I was appreciating some of them quite a bit. (The glass I received was the old-school Guinness pint glass, a style which has been largely phased out in the U.S. and can usually only be procured by pubs in Ireland.)

This reshuffling activity inspired me to write this column, which is about my six favorite beer glasses. I own more but wanted to feature the ones I find most useful. (Even though it is clearly beloved, my new Guinness glass was not included here.)

In no particular order, here are my six go-to beer glasses.

Mug – I don’t use this one often, but with its thick glass walls and easy-to -grip handle, my mug (an old-timer from Young’s & Co.) I’ve maybe had this longer than most of my current collection due to occasional breakage during my many moves in my adult life. It’s great for most conventional ales and lagers, but has also seen a stout or Scottish ale at various points of its lengthy career. It keeps cold beer colder by keeping your hands off the glass itself. It also makes one feel like a pirate or Viking while quaffing from it.

Snifter – I have several of these, but my favorite is one I got from the Northampton Brewery during its 25th anniversary celebration years ago. It has a little bit of a tulip rim to it, which I like, but the overall upward and inward taper of the glass’ shape still channels the brew’s aromatic volatiles right to your nose. This glass is perfect for IPAs with a lot of aromatic hops and many types of Belgian beers. I call it a “wine lover’s glass” because you can swirl your beer around in it like wine and cognac aficionados are prone to doing.

Pilsner – This piece of glassware was part of my collection for the Northampton Brewery’s 25th anniversary. The pilsner glass, with its tall and sleek design, is best for displaying the bubbles in highly carbonated drinks. These glasses are specifically designed for lighter, more revitalizing beers, a fact that their shape only emphasizes. Although they can be utilized for hefeweizens, I refrain from doing so as I prefer using a different glassware…

Weizen Glass – My feelings towards wheat beers are mixed, but occasion calls for a good Weizenbock or hefeweizen and they deserve their own special vessels. Unlike the slim and narrow pilsner glasses that expand evenly towards the mouth of the glass, Weizen glasses have curves similar to a 1940s pin-up starlet. These glasses can hold more liquid and are perfect to maintain the frothy heads typical of weizens. My favourite version of this glass style is from the much-loved but sadly missed Sierra Grille.

Tulip – I recently added this type of glass to my collection. I own a few snifters and typically use those for beers like Belgian ales, double IPAs and other aromatic brews, which the tulip glasses are designed for. But I was drawn to the elegance of this tulip glass during a visit to Couch Dog Brewing in Salem, so I purchased one. The tulip leads in some aspects, particularly its stem that keeps your hand’s warmth away from the bowl if needed. Plus, I adore its beautiful design which includes an etched dog on the glass.

Nonic Pint Glass – Last, but definitely not least, the Nonic pint glass is the one I use the most. Like many beer enthusiasts, I have a number of standard American pint glasses adorned with brewery logos. However, the nonic glass, with its little bump near the top makes me feel like I am in an old British pub. I have quite a few of these, but my favorite is from the legendary British brewery, Fuller’s.

What are your favorite pieces of glassware that you own? Reach me at geolenker@yahoo.com

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