The perfect beer deserves an exceptional glass to complement it. Luckily at Yours, we're huge fans of a hearty post-work pint - that's why we've found the best craft beer glasses from across the internet, so whether you're looking for a whole pint of ale, a snifter of stout or a goblet of lager, we've got you covered, well and truly.
But why choose one glass over another? What options complement which alcohol? And should you chill your tankard?
From flared tulip glasses to thistle glasses and beer steins, each glass isn't just designed to look pretty - they are made to enhance colour and aroma, and retain a lovely bubbly head on the beer, so you can experience your brew as it was meant to be experienced.
What are craft beers?
Craft beers have taken the UK by storm in recent years, with microbreweries cropping up all across the country making a wonderful range of IPAs, stouts, and English ales, here are our picks for the finest craft beers made in the UK that'll quench your thirst this summer.
We've chosen some proper beer glasses made by well high-quality glass-makers across the globe for the absolute best drinking experience, but don't worry, they won't cost you an arm and a leg.
What glass is beer typically served in?
It entirely depends on the type of beer, but if you walk into most pubs in the UK, you'll probably have your beer in a nonic glass, which is a standard pint glass that has a bulge near the top, giving you more clarity with the beer, gives you additional grip, and boosts aroma.
The best craft glasses for beer drinkers
Your search for the best craft glasses has come to an end. This buyer's guide includes Final Touch, Libbey, LSA, Rink Drink, and Krosno.
Best lager glasses
About the glass set:
Number of glasses: Six
Glass capacity: 500ml
Manufactured in: Poland
Dishwasher safe? Yes
What type of beer is the glass made for?
These glasses are quite literally known as bar lager glasses, they all have a distinctively tall and narrow shape which helps to keep the head of the lager remain bubbly and keep the lighter beer nice and clear.
Our thoughts:
This set of six tall beer pint glasses is simple, yet eye-catching with a narrow base for a comfortable grip. They're fairly similar to what you might find in your local pub (aside from a distinct lack of beer-specific branding), it's a classic look that's perfect for an after-work pint. It gets our vote for the best craft glasses.
Customer review: "Really impressed with these. Nice shape and the glass appears good quality. Very well packaged too. Very happy with the purchase."
If you happen to enjoy a pint but aren't a huge fan of the massive amount of calories in beer, then you'll be happy to hear there are plenty of low-calorie alcoholic drinks for you to try.
Best craft beer glasses
About the glass set:
Number of glasses: Two
Glass capacity: 550ml
Manufactured in: Poland
Dishwasher safe? Yes
What type of beer is this glass made for?
As the name implies, these glasses with rounded bowls and short stems perfectly complement a craft beer, particularly for IPAs, stouts or bock (a type of strong German dark lager). These beers are packed with flavour and aromas, and a wide bowl helps to aerate and accentuate those deep, often complex flavours.
Our thoughts:
We know what you're thinking, and you're right - they're expensive. These are hand-made rounded bowl craft beer glasses made by LSA, the leading glass-blowers in the world. Each is unique yet perfectly made. The huge, rounded shape looks and feels phenomenal. It also complements a good IPA splendidly - we can't recommend them enough.
Customer review: "This is elegant, suave and a joy to drink from. Though compact, it takes 500ml with ease leaving the perfect head. Bitter, stout and IPA recommended."
If you're vegan and happen to enjoy the occasional pint, but struggle to find great options for yourself, we've compiled the absolute top-tier vegan alcohol for your viewing pleasure, you'd be surprised to find what beers are truly vegan.
Best glasses for taste-testing
About the glass set:
Number of glasses: Six
Glass capacity: 400ml
Manufactured in: Poland
Dishwasher safe? Yes
What type of beer is this glass made for?
These snifter beer glasses are absolutely perfect for tasting IPAs, English ales, and especially stouts. Their smaller size allows you to taste and enjoy a wider range of beers without becoming too bloated after a single pint. Their tulip shape also helps to retain clarity in lighter beers, as well as keep the head of the beer frothy.
Our thoughts:
These incredibly affordable snifter glasses are such a fantastic deal that we simply had to include them. This six-pack of 400ml glasses, with a capacity for about 2/3 of a pint (a standard measurement in microbreweries), are perfect for hosting a taste-testing session at home. They're also particularly well made for the price and feel incredibly durable. They're admittedly not as elegant as the rounded bowl beer glasses from LSA, but we can't knock them at all for the price.
Customer review: "We bought these to use when outside in the garden on BBQ days, however, they are so nice to hold and have such a sturdy feeling about them that we are now using them as our everyday wine glasses"
So you've bought a ton of gorgeous glasses, but now the kitchen's looking a little cluttered, we've all been there, that's why we've gathered some great kitchen storage ideas- say goodbye to clutter.
Best stein for German lagers
www.drinkstuff.com
About the glass set:
Number of glasses: One or six
Glass capacity: 1.1L
Manufactured in: Germany
Dishwasher safe? No
What type of beer is this glass made for?
As you probably might've guessed, a beer stein is a perfect glass for a delicious German lager, which tends to be on the lighter side of beer. Any lager, however, is absolutely perfect for a beer stein, but at 1.1L you're better off choosing something light and moreish.
Our thoughts:
At the opposite end of the spectrum from snifter glasses, the German beer stein is a gigantic two-pint glass for the particularly thirsty lager drinker. It's a classic German design you've probably seen time and time again, but you may have never had the pleasure of owning yourself. The classic dimpled design looks and feels fantastic, and is a welcome addition to anyone's glass collection.
Not a fan of beer? Prefer something a little lighter? Here's how to make your very own gin at home.
Customer review: "Excellent, solid and stylish supersized beer mugs. Highly desirable! Arrived promptly and well packaged."
Best stout glass
About the glass set:
Number of glasses: One
Glass capacity: 620ml
Manufactured in: Ohio, US
Dishwasher safe? No
What type of beer is this glass made for?
Thistle beer glasses were originally made in Scotland - thistles are the national flower of Scotland, which is the inspiration for the shape of the thistle glass. Aside from mimicking the thistle, the flared shape of the glass provides some function to improve the taste and clarity of the beer. The large bowl shape allows you to see the beer's colour, while the tulip shape heightens the aroma and keeps the head of the beer frothy.
Thistle glasses pair perfectly with Scotch ales, which are dark, thick, and malty, often having smoky, caramel characters. Stouts are also perfect to pair with the thistle glass, as well as any dark lager or ale.
Our thoughts:
Libbey's is a well-known handmade glass manufacturer in the US, all of their glasses are made using traditional glass-blowing methods, so the quality is truly next to none. Admittedly, it's fairly pricey just for one glass, but if you're a fan of those dark, rich, and malty flavours from a stout and want to experience them properly, a thistle glass might be your best bet.
Customer review: "The shape of the glass makes each drink an enjoyable experience; it looks great when filled, feels nice in my hand, and the shape really seems to enhance flavours and aromas. This glass shape might be best for Scotch ales, but I've actually been enjoying English brown ales and Scottish ales for the time being."
Best beer goblet
About the glass set:
**Number of glasses:**Two
Glass capacity: 600ml
Manufactured in: Canada
Dishwasher safe? No
What type of beer is this glass made for?
This stemmed, goblet-style ale glass is perfect for both light and hoppy ales, as well as darker, malty stouts. That rounded bowl and tapered lip allows for perfect clarity, great aroma, and a beer head that'll comfortably last you a while.
Our thoughts:
This is a slick, comfortable, and modern glass that is perfect for a formal gathering and relaxing on the sofa with. The stem feels incredibly sturdy, yet comfortable - we're certain they'll last you a good while.
Customer review: "Purchased these glasses when I was asked to taste and review some beers for a friend starting a beer subscription service. Lots of craft beer glasses are small and only hold 330ml or similar. These beauties hold a full pint easily. Comfortable to hold and look good too. Plenty of room to get your nose in if required too."
Best novelty glass
About the glass set:
Number of glasses: Two
Glass capacity: 330ml
Manufactured in: Germany
Dishwasher safe? Yes
What type of beer is this glass made for?
This fantastic little novelty glass is practically perfect for any beer, but may be especially brilliant for stouts, or dark ales simply because of its smaller size. At 330ml you may find yourself refilling your glass a little too occasionally, especially with a lager or pilsner.
Our thoughts:
This fun novelty glass isn't all show, it has fantastic insulation, so your beer will stay cooler for much longer. While it's on the smaller side, the design is still absolutely brilliant and will amaze any guests you plan to host.
Customer review: "Fabulous quirky beer glasses, perfect for enjoying a brew in the garden"
Do beer glasses go out of date?
Pubs will often replace a beer glass after three years of use simply due to accumulated bacteria and general wear and tear of the glass, which can affect flavour. This, however, doesn't really apply to your glasses at home, they should be perfectly fine for the foreseeable future.
What are nucleated beer glasses?
A nucleated beer glass is essentially a fancy name for an engraved beer glass, sometimes beer brands put their own logo at the bottom as a bit of a design flair.
Should I chill my beer glass?
This is a bit of a contested issue, on a hot day it's sublime to enjoy a frosty glass of lager, but some argue against it. As your glass warms to room temperature, the condensation that built up in the glass begins to dilute the beer, reducing flavour and aroma. But the choice is ultimately yours.