I managed to get a set of 4 big snifters and 6 tulip type glasses my question is are these suitable to serve stouts in the snifters and IPA's in the tulips? I'm just not very educated when it comes to proper beer glassware.
Not sure whys you mean by snifter. I have same attitude as stated above...but I routinely put IPA in a tulip and believe it is "to style". I also drink stouts out of a tulip and have always thought that was to style also.
This is your basic snifter. Traditionally associated with spirits and big wines they have become popular amongst beer enthusiasts.
I have a few - purloined from various dispensing establishments, I confess - and enjoy them with my bigger ipas and definitely my nitro stout...
Perhaps i'm an imperfect beer geek but I'll happily drink any beer out of a snifter or tulip. We've got more snifters in my kitchen than other more traditional beer glassware. I wouldn't mind having more British style imperial pint glasses or chalices but I think the snifters are pretty versatile. I'm just not a fan of shaker pint glasses, especially the ones that only hold 12oz-14oz that the bars want to serve "pints" in.
The purpose of the snifter is to enhance the aroma of the beverage in it. The nice wide body of the glass allows the liquid to "splash around" aerate and release the aroma. Then the "closed" mouth of the glass concentrates that aroma.
If you have a beer that you want the aroma to be part of the experience of drinking it, then a snifter would be appropriate.
A simple guide to glassware can be found here if you want to get in the ballpark of what beer goes with what glass. Take it with a grain of salt because personal preference, occasion, and availability of glassware always change. Not every glass looks or are constructed the same either, which means that some are better suited for a style than others. For example, they don't have Imperial Stout listed under the mug section. I happen to have a mug that is perfect for Imperial Stouts because the sides are not dimpled like the one in the picture and are not curved like a snifter. It gets much better head formation and lacing despite the lower carbonation and higher alcohol content. I get a better drinking experience with it despite that website saying it's not the ideal glass. I also have a DFH pint glass that is not shaped like pint glass they have listed. It has a top that is curved a bit inward like a snifter. There are many beers that I like drinking out of this glass, but there are others where I prefer the "standard" pint glass that opens at the top normally. According to that list I could drink an English Mild out of it, but I would prefer a different pint glass because of the shape. In the end you are paying for the beer so you might as well make enjoy it in the glass you like.