I started drinking beer back in high school and I drank it back then basically out of bottles or cans. Glasses were just more evidence of my under-age lawbreaking and yet another thing that need to be discarded in an unwelcome situation. Plus a bottle in hand added a little “outlaw” swagger to a night on the town and at eighteen, that’s what I was desperately going for.

It wasn’t until craft beer became my drink of choice, that I considered the beer glass itself. And even then I tended to dismiss fancy glass variations as elitist bullshit. But that was just youthful ignorance on my part – and thankfully, I’ve come a long ways since then.

Because the craft beer glass, like just about everything in our industry is evolving. And I now know that the glass you choose matters – and can heighten your drinking experience.

The first glass that really changed my thinking about beer glass design came in a Firestone Walker promotional package that showcased their now classic Pivo Hoppy Pils. The glass itself was tall – yet small in circumference. It could handle a full 12oz pour with plenty of room to capture a thick frothy head – and it showed off the beer’s intense color perfectly. Surprisingly its chimney-like construction kept the Pilsner chilled.  I don’t know why it did – but it did.

That beer glass changed everything for me and I finally got that well-crafted glass could make drinking a great beer even better. Which brings me to a set of craft beer tasting glasses that the Germany-based glassware maker, Spiegelau, kindly sent my way.

Spiegelau’s been working with glass since the 1600’s and has garnered a world-wide reputation over its many years. They’re known for crafting serious glassware and have recently put together a craft beer glass tasting kit – which, I’ve got to admit, is a brilliant commercial idea.

The kit contains four different glasses – each designed to showcase a different style. There’s an IPA glass that they worked with Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione and Sierra Nevada’s Ken Grossman to craft – and another specifically for Lagers. There’s also a deftly styled beer tulip glass that’s perfect for those barrel-aged Stouts and exotic Belgian Ales – as well as a newly designed Wheat Beer glass.

Each glass is incredibly thin and light in hand. They were all blown using non-lead crystal and sport thin rims that heighten mouth feel and taste. Each was built to maximize flavor and explode the aromatics. They’re also said to be super-durable and dishwasher safe – so there’s that too!

The Spiegelau Craft Beer Tasting Kit is a super-smart melding of old-world craft and modern design. They’re glasses that can enhance any drinking experience and who doesn’t want that?

These are some seriously handsome glasses – crafted for serious beer and serious drinking. And it’s going to be fun having them around.