Beer mugs

The range here runs from 28 to 60 cl, and in practice that means two categories. The 28 and 29 cl tankards are the small size: a half, handy when the beer needs to stay cold because you finish it quickly. The 50 to 60 cl models are the pint size and the classic tankard size, and that is where the emphasis lies.

Watch three things when choosing. The handle should leave room for four fingers, otherwise the weight rests on your knuckles. The base may be thick, because that keeps the beer cool longer and makes the glass tip-resistant on a crowded table. And the wall determines the weight: thick-walled pressed tankards already weigh a fair bit empty, while thinner-walled models drink more pleasantly but insulate less.

Rinse the mug with cold water before pouring. A mug has a lot of glass and therefore a lot of mass, so a lukewarm mug draws noticeably more cold from the beer than a thin glass does. Then tilt it, pour against the side until it is about two-thirds full, and set it upright to build the head.

For cocktails, the mug is rarely the right glass: they are designed for ice, and a mug does not have the right shape for that. The exception is the Moscow mule, which is traditionally served in a mug with a handle, for the same reason as beer. If you want something stronger with your beer, the kopstoot is the classic combination: a small glass of jenever alongside the beer, not in it.

Beer is demanding about its glass. Grease is the enemy: one greasy fingerprint on the inside and the head collapses within a minute. So wash tankards separately from greasy crockery, use little rinse aid and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

The handle is the weak point during washing. Place tankards in the rack so the handles don't touch, because that is where they snap off. Let them drain upside down on a rack rather than drying them, because a cloth leaves lint and grease behind and you will notice it on the next head.

Are you looking for a beer glass without a handle? You’ll find a much wider selection among the beer glasses. For tulip glasses, goblets, and shapes that vary by beer style, see the specialty beer glasses. If you want to serve a whole table at once instead of one glass at a time, the pitchers are ready. Searching by brand? Then check out the sturdier hospitality glasses from Onis and the pressed-glass models from Arcoroc.