How to taste craft beer and choose the right glass - Complete guide

Craft beer is not something to be drunk in a hurry. It is to be savored. Each style has its own personality, its own bouquet of flavors, its own story – and the glass you drink it from can make the difference between “just a cold beer” and a memorable experience.

Just as a good wine needs a suitable glass, a craft beer reveals all its nuances when served in the right container.
At Zăganu, we like to say that every beer has its own “theatre of flavors” – and the right glass is the stage on which it best expresses itself. The head, flavors, temperature and even the visual appearance are influenced by the shape of the glass.

In this comprehensive guide, we show you how to truly enjoy your favorite beer and what type of glass suits each style of beer – from IPA and Stout, to Lager, Belgian Ale or Tripel. And, of course, we recommend some special glasses from our collection, designed just for this purpose.

Why the way we drink craft beer matters

Craft beer is not just a drink – it is an expression of the creativity and craftsmanship of the brewer. Each style has its own aromatic profile, a balance between bitter, sweet, fruity, floral or spicy notes. To discover these details, the way we serve and drink it plays an essential role.

The glass, temperature, pouring technique, and even the time spent tasting influence the overall experience. The wrong glass can dull the flavors or affect the formation of the head, while the right glass can amplify every quality of the beer.

Unlike industrial beers, created for quick and standardized consumption, craft beer is designed to be enjoyed leisurely – like a quality wine or a specialty coffee.

How to taste craft beer - Techniques and tips

Tasting craft beer is more than just drinking it. For us, every sip is a moment of reconnecting with the natural ingredients, the craftsmanship, and the story behind each Zăganu beer.

To appreciate the complexity of the drink, a few steps can be followed:

1. Visual observation: Pour the beer responsibly into a suitable glass, so that it forms at least 3 fingers of foam, to “break” the excess CO2 and then analyze the color (pale, golden, copper, brown or black). Evaluate the transparency and intensity of the color, which indicates the type of malt used. Examine the foam, the density and persistence of which can indicate the protein content and the quality of fermentation.

2. Olfactory analysis: Bring the glass to your nose and take a deep breath. Identify the malt notes (bread, caramel, chocolate, coffee), the hop aroma (citrus, flowers, pine, herbs), and the secondary aromas (fruit, spices, smoke).

3. Taste and mouthfeel: Take a small sip and let the beer coat your tongue. Observe the balance between the sweetness of the malt and the bitterness of the hops. Analyze the texture (light, velvety, creamy, or full-bodied). Evaluate the persistence of the flavors.

Serving temperature is important. Each style of beer has an optimal temperature:

• Lager and pilsner beers: 4-7°C

• Pale Ale and IPA: 7-10°C

• Red Ales, Brown Ales, Stouts and Porters: 10-13°C

For a successful tasting, it is recommended to avoid certain practices:

• Avoiding strong perfumes, which can interfere with the flavors of the beer .

• Avoiding sweet, spicy or seasoned foods before tasting, which will inevitably influence the taste.

• Refrain from smoking at least 3 hours beforehand.

Full use of the senses in tasting

Tasting craft beer is a multisensory experience. In addition to taste and smell, touch and mouthfeel are essential.

• Beer texture: Notice how the beer sits on your tongue – is it light, velvety, creamy, full-bodied, or dense? This helps you understand the malt and the fermentation process.

• Taste balance: Try to identify how well the sweet (malt) notes match the bitterness of the hops. A balanced beer will provide a pleasant sensation, without one component being overly dominant.

• Flavor persistence: After you sip, notice how long the flavors stay in your mouth and how they evolve – a sign of the beer's quality and complexity.

• Recognizing Defects: Watch for unpleasant or strange tastes, such as metallic taste, unusual acidity, unwanted sourness, or a “stale” feeling. These may indicate manufacturing problems or improper storage.

Correct casting technique – steps and tips

Optimal tasting starts with how we pour the beer into the glass. Yes, never, ever, ever drink beer from the bottle. Here's why:

• Flavors are not released properly. The nose cannot sense the flavors, which limits the taste experience.

• Foam formation is limited. Foam helps release CO₂ and flavor. Without a glass, the CO₂ will be released in your stomach, and the carbonation can become aggressive - causing bloating or discomfort. (“I don’t drink beer, it makes me bloated” - here’s why 🙂)

• Risk of contamination - The mouth of the bottle/can may be dirty (storage, handling).

• You lose the visual experience. You don't see the color, the turbidity, the effervescence – all of which are part of appreciating beer.

A correct pour into the glass therefore allows the release of aromas and the formation of a healthy foam, which protects the beer from oxidation and intensifies the sensory experience.

How to pour beer correctly:

• Tilt the glass at a 45° angle and slowly pour the beer down the inside wall of the glass.

• When the glass is half full , gradually raise it to vertical and continue pouring the beer into the center of the glass.

• Allow a foam to form about 2-3 cm high. The foam is a natural shield against oxidation and helps preserve the flavors.

What to avoid:

• Pour the beer smoothly, on the edge of the glass, without forming foam.

• Pouring too quickly or forcefully can lead to excessive foaming and total loss of gas. We are only trying to “get rid” of excess CO2.

• Shaking beer before serving – affects carbonation and flavor.

Now that we've learned how to taste craft beer , let's focus on a crucial aspect that can significantly enhance the experience: choosing the right glass.

How to choose the right glass for each style of beer

The glass is not just a container – it is a tasting instrument. In our experience, the right shape can reveal aromatic surprises even for those who think they know their favorite beer. That is why we have created a collection of glasses adapted to each style. The shape, thickness of the glass, the rim, the stem and the dimensions influence:

• Foam quantity and stability.

• The intensity of the perceived aroma.

• The color and perlage of the beer.

• Cooling or warming beer in your hand.

What aspects need to be taken into account:

• The shape of the glass mouth – a narrow mouth retains flavors better, a wide one releases them quickly

• Volume – larger glasses allow for better aeration of the beer

• The stem – useful for holding the glass without warming the beer

• Thin lip – provides a smoother and more precise feel on the lips

For example:

• A light, blond beer , like a Pilsner , tastes best in a tall glass, which highlights its clarity and perlage.

• A beer with complex flavors , like a Belgian Dubbel, requires a domed glass that captures the flavors and preserves the foam.

• For an intensely aromatic IPA , a Teku or tulip glass is ideal, which concentrates the aroma and allows for a refined tasting.

Recommendations for choosing a glass:

• Tulip Glass: Ideal for beers with complex flavors like NEIPA or Red Ales. Its shape helps to concentrate the flavors and form a head.

• Pilsner Glass: Perfect for lagers and pilsners. Its tall shape highlights the clarity, carbonation, and light flavors.

• Snifter Glass: Recommended for strong beers like Porter or Stout. Its rounded shape concentrates the rich flavors.

• Weizen glass: Specially for wheat beers (Hefeweizen). Its tall shape accentuates the specific aromas and foam.

For a good experience, a varied set of beer glasses that includes these basic types is helpful. The right glass can enhance the tasting experience.

Here are some recommendations from our collection:

• Teku Zaganu Glass – 300 ml : Considered one of the best craft beer glasses, it is ideal for IPA, stout, lager or porter. Its conical shape and thin rim amplifies the flavors, and the stem prevents the beer from warming while adding elegance.

• Zaganu Brussels Glass – 300 ml : a classic goblet glass, perfect for Belgian Ale, Dubbel or Tripel. Refined shape, solid stem, dense foam and impeccable presentation.

• Bavaria glass – 400 ml : inspired by German tradition, with a tall and slightly conical shape, it is suitable for blonde beers, Pilsner, German Lager or Helles, highlighting the perlage and clarity.

Enjoy beer the way it deserves! Choose the glass that suits your favorite style and turn every tasting into a complete experience.

Tasting glasses vs. casual drinking glasses

Not all craft beer moments are ceremonial – sometimes you just want a good beer to enjoy in peace, not a complex tasting. This is where the difference between tasting glasses and casual drinking glasses comes in . Teku, Snifter or Tulip glasses are ideal for tasting – they bring out the flavors, retain the foam and direct the beer to the right areas of the tongue. They are the perfect choice when you want to really understand a new beer.

However, for a relaxed evening with friends, a pint or mug is more appropriate – it offers strength, generous volume, and a sense of familiarity. Yes, you lose a few nuances, but you gain in comfort and atmosphere.

The ideal choice? Having both options in your home – a glass that speaks to your senses and another that speaks to your mood.

How to pair craft beer with food correctly

The beer tasting experience can be significantly enhanced when you choose the right food to accompany it.

• IPA and hard cheeses: The bitterness and intense flavors of an IPA go great with aged cheeses, like cheddar or gouda.

• Stout and chocolate desserts: The rich, slightly bittersweet notes of a stout pair perfectly with the intense taste of dark chocolate or cocoa-based desserts.

• Lager and light meals: For a refreshing lager, opt for light dishes such as salads, fish or grilled chicken.

• Belgian Ale and Spicy Dishes: The complex, fruity flavors of a Belgian Ale can balance out spicy or spicy dishes well, such as dishes with Asian or Mexican sauces.

Practical tips:

• Don't be afraid to experiment – ​​tastes differ, and pairing is also a matter of personal preference.

• Try not to overwhelm the beer with too heavy or flavorful dishes, so as not to lose the subtleties of the taste.

Enjoy craft beer the right way

Craft beer deserves to be savored in every detail – from the rich aroma and generous foam, to the glass you drink it from. The right glass not only amplifies the experience, but helps you discover all the nuances that make each beer a unique story.

If you want to take your wine tasting experience to the next level, it's worth investing in a glass that perfectly matches your favorite style. We've created the Zăganu glass collection with every detail of tasting in mind – from the way the foam forms to the way the glass's rim guides your first sip.

They are specially designed for craft beer enthusiasts and combine elegant design with functionality that highlights the aroma and appearance of the beer. Choose a glass that inspires you and enjoy a authentic craft beer , as it deserves!