Why Does Beer Taste Better in Glass? We Will Find Out the Reasons
If you love beer, chances are you have a favorite way to enjoy it: on tap, from a can, or in a bottle. Both draft and canned beer have their perks, but many people claim that beer just tastes better when it’s poured into a glass. Why does beer taste better in glass? Is there a specific reason behind this, or is it simply a matter of personal preference?
Key Takeaways
- Glass is the best option for serving beer because it will enhance the taste and has a larger surface area.
- While pouring your beer into a glass, it is recommended to hold your glass at a 45-degree angle and pour the beer into the center of the glass. Gradually straighten the glass as you pour the beer halfway.
No matter if you opt for a pint glass, Pilsner glass, tulip glass, or any other type of glass, serving your beer in a glass can elevate your experience by enhancing the aroma, flavor, and appearance, as well as helping to maintain the ideal temperature. When you pour beer into a glass, the flavor often becomes more pronounced compared to drinking it straight from a can, bottle, or tap.
But why does beer seem to taste better in a glass? In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons why your favorite brew seems to have a different taste when served in a glass.
Why Does Beer Taste Better In Glass? Here’s The Reasons!
When making glass became cheaper, the production of glass mugs increased, replacing the earlier clay mugs. This shift led to glass mugs becoming the main way people drank beer. Today, there are various types of beer glasses, each being a better choice than drinking directly from a can or bottle.
Now, let’s examine some of the reasons why using glass is the superior option for enjoying your beer compared to other alternatives.
Enhance the Taste of the Beer
Is beer tastier when drunk from a bottle or a can? It’s neither. Beer tastes its best when you pour it into a glass. Our ability to enjoy the flavor of beer relies on various senses, including taste, smell, texture, sight, and even sound. When you drink straight from a can or bottle, you miss out on the beer’s aroma, color, foam, and the delightful sound of bubbles rising during a good pour. That’s why using the right glass to pour your beer ensures you get the full sensory experience.
When you pour your beer into a glass from a can, bottle, or tap, the larger surface area of the glass helps release stronger aromas. The foam that forms on top of the beer when poured into the glass intensifies the aroma and acts like a cover for the beer.
Beer Tastes Better in a Glass Because it Keeps the Temperature
First and foremost, it’s important not to make your beer too cold. When it’s overly chilly, it can cover up a lot of the unique flavors of the beer and take away from the overall experience. It’s a good idea to find a temperature that suits your preference.
The temperature of your beer plays a significant role in how much you enjoy it and the flavors you perceive. Cold taste buds aren’t as effective as warm ones, meaning that the colder the beer, the less likely you are to notice some of the more subtle flavors in the brew.
Most beers tend to taste better when they’re very cold. Additionally, lower temperatures can make the carbonation last longer. If your beer remains cold, it will retain its fizziness, which enhances the overall taste. However, it’s worth noting that some beers are better enjoyed at slightly warmer or cooler temperatures.
No Metallic Scent Interfering With the Taste of Your Beer
One common complaint about drinking beer from a can is that it often tastes metallic, which can be quite off-putting. While beer boasts a range of complex flavors, the metallic taste shouldn’t be one of them.
There’s a prevalent belief that the aluminium from the cans can seep into the beer, causing it to have a metallic flavor. However, the insides of beer cans are typically coated with a polymer lining, ensuring that the liquid never actually touches the metal.
Nonetheless, our sense of taste is heavily influenced by our sense of smell. Therefore, if you’re detecting a metallic taste while drinking beer from a can, it’s likely because you have a sensitive sense of smell and you’re picking up on the aluminum’s scent.
A simple solution to this predicament is to pour the beer into a glass, as this can help eliminate the metallic taste and enhance your overall beer-drinking experience.
Less Bloating
When you poured the beer vigorously into the glass, the carbonation ended up fizzing not in your stomach but in the glass itself. This outcome is closely linked to how you pour your beer.
A helpful method to minimize foam and keep the head of the beer low is by tilting your glass and pouring the beer down the side.
Convenience to Drink
Let’s consider convenience. While beer might sit in your fridge, it’s often at its happiest when it’s on the move. It enjoys being part of parties, camping trips, fishing adventures, and any other fun outings with friends. But when you’re out and about, which is better: bottles or cans?
When it comes to convenience, bottles come with some significant drawbacks. They can be quite heavy, and they’re prone to breaking, causing a messy situation, especially if they shatter in the back of your car. This also makes them less suitable for many beaches and campsites. Additionally, opening glass bottles can sometimes be tricky. You either need a bottle opener or have to deal with twist-off caps, which, while more convenient than regular bottle caps, can still unexpectedly come loose or get stuck.
That’s why opting for a glass is often the best choice for a smoother beer-drinking experience. No more struggling to open a bottle—drinking from a glass provides a hassle-free option that can make your beer moments even more enjoyable.
Keeping the Natural Inside and Out
Beer is crafted from natural ingredients, and the same goes for glass. Comprised of sand, soda ash, limestone, and recycled glass (cullet), it doesn’t require any extra synthetic liners, eliminating the risk of harmful chemicals seeping into your drink. Glass shields the beer’s quality, maintaining its original taste as intended by the brewer.
In addition to its natural composition, glass is endlessly recyclable, reusable, and can be returned for use dozens of times. This characteristic supports a circular approach to production and encourages mindful consumption practices.
Don’t Have to Worry About the BPA
Some beer packaging is coated with polymers to prevent the beer from coming into direct contact with the packaging material. However, these coatings can be significant sources of exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly used in making resins and plastics.
BPA has the potential to migrate in small quantities into canned beer, posing risks to your health. It is a synthetic chemical known to disrupt testosterone and thyroid hormones, potentially leading to a range of health issues, including breast cancer, obesity, liver damage, reproductive problems, reduced sperm count, prostate inflammation, thyroid cysts, and pituitary gland cysts.
Even beverages labeled as “BPA-Free” can still contain minimal traces of BPA. Among all canned drinks, beer tends to have the highest concentration of BPA in its can lining. Although BPA is typically tasteless and odorless, the peace of mind that comes with drinking from a bottle without worrying about potential health issues is noteworthy.
While it may seem like a minor inconvenience, the experience of taste can be as much mental as it is physical. Just as your mother’s home-cooked meals often seem to taste better, the psychological aspect of taste can be a powerful factor.
For these reasons, if you brew your beer, we highly recommend using a glass to enjoy your drink.
Better Experience of Drinking the Beer from a Glass
Drinking beer is more than just a matter of taste; it’s an entire experience, and part of that experience involves aesthetics. When it comes to appearance, glasses tend to outshine cans, as cans are primarily useful for portability.
Glass is one of the few packaging materials that can evoke an emotional connection and elevate any occasion, whether big or small, into a genuine celebration. Additionally, beer glasses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with different types of beers often requiring specific types of glasses to enhance the overall drinking experience.
If you’re aiming for a more sophisticated and elegant look while enjoying your beer, using a beer glass is the way to go. When you appreciate the appearance of your beer, you’re more likely to appreciate its taste as well.
It Has a Larger Surface Area to Enhance the Taste
If you want to savor the finest flavor, choosing a glass is typically the better choice. This is because glasses offer a larger surface area for the release of CO2, ultimately enhancing the taste of the beer.
That’s why numerous bars recommend drinking beer from a glass as it can maximize the beer’s flavor potential. Moreover, different types of beer are often paired with specific glass styles, as each type of glass can enhance the taste and complement the characteristics of the beer.
Also read: The Ultimate Craft Beer Glass Guide to Enjoy Every Sip of the Beer
How to Pour Your Beer From a Bottle or a Can into a Glass
So, we already learn that drinking beer from a glass is better and we know why it tastes good when it’s in a glass. But now our next question is what is the right way to pour your favorite beer into a glass, whether it’s from a bottle or a can?
Before you fully indulge in a glass of beer, there are several key points to consider. Firstly, ensure you have the right temperature. While most beers are initially served at temperatures below 40 degrees, they tend to reveal their best flavors when enjoyed between 50 and 55 degrees. Opt for a room-temperature glass as frozen glasses can be excessively cold, potentially unclean, and can disrupt the beer’s carbonation. Let the beer warm in your hand as you drink for an optimal experience.
Another important point to consider is making sure you have the appropriate glass for the specific style of beer and the occasion. Having the right glassware can significantly enhance both the flavor and overall experience of your beer.
Now we’re talking about how to pour your beer into a glass. The frothy layer on the surface of your beer, known as the head, beckons you with the beer’s rich aromas and flavors. Surprisingly, up to 75% of our perception of taste comes from the aroma. A proper pour is crucial for ensuring an enhanced flavor experience. Hold your glass at a 45-degree angle and pour the beer into the center of the glass. Gradually straighten the glass as you pour the beer halfway. Finish pouring the beer into the upright glass, leaving about ½ to 1 ½ inches of foam on top.
If you want to taste the best craft beer served in the right glass, make sure to stop by Canard Taproom located on Jalan Nakula in Kuta, Bali. Our focus is on serving excellent beer in the right glass, accompanied by a selection of food pairings that enhance the flavors of Canard’s craft beers.
Don’t miss the chance to taste the diverse range of our Canard craft beers, including the Strawberry Gose, Session IPA, and Porter. We take pride in our top-notch brewing techniques and high-quality ingredients. For more information, visit our website to explore our offerings in detail.