“On victory, you deserve beer. On defeat, you need it.” — Napoleon Bonaparte
Drinking beer almost always entails more than just getting drunk, like how eating is almost always more than just grabbing a bite and how the main menu essentially entails more.
Sure, getting drunk is a much-anticipated outcome whenever beer is involved.
Whether it’s for a big party or a chill Friday night with your significant other at your home bar, one simple way to accentuate your experience is through the use of proper beer glasses.
Yep, you heard it right.
Top 5 Pilsner Beer Glassware
We’ve compiled our top five (5) Pilsner glass picks:
Scroll down to read more about how having the right kind of beer glass can elevate your beer experience and the one brand of beer glasses that might possibly do it all for you!
Why Invest In Beer Glasses?
You might think it’s just some hearsay or even a marketing ploy to get people into buying stuff they don’t actually need. But think again!
Several scientific studies have proven how the shape of different beer glasses actually affects their flavor!
- This study proved how beer foam plays an important role in defining thetaste characteristics, like the aroma, mouthfeel, drinkability, and overall flavor of freshly poured beer.
- Another example would be this 2017 study that was able to prove how different glass shapes effectively influence the perceived intensity and fruitiness of beer.
There really is more to drinking beer than what meets your gullet!
In this light, beer glasses almost become a necessity because of how they are able to elevate and create a whole new beer-drinking experience altogether.
But we do want to point out that getting a generic beer glass may not be able to do the trick.
So, if you want a simple yet sure way to enhance your beer-drinking experience, we highly suggest that you check out Pilsner Beer Glasses.
What Are Pilsner Beer Glasses?
Say you’re having a few guests over at your place and a few of them brought over a bunch of pale lagers and pilsners.
Now, you’re looking at the glasses on your home bar and you’re thinking; which glassware be the best to use with your friends, considering the type of drink available?
Instead of drinking beer out of the can or bottle, go for the tall, slim, and tapered shape glass, known as pilsner beer glasses, first invented after the creation of Pilsner beers in Bavaria.
You can easily spot this particular type of beer glasses because of their tapered-shape bodies (their bodies form the subtle shape of a “V”).
Pilsner beer glasses are known to showcase the color, clarity, and carbonation of the beer. This is also why bars and other sites that serve beer use pilsner glasses for lighter beers.
What’s more is the shape of a pilsner beer glass is known to promote head retention that’s essentially how long the aroma-rich foam on top of your beer lasts.
Because of the head retention, they’re also known to enhance beer volatiles, which are known definitive factors for how your beer will taste after pouring.
6 Different Types of Pilsner Beer Glasses
Despite the typical Pilsner Beer Glass figure, Pilsner glasses come in different shapes and sizes.
This is because, as the name suggests itself, these glasses were largely designed to enhance the tastes and aromas of lighter beers, such as light lagers and pilsner beers.
With that said, let’s go through some of the most recognizable types of Pilsner glasses!
To top things off, we’ll also be giving our ratings for each Pilsner glass’ cost and how it would fare for either everyday (casual) or more formal use (classiness).
Classic Pilsner Glass
Photo from serious eats
What better way to start things off than by the Classic Pilsner beer glass?
You’ve probably seen this type before as its tall and thin figure makes it easily recognizable.
Though classic Pilsner beer glasses usually hold around twelve to fourteen ounces (which is less than how much a pint is usually able to hold), its figure allows longer head retention.
This, in turn, results in longer-lasting bubbles, aromas, and flavor with every sip!
Because of this, we would recommend that you pair most types of Pilsner glasses with any of the following light beer styles:
- Pilsner
- American Light Lagers
- Japanese Rice Lagers
- Bock
- Helles Bock
- Maibock
- Blond Ale
- California Common
If you’re interested in getting one of these babies or maybe for your drinking buddy as a gift, these are the ones to get.
Etched Beer Glass for Better Head Retention, Aroma and Flavor
Our ratings for the Classic Pilsner Glass:
Cost (affordability) – 🍻🍻🍻/5
Casual – 🍻🍻🍻🍻/5
Classiness – 🍻/5
Simple Crystal Pilsner Glass
Photo from Cashs.com
This particular Pilsner glass is definitely a prime example of how the right type of glassware can ENHANCE your drinking experience.
One can easily see the difference between this particular Pilsner glass and the two previous Pilsner glasses, that is, the stem or “tulip” at the very bottom.
From the get-go, it easily looks fancier and more complicated compared to the typical Pilsner glass shape.
It has a more bulbous and stout shape, and its sparkly glass exterior is commonly made of lead-free crystal.
With that said, we suggest you snag one of these Pilsner glasses when the occasion is relatively fancier or more formal.
These glasses are also better if you prefer to sip than chug!
NOTE: If you’re purchasing one of these Pilsner glasses online, you might want to double-check that they’re the lead-free crystal kind!
Here are our ratings for the Simple Crystal Pilsner Glass:
Cost (affordability) – 🍻🍻/5
Casual – 🍻🍻/5
Classiness – 🍻🍻🍻🍻/5
Pilsner Pint Glass
Photo from Home Wet Bar
We know these pint glasses don’t exactly look like your standard American pint glass that’s a lot less curvy.
Compared to the typical Pilsner glass shape, these particular kinds of pilsner glasses are like its shorter and a bit stockier version.
But, even if there is a present difference when it comes to its shape, these glasses are as durable when it comes to foam retention and thus flavor elevation.
We suggest this particular glass for those who are going for a more casual vibe or for those who want to accentuate their beer pour!
Check out our ratings for the Pilsner Pint Glass:
Cost (affordability) – 🍻🍻🍻/5
Casual – 🍻🍻🍻🍻/5
Classiness – 🍻/5
Stainless Steel Pilsner Beer Glass
If you don’t want to go out of your way to see which Pilsner glasses are dishwasher-safe, then a stainless steel Pilsner Beer glass may just be the one for you.
Despite having a different aesthetic compared to the previous Pilsner glasses, this glass definitely has its own statement to make.
But don’t be fooled!
Despite not being transparent, this glass can still hold as many bubbles and create an overall better drinking experience for you!
Check out our ratings for the Stainless Steel Pilsner Glass:
Cost (affordability) – 🍻🍻🍻🍻/5
Casual – 🍻🍻🍻🍻/5
Classiness – 🍻/5
Pilsner Flutes
It’s essentially a champagne flute but here’s the catch — it’s made to show off the simple charm and aromas of Pilsner beers!
This Pilsner glass is perfect for those who want to show off all the bubbles and aromas in their brew and pilsners.
Because of its material, everyone will be able to see everything — from the pouring process to the rising of bubbles to the surface of the beer itself.
What’s more, the height of these glasses will attract the right people and impress a similar-minded crowd.
Here’s our team’s rating for Pilsner Flutes:
Cost (affordability) – 🍻🍻🍻/5
Casual – 🍻🍻🍻/5
Classiness – 🍻🍻/5
Monogrammed Pilsner Glass
Want to literally own your elevated beer experience?
You can get your Pilsner glasses customized, through custom engraving, screen printing, or digital printing!
Though getting your Pilsner glass customized may not actually have any influence on your beer’s aromas and taste, it would easily tell someone that you have TASTE when it comes to aesthetics.
What’s more, it’s also a great gift idea for your beer-enthusiast friends who have their own favorite brew and all!
You can even incorporate an everyday hobby of theirs into the design!
Our ratings for the Monogrammed Pilsner Glass
Cost (affordability) – 🍻🍻🍻🍻/5
Casual – 🍻🍻🍻/5
Classiness – 🍻🍻/5
Other Types of Beer Glasses
Do you want to try a different look or vibe for your beer glass?
Look no further! We’ve included a couple of other choices for you that you may want to put your brew in.
Beer Stein
Photo from Home Wet Bar
Traditionally made of stone, beer steins are both ornamental yet functional beer mugs.
Nowadays, there are various versions of steins made out of porcelain, wood, silver, and even crystal glass.
With that said, some of these glasses are transparent, while some are not. Simply put, if you’re going for a stein, its aesthetic is dependent on your preference.
With regards to size, steins are either made in half-liter or full liter. It’s typical for steins to have lids that you may be able to control with a thumb-lever.
Weizen Glass
These glasses have somewhat of a similarly tall figure to Pilsner glasses, but curvier.
You may even hear some feedback on how these glasses may revolve around it being similar to the figure of a Guinness Pint too.
Because of its material, using a Weizen glass would allow you to showcase your pour process, as well as the color and head retention of your brew or beers.
Snifters
Although more typically used for bourbons, brandy, whisky, and cognac, Snifters can also elevate Pilsners and other lighter beers.
An interesting fact about this particular kind of glass is that it has the ability to somewhat contain its contents when put down sideways.
What’s more, because of its versatility, drink-wise, you can use it on different occasions!
Stange Glass
Photo from Silver Branch Brewing Co.
Stange glasses may be the most common and generic glasses you can find in bars, restaurants, and even home settings.
Similar to Pilsen glasses, this particular glass is usually used for lighter beers such as Kolsch, bocks, and lambics.
Because of how much it is used in various settings, you may want to opt for the previous glass choices we’ve added to our list if you’re looking to stand out with your gift.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
With all glass choices considered, let’s talk about some of the questions you may have brewing in your mind.
What Exactly Are Pilsners?
Known as the first pale lager in the world, Pilsner was first invented by Pilsner Urquell Brewery.
Its development after ales and other prior alcoholic drinks allowed for the development of different varieties such as Czech-style, German-style, the American-style, and the European-style Pilsner.
It was after the boom in the Pilsner industry that the Pilsner glass was invented and designed specifically to complement the various Pilsner drinks.
Hops? What Are Those?
Photo from Gardening Know How
We’ve mentioned hops a couple of times before so now let’s talk about what they are, exactly.
Hops are the little green and cone-shaped flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant.
They are added in the middle of the brewing process of some ales and most beers to add to the bitterness, aroma, and overall taste of the drink.
Do All Pilsners Come Engraved?
Say you’re getting a beer glass for your friend as a gift or maybe it’s a treat for yourself.
What happens is that you can getany of your glasses engraved either before or after it has been shipped with you!
It is worth noting, though, that you might purchase it for less when the store that you purchase your glass from already offers an engraving service.
But, then again, the prices will still depend on your store preference.
Are Pilsner Glasses Dishwasher-Safe?
Before purchasing your glass, we want to remind you that not all glasses are made dishwasher-safe.
You might want to inquire about it with your preferred store or read the specs of the glass itself.
Additionally, you’ll want to look for an explicit mention of the fact that the glass is, in fact, safe to put inside the dishwasher.
You don’t want to find out that it’s not dishwasher-safe only after you’ve washed it!
Before The Clock Strikes ‘Happy Hour’
Whether a casual drink or a celebratory bite with friends, beer glasses and mugs are the ultimate drink companion as they ultimately give you an even better beer and life experience.
Do remember to consider what you will be using the aforementioned glasses for.
If you’ll be using it at home (or maybe it’s for your customers), it might be good to make sure that your glass complements the vibe of the place.
Have tap? You might want to showcase your pour with a tall glass.
Using it for more intimate settings? Might want to go for the stouter and smaller ones.
With all that said, this is a sign for you to grab a drink with your friends or as a gift to your special someone already!
Lead marketer, brewer, dad, and husband. Pretty much an all-round awesome guy.