Beauty or bunk? Let's put the new Sam Adams glass to task...

[Dude]

Okay, it is put up or shut up time, Mr. Koch, let's see if they stack up!

This test involves a reading every 5 minutes to compare taste, aroma and temperature between the new Sam Adams glass, an English pint, and a regular (what, American?) pint glass. Readings will be taken and recorded to ultimately decide if Mr. Koch wasted his money sending me these beautiful glasses.

The glasses from this point on will be noted as:
SA= Sam Adams glass
EP=English pint
RP=Regular pint

Here we go:

Immediately after pour:
SA: 50 deg (side note: noticeable bubbles, not evident in other glasses)
EP: 50 deg
RP: 50 deg

after 5 minutes:
SA: 53 deg, strong aroma, strong taste
EP: 51 deg, not as strong aroma or taste as SA glass
RP: 50 deg, not as strong aroma or taste as SA glass

10 mins:
SA: 54 deg, intense aroma,(side note, numerous bubbles in glass)
EP: 53 deg, subdued aroma and taste
RP: 52 deg, subdued aroma and taste

15 mins:
SA: 57 deg, still has strong aroma and taste, still has intense bubbles
EP: 55 deg, not as strong aroma and taste as SA
RP: 53 deg, not as strong aroma and taste as SA

20 mins:
SA: 57 deg, no changes
EP: 56 deg, no changes
RP: 54 deg, no changes

25 mins:
SA: 59 deg, still strong aroma and taste, constant bubbles
EP: 58 deg, no changes
RP: 56 deg, no changes

Summary/special notes:

Aesthetics on this SA glass are just awesome. It holds well, it grasps the lips and is a pleasant drink. It has a shortfall in holding the temperature, as both other pint glasses held cooler temps (although slight) longer. The SA glass really, REALLY accentuated aroma and had a more full, bodied taste and aroma throughout the session.

Verdict:

BEAUTY. I like this glass. Definitely worth the price.
(that said, I wouldn't spend 30 bones on 4 of them, but I'd buy them for a fair price)

Last note....I drank 3 Fuller's ESBs in 30 minutes, I'm drunk. :rockin: :cross:

 

[Focus]

Last note....I drank 3 Fuller's ESBs in 30 minutes, I'm drunk. :rockin: :cross:

The things we do for science!

 

[Orfy]

Do you think there is a psychological effect?

The mind can increase perceived reaction from senses if you are expecting them.
If this is so then that's a positive as well.

 

[Chillibeerman]

I like the glass, but I think it's all in my head.

 

[Blender]

Good job on the desciptions and temperature notes. I almost pulled the trigger on 4 of them by the way but reconsidered at checkout. I would definately get a couple if they were a little less though, I think they look cool as well.

 

[ryser2k]

Yeah same here... I could stomach 2 for $15 but I can't bring myself to pay $30 for some glasses.

 

[Orpheus]

Yeah same here... I could stomach 2 for $15 but I can't bring myself to pay $30 for some glasses.

At the Sam Adams website they have 4 for $30.. that IS 2 for $15!

 

[Orfy]

At the Sam Adams website they have 4 for $30.. that IS 2 for $15!

No it's not it's 4 for $30

It's only two for $15 if they sell 2 for $15.

 

[Orpheus]

Cheeky bugger!

 

[Orfy]

That's the nicest thing I've been called in ages.

 

[Funkenjaeger]

I was thrilled when I went to Pizzeria Uno the other day, randomly ordered their "UNO Amber", and it showed up in the Sam Adams glass. I didn't expect to be seeing any of those glasses anytime soon up here in the sticks. Seemed a little weird, them putting their house brand amber ale in the SA glass, but with some quick googling it appears their "uno amber" is actually Sam Adams boston ale.

 

[uglygoat]

the sa glass lets the beer warm up. the other two are prolly thicker and keep the temp more constant. doesn't the flavor/aroma get released as the temp increases a bit?

 

[Orfy]

the sa glass lets the beer warm up. the other two are prolly thicker and keep the temp more constant. doesn't the flavor/aroma get released as the temp increases a bit?

Yes it does.

That's why I drink my ale at cellar temp not fridge temp 53°f rather than 40°f

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Just won this!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=120142572248

Not a terrible price for 6. I'll let you know how I like 'em!

EDIT:
Sorry if anyone else here was bidding on these...I kinda snuck into the auction at the last minute.

 

[MrFebtober]

Do you think there is a psychological effect?

A friend and I just did a direct comparo of the new SA glasses to regular pint glasses using Widmer's W'07 PA couple nights ago. We didn't take it as far as Dude (great job Dude, BTW!) but we both formulated opinions independently and then discussed afterwards to try and avoid influencing eachother. Seeing as I recieved the glasses for free and out of the blue (for subscribing to "All About Beer" mag), and being pretty skeptical by nature, I would have been plenty content to find out it was all a just a gimick. My friend, Dave, was a bit jealous that I'd recieved two free glasses in the mail and he hadn't, so he was also secretly (and understandably) hoping the glasses wouldn't offer a better drinking experience.

Well, we both independently came to the exact same conclusions: the ale in the regular pint glass tasted slightly more bitter and the ale in the SA glass definitely had more aroma and more fruityness (the W'07 being a very fruity PA to begin with).

All in all, I would say the new Sam Adams glassware functions as advertised, plus they are very nice to hold, makes the beer look absolutely inviting, and the neat, uniform column of bubbles rising in the center of the glass is pretty cool looking.

Two such glasses is adequate for me and I probably won't purchase anymore for myself, but definitely a great gift idea of friends who enjoy great craft brew and, of course, home brew!

 

[rdwj]

EDIT:
Sorry if anyone else here was bidding on these...I kinda snuck into the auction at the last minute.

Is there any other way to do it? As far as I'm concerned, anyone bidding with more than a minute to go in the auction is just driving up the price.

Nice deal on those. I'm not sure if I'm going to purchase any. I'm pretty happy with my imperial pint glasses.

 

[joebou4860]

sam adams website has them for sale.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

I'm still waiting to see if anyone soaks them in Starsan for a few days...

 

[RichBrewer]

I'm still waiting to see if anyone soaks them in Starsan for a few days...

Why???

 

[rdwj]

Why???

To remove the "paint job" I'm guessing

 

[RadicalEd]

Yeah, Edwort posted a short whiles back about using Starsan to easily remove paint from bottles.

 

[teu1003]

if i'm not mistaken, the glass was designed specifically for sam adams boston lager ... not "everybeer". this is what the website says anyway

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

if i'm not mistaken, the glass was designed specifically for sam adams boston lager ... not "everybeer". this is what the website says anyway

So what qualities does sam adams have, relative to other beers, which would make them want to design a glass that way?

Answer: Hops, aroma, flavor.

And what do most homebrews and other microbrews have?

Answer: The same thing


I'd say this would be a good glass for many different styles. Although, I use a snifter for my maltier brews and really like that... Besides, most good beers have a glass designed for it and have for many years. Perhaps hundreds of years. There's nothing magical about that. Most wines (varietals) have specifically designed glasses as well. And, while you wouldn't drink a Cabernet from a Champagne flute, mostly, they will all accentuate some different aspect of the beverage. Beyond that, insisting on the "right" glass is mere EAC-ism

 

[Orfy]

if i'm not mistaken, the glass was designed specifically for sam adams boston lager ... not "everybeer". this is what the website says anyway

That's a marketing ploy to try and sell moe SA Boston Lager.

 

[teu1003]

in the "Beer Lovers rating Guide" by Bob Klein, here are the types of beer glasses listed (with pictures): Ale Glass; Stout Glass; Lager Mug; faceted lager mug (english style); pint lager or bitter glass;pilsner glass; wheat glass; snifters; flute glass; tulip glass.

glasses are designed for different styles ... its on the sa website ... i didnt make it up

 

[Dude]

if i'm not mistaken, the glass was designed specifically for sam adams boston lager ... not "everybeer". this is what the website says anyway

In the letter that was included with the glasses, it specifically said to enjoy a malty beverage or somethign to that effect.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

in the "Beer Lovers rating Guide" by Bob Klein, here are the types of beer glasses listed (with pictures): Ale Glass; Stout Glass; Lager Mug; faceted lager mug (english style); pint lager or bitter glass;pilsner glass; wheat glass; snifters; flute glass; tulip glass.

glasses are designed for different styles ... its on the sa website ... i didnt make it up

I don't think you made it up. I'm just saying that you're reading the statement too narrowly. I wear shoes designed for runners, but I mostly just walk. Nevertheless, they seem to perform flawlessly. I don't seem to trip and fall significantly more often while walking and wearing running shoes. I don't think I would trip and fall less as a result of wearing walking shoes. They may be designed for running, but they are certainly not limited to that application. I don't think anybody is surprised that running shoes work for walking... In fact, I think people expect that runners might walk in their shoes as well.


Instead of buying into what the marketing department says, why don't you look at the glass's characteristics and decide for yourself where they would have a good application.

Personally, I think it's a lousy choice for cellar-temp beers. They will warm too quickly.. but they are great in a pub where everything is served less than a hair above freezing.

Seems they might be nice with English ales that have a little less carbonation too.

 

[teu1003]

I don't think you made it up. I'm just saying that you're reading the statement too narrowly. I wear shoes designed for runners, but I mostly just walk. Nevertheless, they seem to perform flawlessly. I don't seem to trip and fall significantly more often while walking and wearing running shoes. I don't think I would trip and fall less as a result of wearing walking shoes. They may be designed for running, but they are certainly not limited to that application. I don't think anybody is surprised that running shoes work for walking... In fact, I think people expect that runners might walk in their shoes as well.


Instead of buying into what the marketing department says, why don't you look at the glass's characteristics and decide for yourself where they would have a good application.

Personally, I think it's a lousy choice for cellar-temp beers. They will warm too quickly.. but they are great in a pub where everything is served less than a hair above freezing.

Seems they might be nice with English ales that have a little less carbonation too.

i think you are reading MY comment too narrowly ... i'm just forgiving SA in advance. the website says its designed for boston lager. cool ... i drink all beers from a paper cup. i imagine the bad ones taste bad and the good ones taste good. cant imagine why the glass makes a difference but i imagine that many people do. sa obviously does.

 

[doublegun]

I mentioned them to my wife, and a set showed up. They're worth the money. Sam Adam's is a huge supporter of homebrew, and they do make a passable beer or two. I'm not above passing a few bucks to a commercial brewery, if they're scratching our backs. I call them our "racing glasses" and have already enjoyed a few IPA and weisen fueled buzzes from them.

 

[EdWort]

I'm still waiting to see if anyone soaks them in Starsan for a few days...

Me too since I'm in Texas and didn't get any even though I'm an AHA member.