Do you know your weizen from your teku? Can you confidently order a pint in South Australia? After reading this, you will.
Pint glass
Up first, you’ve got your pint glass. The pint has been the usual serving quantity for draught beer in the British pub scene since early last century. There are two main types: a British (AKA Imperial) pint of 20 fluid ounces (570mL) or an American pint of 16 US fluid ounces (470mL). In our pubs, you’ll find the Imperial size is the go (except in South Australia, but more on that in a moment). A pint is a good choice if you don’t take your time drinking beer, as it can get a tad flat and warm near the end if you leave it for too long. You’ve been warned!
Schooner
Consider a schooner the younger, smaller brother of the pint. It’s 425mL. This size would be a universally adopted standard around Australia, except for the fact South Australia calls a 425mL glass a pint (for no apparent reason, but you do you, SA). There’s plenty to love about the faithful schooner – it’s big enough to quench your thirst, and small enough to keep your beer cold and fresh until you finish it. *Chef’s kiss*.
Pot or middy
A middy or a pot is smaller than a schooner, holding a volume of 285mL, and it has a couple of different names in certain states. Hold onto your coasters, we’re about to confuse you (initially), but you’ll thank us when you cross the border. In NSW and WA, it’s commonly known as a ‘middy’; in QLD, VIC and TAS, it’s a ‘pot’; in SA, if you want a middy, you'll need to ask for a schooner; in ACT it’s known as a ‘half-pint’; and in NT, it’s referred to as a ‘handle’ because their 285mL glasses have one so it stays cool in the warmer climate. Clever.
Jug
No guesses what you’re getting here. If you order a jug anywhere across Australia, you’ll get 1,140mL of beer – or four pots or middies – to share with your mates. Whose round is it?
Pilsner
You’ll know a pilsner glass when you spot it. It’s typically slim, tall and slightly wider at the mouth so you can get the most out of a bubbly pilsner or lighter beer. Its shape also helps to retain a beer’s head, which keeps aromas locked under your nose. Pilsner glasses hold less beer than a pint glass, ranging from 250mL to 400mL.
Weizen
The weizen glass (or wheat beer glass) is sometimes confused with the pilsner glass, but the main difference is it holds more beer and has more curves. It features thin walls and plenty of height to really show off the golden colour of wheat beer. The width of the weizen glass helps to release aromas and provides room for the often thick, fluffy heads produced by wheat beer.
Stange
An ideal glass for more delicate beers (think kölsch, lambic, gueuze and bock), the stange (shtung-ah) is a cylindrical, long and narrow German glass that focuses the beer’s aroma right under your nose so you can enjoy its mild flavours. It’s also sometimes referred to as the ‘Champagne flute of the beer world’ – yep, we see that!
Goblet
This glass has a large, head-retaining round bowl, a thick stem and a wide-mouth design so you can take hearty sips. Another type of glass called a ‘chalice’ has a similar shape, but thicker bowl walls. Both types can be highly decorative and sometimes feature intricate etchings. Heavy beers like Belgian IPAs and dark ales are right at home in a goblet.
Tulip (AKA Belgian glasses)
Malty, hoppy beer lovers, this one’s for you. A tulip glass has a round body and flared lip designed to capture the head and let the flavour of these beers really sing. Turns out you don’t just swirl wine – the stem on a tulip glass helps facilitate swirling so you can get the full sensory experience. Pour the likes of imperial IPAs, Belgian pale ales and Scotch ales into a tulip.
Thistle
Perfect for a scotch ale, this modified version of a tulip glass resembles Scotland’s national flower, the thistle. It’s characterised by a short stem, bulbous bottom and an elongated top section that’s noticeably sharper and more angular than the tulip.
Beer flute
These glasses are tall, very narrow, stemmed and hold smaller volumes of beer. Like a stange, the tall narrow body helps showcase the beer’s sparkling carbonation. A beer flute will work for a light-coloured, crisp beer with bubbles – if you’re unsure, just use it for any beer that’s sealed with a cork.
Oversized wine glass
A wine glass for beer? You bet. Expert brewers believe a 22-ounce (or 650mL) oversized wine glass is ideal for serving most Belgian ales, or any beer with complex aromas and flavours. Much like a cup or chalice, its enlarged structure concentrates the aromas, but beware – it’s not intended to be filled to the brim.
Teku
This one is a bit fancy, and we’re here for it. The teku is widely recognised as one of the finest craft beer glasses available today. Designed in Italy, the teku features a tulip-like bowl, a very thin lip and an elegant long stem that prevents your clammy hands from transferring warmth to the beer. Try a lambic, fruity or sour beer in a teku glass and your world just might change.
IPA glass
An IPA glass (suitable for all IPAs) is designed to aerate your favourite hoppy beer with each sip; its tall, slender, tapered bowl concentrates and directs hoppy aromatics to your nose. Some IPA glasses are also nucleated, or etched, at the bottom, which helps to release carbonation and promote a steady stream of bubbles.
Stout glass
The term stout refers to any porter beer that is especially strong, thick, or, well, stout. The flavours and textures of stouts are often referred to as bitter, milky, dry, sweet and creamy – and the best way to enjoy them is in a stout glass. It typically has a wide bulb, perfect for accommodating the large head, and a tapered shape, which accentuates all those distinctive flavours.
Stein
The beer stein comes from the German words “bier” (beer) and “steinkrug” (‘stone’ and ‘crock’). Steins are traditionally made of pewter, silver, wood, porcelain or glass. They’re big, sturdy and thick, and have a handle that prevents the heat of your hand from warming the beer. They can also handle an overzealous ‘cheers!’ moment, especially while standing on a table at Oktoberfest.
Pony glass
Also known as a quarter pint, a pony glass is the smallest (and cutest) of the conventional beer sizes. The pony can be found throughout most of Australia and comes in at a quaint 140mL. You’ll often find these in a tasting paddle line-up.
