The stange, the willibecher and other German beer glasses

Why the glass matters in Germany

Germany has many regional beer styles. Many come with their own glass. The habit is partly tradition and partly practical. The right shape and size keep a beer at the temperature, carbonation and head it is meant to have from the first sip to the last.

Most German glasses also carry a printed fill line showing the measure, such as 0.2 l, 0.3 l or 0.5 l. The beer comes up to the line and the foam sits above it. That is why German bartenders take their time with a pour: the head is expected, but so is the full measure underneath.

The stange: small and slim for Kölsch

The stange, meaning rod or pole, is a tall, narrow, straight sided glass that usually holds just 0.2 litres. It is the traditional glass for Kölsch, the pale, delicate top fermented beer from Cologne, at around 4.8% ABV.

The small size is the point. A light, softly fruity beer like Kölsch loses its freshness and chill quickly, so it is served in small glasses that are finished in a few minutes. In Cologne's brewery taverns, waiters carry full stangen in a round tray called a kranz and replace your empty glass with a full one until you place your beer mat on top of the glass to say you have had enough.

The willibecher: the everyday glass

The willibecher is probably the most common beer glass in Germany. It is a simple, sturdy glass that widens gently from a narrow base and then curves in slightly near the rim. It comes in several sizes, often 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 litres. It turns up in pubs, restaurants and homes across the country.

It is an all-rounder. The slight inward curve near the top helps hold the head and a little aroma. The narrow base makes it stable and easy to stack. Helles, export lagers, dunkel and many regional beers are poured into it. If you only own one German style glass, it is likely to be this one.

Weizen glass, pokal and becher

• Weizen glass. Tall, narrow at the base and wider at the top, usually 0.5 l. It gives a wheat beer's big head room to rise and shows off the haze. Our guide on pouring a German wheat beer covers the pour.
• Pokal. A stemmed glass, often tapering, used for Pils and bock. The stem keeps the hand off the beer and the shape holds a firm head.
• Becher. A short, straight sided tumbler, traditional for Altbier in Düsseldorf, often 0.25 l. Altbier is copper coloured and lightly bitter, so the small, simple glass keeps it fresh.

The Maß and the mug

The Maß is the one litre glass mug famous from Bavarian beer gardens and Munich's Oktoberfest. It is thick, heavy and has a handle so your hand stays off the glass. Thick glass also holds the cold, which helps on a warm afternoon. A Maß holds a full litre of beer, so it is a lot to drink. Sharing with a friend or choosing a half litre is perfectly normal.

Smaller handled mugs, sometimes called seidel or krug, hold half a litre and turn up in traditional pubs across southern Germany. Stoneware versions, the classic steins, keep beer cool but hide its colour and head.

Why size is part of the design

German glass sizes are not random. A delicate pale beer at 4.5 to 5% ABV warms and loses its sparkle quickly, so it gets a small glass: 0.2 l for Kölsch, 0.25 l for Altbier, 0.3 l for many lagers in the north. A beer drunk slowly over a long afternoon in a Bavarian beer garden gets a thick mug that holds the cold. A wheat beer with a huge head gets a tall glass with room for the foam.

The same thinking works anywhere. In a hot Indian city, a smaller glass refilled often keeps beer colder and fresher than a big one left to sit. That is the German approach in one line: match the glass to how fast the beer will be drunk.

Using German glasses at home

You do not need every glass. A 0.3 l willibecher works for most lagers. A 0.5 l weizen glass covers wheat beers. A small stange is a nice addition if you enjoy light, delicate beers like Kölsch or a crisp pale lager, since a small glass keeps them cold in Indian heat.

Keep the glasses beer clean and rinse them with cold water before each pour. Our guide on washing beer glasses by hand shows how. Avoid storing them in the freezer. Cool from the fridge is plenty.

Start with one glass

If you buy one German glass this month, make it a 0.3 l willibecher. Pour your usual lager into it and into your normal tumbler side by side. Compare the head, the aroma and how cold the beer stays. That simple test shows why Germans take their glassware seriously.

Common questions

What is a stange glass?

A stange is a tall, narrow, straight sided glass that usually holds 0.2 litres. It is traditional for Kölsch from Cologne.

What is a willibecher?

A willibecher is a common German beer glass that widens from a narrow base and curves in slightly near the rim. It comes in several sizes and suits most lagers.

What glass is used for Altbier?

Altbier from Düsseldorf is traditionally served in a short, straight sided glass called a becher, often 0.25 litres.

How big is a Maß?

A Maß holds one litre. It is the heavy glass mug used in Bavarian beer gardens and at Oktoberfest.