One of my pet peeves is when I go to a pub or restaurant, and I see people sitting near me happily swigging their beer directly from the bottle. I am well aware that bottle-drinking is the norm for the average beer drinker. However, I am also aware that the server brought them a bloody glass and they prefer to ignore it. Now, that is dogmatism.
Leaving aside that it makes you look a bit like a Trailer Park Boy or the guys from Fubar, it destroys the flavour of your beer. It is particuarly irksome when I see some drinking a local craft beer or a quality import directly from the bottle. I remember a couple years ago two college guys sitting at the Sugar Bowl, gleefully glugging from their over-sized bottles of Fischer. Now, I am not including Fischer in any category of quality beer, but the sight of these two guys drinking directly from a 650 ml swing-top bottle was a bit too much for me. Really, guys? Don’t you know what that looks like? It might explain why you are having a hard time finding women to go out with you.
The core of my ire around this issue is that drinking directly from the bottle destroys the flavour of your beer. And I made THAT topic the subject of my latest Beer 101 (read it here). Once again, I know that most readers of this website have moved beyond the introductory class of “use a glass” to the more refined art of deciding which glass is best for which style of beer. But as old hat as not drinking from the bottle is for you, this Beer 101 might have something to teach you – because it did me.
You, I always preached about most of our taste sensation coming from aroma and that the small openings in a bottle or can restricts the aroma, and thus the flavour. (Toss in serving the beer at 2 degrees and you might as well be drinking ice water).
Recently I learned, thanks to Stephen Beaumont, that it has a second effect on your beer. It beats the crap out of it. Stephen was party to an experiment (led by an AB-Inbev rep, no less) where they replicated the effect of drinking straight from the bottle. They poured a beer back and forth between glasses six times. This action was to duplicate the approximate number of sips from a bottle required to drink a 12-ounce beer. By the end, the beer was undrinkable. All the agitation pulled the beer apart.
I did the experiment myself at home and found similar results. Feel free to try it yourself.
So now I have a two-part lecture on why you should always use a glass. And it gave me good fodder to rant in Beer 101 and get a bit of cathartic relief before I next hit a pub and see some guy taking a big gulp from a bottle.
July 16, 2012 at 7:18 PM
While I absolutely agree with you about the use of a glass, a friend of mine retorted with this article about a beer designed specifically to be drunk from the can:
http://bites.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/13/12724305-sip-this-world-class-beer-straight-from-the-tallboy
Put me in my place a bit…
July 16, 2012 at 9:30 PM
Brett, this is quite an interesting case you link to. I have not had that beer, so can only respond to what I have read and watched. There is no question that the brewery and the beer are legitimate. A good Double IPA from all accounts.
I think I have two thoughts to the claims that it is best from the can. First, the test video made two errors in method (in my opinion). First, he let the beer sit for an hour. What beer, no matter how strong, is going to sit for that long? Second, he periodically swirled the beer to maximize oxygen intake. That speeds up the oxidation process from a natural state. My issue here is that oxygen doesn’t start “destroying” the beer the moment it makes contact. It takes a bit more time than that. Leaving ANY beer out for an hour will change its flavour and aroma – from oxidation and skunking.
At first sip, he preferred the aroma of the glass version, although there was an extra intensity in the can. Had he sipped on the beer like one normally would (20-40 minutes of gradual drinking), I wonder if he would have found the effects he did.
I am not dissing the beer nor the guy’s experiment. In fact I would LOVE to replicate it myself, should I ever get my hands on the beer. I am just saying I remain quite skeptical that the beer is “better” in the can.
A final point is that stronger, more intense beer is supposed to morph and shift as you drink it. The brewer seems to suggest that it is best in its original condition. I am not sure I agree. I am not looking for freeze-framed beer. I want it to be alive.
Just some thoughts. Thanks so much for the links and the observation. Fascinating, indeed.
July 17, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Heady Topper is awesome from the can, but its hard to get any kind of aroma out of the tiny opening. I pour mine (protein globs and all) because aroma trumps appearance every time.
July 16, 2012 at 9:36 PM
Only time I gave someone hassle for drinking from the bottle was when I ran into a non-beer geek friend at the Bushwakker drinking Rochefort 10 straight from the bottle. My suggestion to give a world class beer some respect didn’t seem to phase him.
July 17, 2012 at 12:41 AM
As a relatively new craft beer drinker my collection of proper glassware is limited. Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to acquire a beer drinker’s starter glassware kit in Canada (or specifically Edmonton)? Also, is there any difference that is worth mentioning in the makers of beer glassware? I have read with wine glasses that the thin cut rim of high quality glassware enhances (or at least does not detract) from the taste and smell of the wine…cheaper and thicker rims can cause turbulence and affect taste/smell. Can the same hold true for beer?
I am eargerly awaiting the Westvleteren 12 shipment to Sherbrooke but I believe it has its own glass so I’m covered…phew!
July 17, 2012 at 9:19 AM
I use Spiegelau beer glasses. You can buy the taster’s set of 4, although I moved to Edmonton with mine. I am not sure of any store here that sells them, you may have to find an online retailer.
http://uncrate.com/stuff/spiegelau-beer-glasses/
They are thin walled and wonderful. Thin is what you want because the temperature of the glass has less effect on the temperature of the beer. It also condenses less. Some people complain that they are too thin and break easily. You have to take care and wash/dry by hand.
July 17, 2012 at 9:02 PM
I have one of the far right stemmed ones and it is excellent. I use it for the majority of beers I drink.
July 17, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Head to Sherbrooke or Keg ‘n Cork and pick up one of the Duvel gift sets that come with a glass.
July 17, 2012 at 9:48 AM
While I agree fully, there are a few exceptions. I was at a corporate stampede party and the drinks were free. the bartender handed me a Mill St Tankhouse Ale. I wasnt about to ask for a glass at that party, even though I would have preferred it. Also at another party I was drinking Keiths out of the bottle (hey, it was free). In that case it is just an alcohol delivery system and I’d probably RATHER drink Keiths out of the bottle.
July 17, 2012 at 3:26 PM
Tim, there will always be a situation where a glass is either impossible or rude to make happen. As long as we know it comes at a price.
July 17, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Crate and Barrel in south gate mall has cheaper alternatives. Their Pilsener and tulip glass is actually nice. Also Stokes has traditional bubbled pint glass for English bitters/stouts
July 17, 2012 at 12:49 PM
If you are looking for glassware, I bought most of mine at Dollar Store, Ikea, Winners and thrift/second hand stores. Most branded glassware is nothing special in my opinion, the glasses themselves typically suck. I have never enjoyed drinking out of a goblet, the wide mouth does a poor job of harnessing the aromas, I much prefer a snifter or tulip when I want to enjoy a fine strong ale.
July 17, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Mark makes a good point. The branded glassware is not necessarily any better than generic glasses. It can be nice to collect the branded ones – I find I enjoy my Westmalle tripel a little more when it is in my Westmalle glass for example – but they don’t make the beer taste better. Of course, the famous Sam Adams turbulator glass might be the exception. I like beer glasses with stories behind them – how I procured it, a friend gave it to me, etc.
The more important element is that the glass works for you and – in general terms – has the right shape for the beer you are drinking.
July 17, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Yep, the Sam Adams glass is good. I also have nice glasses from Unibroue (tulip), New Belgium (stemmed globe) and Jester King (stemmed globe). Didn’t pay a cent for any of them.
I also have some branded, very delicate 20cl stemmed pilsners and globes from the late 40s/early 50s. Mostly German, but also a Pilsner Urquell. Paid 50 cents a piece at a garage sale. Very cool stuff, I have a album of my vintage glassware here, including an Uncle Ben goblet (one of the worst prairie brewers ever, yet he had a fancy goblet) – http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.61573859459.88625.545709459&type=3&l=75d8034cc4