Pint Glass: This is the most common type of beer glass. It isn't very fancy, but it gets the job done. A pint glass tappers outward starting at the bottom as it moves towards the top. The tapering is very slight. The pint glass is the most common type of glass you will see at bars, likely because it's simple and cheap to make and because it can easily be stacked. Pint glasses typically come in two sizes – standard and imperial. The standard pint glass is generally 16 ounces (12oz pint glasses are less common and may be used in some bars for higher end beverages). An "imperial" pint glass holds more at 20oz and in some places in Europe a pint glass usually refers to the 20oz imperial size, not the standard 16oz. Pint glasses may have ridges or "sleeves" about 1/4 to 1/8 from the top of the glass. The "sleeve" is intended for more practical rather than aromatic or flavor purposes. The ridge can help protect the more fragile lip of the pint glass from getting chipped or broken if the glass tips over and it makes it easier to stack behind the bar. Similar glass styles and other names: pub glass, becker (German), nonic, tumbler

Pilsner Glass: As you may have already guessed, pilsner glasses are designed to enhance the flavor of pilsner style beers. Pilsner glasses are usually very slender and tall. The glass is typically very thin and light. Pilsner glasses often have an sharp-hourglass shape, may have a V shape, or may have more intricate designs. Pilsner glasses typically hold between 10-12 ounces of beer. Pilsner glasses should not be confused with their larger cousins the Weizen (Wheat) beer glass.

Wheat Beer Glass: Wheat beer glasses are larger glasses used to hold the typically lighter wheat beers (we beer drinkers keep or names simple….except {Lambic}). The glass will typically hold about 17-18 ounces or a half liter of beer. Most wheat beer glasses will actually have a line marking the .5 liter pour point on the back. The extra space allows for the development of a larger, rich head. The glass is similar to the Pilsner glass, but is generally more curvy and has a wide rim. The design allows for a air to easily flow into the glass when you go to drink and helps to lock in the aroma of the beer.Also commonly known by its German name: Weißbier / Weissbier (transliteration) / Weizenbier

Tulip Glass: The tulip glass is most commonly associated with Belgian ales like Duvel and Stella Artois. Since most beer drinkers aren't also flower experts – here is a picture of tulip – see the resemblance? The shape is quite effective at locking in the aromas of the beer and the wide, flared top allows you to sip both the head and the beer itself at the same time. The tulip glass is very similar and often confused with the thistle glass, which has slightly different properties.

Here I wrote you a little poem about tulips and beer: Roses are Red, Tulips are White, Drink Some Beer and you feel alright!

Thistle Glass: The thistle glass is another type of beer glass named after a flower. Thistle's are commonly associated with Scotch ales, as the thistle is the national flower of Scotland and can be found it many Scottish symbols. The thistle glass and the tulip glass are often used interchangeable in practice, but the thistle glass is characterizes by a la large bulb or bump near the bottom that comes in more sharply that the tulip glass with a top section which has a smaller pitch and is less curvy. The bulb does a very good job of trapping in the beer's aroma.

Beer Flute: The beer flute is a very thin and dainty glass, which is similar to wine or champagne flute. The glass is typically used for Lambics and beers emulate a wine style, but can also serve other light beers like Pilsners. The thin tall flute helps to bring out sharp and specific flavors following the same philosophy used for similar wine glasses.

Stein: Stein is German for "stone" and therefore steins are typically made from clay or terracotta. If someone tells you they have a glass stein you can look at them funny…perhaps they means Tankard. A stein may have a lid (often pewter) on top of it which holds in the aroma and has the traditional purpose of keeping out insects while the beer was stored. Steins most commonly have a large handle, and if there is a lid on the stein, there is a thumb lever that can be held to the handle to keep the lid open while drinking. The Stein is often associated with Oktoberfest and German beers and can hold anywhere from .5-2 liters.

Tankard: A tankard is very similar to a stein, but if often made out of glass, pewter, or other metals. Also like the Stein, a tankard may or may not have a lid. The terminology is not exact; a stein can be called a tankard as well.

Das Boot: The Beer Boot actually does exist and is a traditional German drinking vessel. The boot gained in popularity after the comedy movie "Beerfest". The beer boot presents a great challenge for the individual, and traditionally is intended for group drinking – where the person to finish the boot buys the next round. Most beer boots hold between 1 and 2 liters of beer. When drinking from the boot an air bubble will build up in the toe which results in the final few ounces of beer shooting out and onto the drinker, for a smoother drink without a giant air bubble you should turn the boot sideways as you get near the bottom. In German it is called a Stiefel.

Yard Glass: The yard glass is a very tall glass that often cannot stand on its own and usually comes with its own special stand. A yard typically holds around 2.5 pints of beer. Yards are three feet tall (I hope you don't have to think about hwy) and have a ball shaped bottom that comes up to a thin tube and topped off with a wide, flared opening. The yard glass doesn't really do anything for flavor, but is fun to use in a bar or party atmosphere. If you ever go to Las Vegas, it is fairly common to see people walking around with Plastic yards on "The Strip". You may also be able to find the slightly smaller, half-yard in your travels which may be a little more manageable. A quick note, much like the Boot, if you don't know the secret you might get covered in beer from the explosion of the air bubble that builds up. To remedy this, rotate the yard as you drink. A final note, while the yard glass today is associated with partying, it has a much more practical origin. In the Napoleonic times, horse-drawn coach drivers were not allowed down while passengers were onboard so an enterprising tavern keeper invented the Yard so the driver could easily have his drink passed up to him.

Kwak Glass: This is one of the Belgian beer glasses designed specifically for one beer. The kwak glass is for Kwak Bier. It is a hybrid between the yard and a Wheat Beer Glass. In some Belgian bars, owners require a patrons shoe to ensure they don't run off with the precious vessel.

Plimsoll Line: The marking you find on the back of many beer glasses is known as the Plimsoll Line. The line is actually a legal requirement in many countries and exists as a consumer protection measure to make sure that the bartender pours enough into your glass.

The Samuel Adams Glass: You want to see some real glass science, check out this glass from the Boston Brewing company. Designed specifically for Sam Adam's Boston Lager, this glass is not only beautiful but was truly engineered with a lot of though. Would you expect anything less from the most popular Crafter Brewer?

In Belgium, beer is high culture. Almost every Belgian brewery or even individual beer has its own signature glass. In some cases it a marketing measure, but most brewers will tell you they have some science behind it and without the right glass you will not be able to appreciate their specific flavors. These glasses are often very ornate and a really impressive to look at. It is not uncommon in Belgium for the bar or pub to actually have the specific glass for every beer they serve e.g., 100 brews on top 100 types of glasses. Using the proper glass is extremely important for many proprietors. In fact, if all the glasses for a particular beer are currently out you may be told to wait or select a beer that currently has a clean glass available.