Beer Mugs Beer Glasses and the World. Well where does one start? I think the best idea will be to go over some basic beer glasses and their uses. Later on we will get to the "World" part.

Mug or Stein

This drinking tool usually has a handle and it made of thick glass.. The ounces contained can vary from mug to mug but for the most part the shape remains the same.. This beer glass is most common in the local bar and usually can be heard being clanged together for toasts. The Steins are usually made of stone or metal and have little metal tops that go over the mouth of the mug. This lid was used in Europe during the Black Plague as a way to not allow flies to fall into the beer.

Pint Glass (Tumbler)

This glass is mostly cylindrical in shape and usually tapers out towards the top of the glass. The bottom is usually a think  glass base to provide stability to the glass.. The Pint Glass is probably the most widely used piece of glassware next to the mug. It is most often used to serve tap beer in the U.S.A. This beer glass is usually 14 ounces but is known to come in a 20 ounce version to allow room for more head. By allowing more head in the beer it creates a protective barrier for the beer against the air. Mosty light beers and ale is served in this glass.

Pilsner Glass

This beer glass is fairly skinny and tall. It opens more towards the top to allow for better head development. Its most common description is that of a trumpet. This glass provides a clear view to the beer so the drinker can enjoy the color and clarity of the beer. This allows for a more accurate interpretation of the sentiment or other particles in the beer. This glass is usually used to serve a ale or lager.

Goblet

The goblet is a very diverse piece of glassware.  It can be plain glass or it can be ordained with silver or gold trim around the rim. It is a sturdy and often thick glass piece. It has a base which leads to a stem and then the cupped glass top which holds the beer. This beer glass is commonly used to serve IPAs or more fragrant ales.

Weizen Glass (Wheat Beer Glass)

This glass as you can guess is usually used to serve wheat beers.  The glass is somewhat similar to the pilsner glass but has a more open bottom.  The base of this glass is often thick glass to support the rest of the tall glass. It helps to convey the often fruity and floral fragrance of wheat beers.  The most common beer served in this glass is Blue Moon.

At its purest form the beer mug is a symbol for good times with good friends. Here is the scenario; The local bar, sometime near six pm on a Friday afternoon. Everyone just finished up a long and probably tedious week of work. The late comers are just shuffling in the door politely pushing at the bar to get their hard earned drinks. Once everyone has their mugs in hand the good times begin. I do not want to be mistaken; I do not mean everyone is getting drunk and silly. This is all about finally being able to throw around a little banter with each other, good wholesome laughter and a time without E Mails, meetings and deadlines.

These times are some of the most basic of good times. Its times like that when the problems of the world don't seem all that bad and the only thing that matters is what is going on right in front of you at the local bar with those good friends.

Another situation that outlines the power of the beer mug is the summer backyard gathering. More often than not these gathering are impromptu and not planned. Someone may have a few left over burger and hot dogs, someone else may have a few beers in the fridge, one other person may have some other BBQ elements and all of a sudden everyone is having a blast. The radio is playing your favorite tunes and that laughter is back. Maybe just maybe the host suddenly remembers the few beer mugs that are in the freezer just waiting for a time just like this.

Where I come from we have a phrase; “Porch Beers”. This is a phenomenon among a group of friends. On any given weekend day someone just needs to make the “Porch Beer” call and everyone is flocking over. We sit on the porch, laugh and joke about the past week and just enjoy our time together. We have even established a tradition of only drinking out of our own personalized beer mugs.

So while it is about the Beer Mugs Beer Glasses and the World, we must not forget the most imporant one is the World. Live for the good times with good freinds and good beer!