Serving

Serving Suggestions for Celebrating the Season

The following are some tips for serving beer:

• Buy fresh. Remember what feels good tastes even better. Buying locally produced beers will ensure you purchase a product that has traveled the least amount of distance.
• Buy large bottles. Many craft brewers offer beers in 22 ounce or 750 milliliter bottles that offer a shape and size perfect for sharing at the dinner table.
• Use a carafe. If the beers you want aren't available in larger bottles you'll still want to present the beer in a way that encourages sharing. A perfect way to do this is to pour smaller bottles into a carafe or clear plastic pitcher that can be passed around the table. Just don't put out too much beer at one time: one to one-and-a-half beers per person should be enough beer on the table at the beginning of the meal.
• Options Are Nice.  Just as some like dark meat and some like white meat, you’ll find that some of your dinner companions may prefer one style while the others go for something different. Offering two different choices can help to keep everyone happy.

Glassware and why it is so important

To check out a fantastic resource listing 28 of the worlds’ major beer styles and their proper serving temperature and glassware, see the Beer & Food Matching Chart (PDF file, ~229 KB). This is an incredible resource on pairing beer and food. You may view the electronic PDF version; or if you would like a printed version, you may order copies of the American Craft Beer and Food Guide brochure.

Why certain glassware?

1. Conical shaped Pilsener glasses actually help wedge in or support the head.
2. Glass serving size usually correlates with beer strength (inverse relationship). 
3. Curved glasses at the top (like a wine glass) help concentrate aromas.