Spiegelau, the 500 year-old company focused on the perfection of beer-specific glassware, announces the launch of the WORLD’S FIRST Stout-specific beer glass. Developed in collaboration with Rogue Ales and Left Hand Brewing Company, Spiegelau’s latest innovation is poised to become the new standard for enjoying premium Stout-style beers.
The new Spiegelau x Left Hand Brewing Company x Rogue Ales Stout Glass was developed over a yearlong series of design workshops and tasting panels led by Riedel crystal glassware owner Georg Riedel and Spiegelau VP, Matthew Rutkowski. Eric Wallace of Left Hand Brewing Company, Brett Joyce of Rogue Ales and experts from each brewery tested a selection of stouts ranging from Rogue Ales’ Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout to Left Hand Brewing Company’s Milk Stout.
Matthew Rutkowski shares, “Witnessing Stout beers explode onto the American craft beer scene was a light bulb moment for me… I realized we could do for Stout what we did for IPAs. Left Hand and Rogue are known leaders and innovators in the field of Stout brewing, so they were obvious partners, and I was thrilled when they wanted to get on board.”
Hundreds of glasses pulled from Spiegelau’s glassware archive were tested against a variety of the brewers’ own stouts with the ultimate challenge of finding a glass shape that had the most profound effect on the aromas and flavor profiles of each Stout beer. After narrowing the archive glass options down to a handful of shapes, Spiegelau’s German factory created six, final prototypes for testing all stouts, varying by several millimeters in height, bowl width, angle and capacity. After many deliberations, Left Hand Brewing Company and Rogue Ales separately and unanimously determined that the Prototype “C” Stout glass delivered the optimal taste, aroma and mouth feel to enhance Stout beers.
Brett Joyce of Rogue Ales shares, “John Maier, our brew master, was intimately involved with the tasting and selection process of the stout glass. His proprietary palate and knowledge of the ingredients used in brewing was essential in choosing the right glass to highlight the rich, roasted malts that we grow on Rogue Farms… The final glass that Spiegelau designed and we selected highlights the flavors and nuances of stouts best.”
Eric Wallace, President and Co-Founder of Left Hand Brewing Company agrees, “At Left Hand, we are committed to constantly improving beer quality and the beer drinker’s experience… Glassware that directly impacts beer flavor is yet another step towards our goal, and Left Hand Brewing is proud to be a part of this.”
“Spiegelau is thrilled to have worked with both Left Hand Brewing and Rogue Ales in creating the world’s first stout-specific beer glass. Their expertise in the development of this unique glass was invaluable.” – Matthew Rutkowski, VP of Spiegelau
The pint glasses’ moment is over!
- Voluminous, open bottom glass base drives beer and aromatic foam upward into main bowl
- Ultra-pure quartz material makes for unsurpassed clarity and flawless, true color presentation of stout beer
- Wider, conical bowl significantly amplifies aromas and also provides superior flow to mid palate, improving the taste, mouth feel and finish of complex stout beers
- Stark, angular shape and open base creates dramatic visual cascading effect into glass as beer is poured
Spiegelau’s Stout Glass is available for purchase through SpiegelauUSA and retailers nationwide. Branded versions with brewery logos are available through Rogue Ales and Left Hand Brewery respectively.
So this is interesting. Beer-specific glasses exist for hundreds of years. They might not be designed by Riedel, but they exist nevertheless…