The last of my Belgian Trinity. I bought glasses from Straffe Hendrik and Duvel because I loved the beers. I bought this one from Westmalle because it looks stunning.

See that pattern cut into the glass near the stem? I have no idea what it is, but the lozenge-shaped indents are just big enough to take your thumb and index finger. So it sits in your hand with great balance. And looks stunning.

It gets used for every Belgian and Belgique beer I drink. Ones where you want to savour the aroma by shoving your face in. Ones where you take a long, slow sip and have that "aaaaaahhhh! Beer!" moment. And you look down at the glass you're cradling and think: that looks stunning.


Thanks to beermerchants for the bottle of Tripel that went into that stunning glass tonight >

The Martin's Hotel in Brugge has a lot to answer for. It's where I first drank Straffe Hendrik and Duvel. I enjoyed the former and was captivated by the latter: for the rest of the long weekend I ordered Duvel wherever I went and became entranced by the glass. A bonnie-bottomed tulip with outrageous head-space, all designed to make the beer shine.

It became the second ever beer glass that I bought. And it still gets used; I couldn't think of drinking Duvel out of anything else. Every time I drink from it, I'm transported back to Brugge and my 2005 beer epiphany. Romanticism combines with memory every time; the smell of mayo on salty frites, the dry warmth of patio heaters, the silent service where a tilted head was signal enough for another round to be brought over.

But can you improve an iconic design? What if the glass became canvas? Since 2010, Duvel have been inviting artists to make their mark. The Duvel Collection has already involved the likes of Parra and Denis Meyers producing eclectic works; this year sees more limited edition pieces released. Sculptor Arne Quinze designed the one in the rear of the picture below; by far and away my favourite though is the stunner in red and black typography by Stefan Glerum.

(and if you only follow one hyperlink on this page, go take a look at Stefan's seven deadly sins).

Think you can do better? Then give it a go. Duvel are running a competition to find a design that will be added to the collection. The design kit and full competition details can be found on the collection's website. Closing date is 31st December 2011 and you need to be an adult resident in the UK, Belgium, France or the Netherlands to enter.

I'm off to sharpen my crayons...



Many thanks to Duvel Moortgat for the Duvel Collection glassware and Beermerchants for the beers.


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Breweriana. It sounds like such a magical place. You know; take a wrong turning back from the toilets, open a suspiciously-wardrobe-like door and you're there. A lion sings and fonts spring forth and spout the best beers in the world....

Oh. Wait. I see what I've done there. That's not what breweriana is.

In essence, it's anything with a brewery or beer brand name on it. And when I say anything, I mean anything. Pumpclips, labels, adverts, windows... breweriana encompasses a broad beery church. As I've mentioned before, collecting doesn't really float my boat but last weekend saw curiosity get the better of me. CAMRA were holding their annual breweriana auction just down the road from me in Burton, so I thought I'd tag along and see if I could snaffle a bargain.

Perhaps a long-lost crate of King's Ale? One of those salmon-pink porcelain mugs so beloved of Orwell, going for a song? A quick shufti at the list of lots revealed lesser splendours for my tastes, but I still thought it was worth a crack.

Burton's Town Hall was fairly quiet and it seemed clear that many in attendance were usual faces at these kind of events. Local MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, Andrew Griffiths, gave a rousing introduction about how vital brewing was to this country; sadly I didn't get the chance to talk High Strength Beer Duty with him. Another time, maybe.

There were a few early lots that I had an eye for. Sadly, the price of a few books and a rather bizarre Gibbs Mew 'Blue Keg' plastic advert sign soon spiralled beyond my limited budget. It's tempting to get auction-fever and pay over-your-own-odds for something; likewise, to bid and buy anything for the sake of it. But I wasn't being saddled carrying a Tetley's Mild pub window home on the train with me. Close call, though...

A disappointing day? Far from it. I'd arranged with auctioneer Mike Peterson to collect some commemorative bottles I'd bought from his collection. They'll find their way into the Christmas stockings of friends, although I'm keeping the Home Brewery D.H. Lawrence Centenary Ale - you take the toper out of Eastwood, but you'll never take Eastwood out of this toper.

And, in a great twist of fate, I actually bought something from one of the stands which I'd have happily bid for. A ten-sided handled glass, bang-on my budget. This one being stamped 301 for the West Riding of Yorkshire. Which is why I'm drinking Timothy Taylor Landlord out of it tonight and really rather enjoying it.

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I try not to keep hold of many beer glasses. When I moved house last year, boxes of them went to charity, to ebay and to the skip. Cupboard space at the new gaff was at a premium. So the ones that made the move were the happy few that had some technical or emotional significance.

So I thought I'd photograph them, with a beer. Reconnect with why they're more to me than just another vessel. I bought a soft light tent, some spotlamps, dug out the tripod. And you know what?

Photographing glassware is a bastard.

First time I tried, I spent ninety minutes collecting blurry snaps and then spent another three hours drinking a fridge-full of beers. Not exactly dedication to the cause.

This time, it was point, shoot and hope.

Hideous picture, I know. But there's a beauty within.

Straffe Hendrik blonde was my first ever Belgian beer. In Bruges. It was the house beer at the hotel I stayed in, it was happy hour and I struggled with the idea of beer in a funny shaped-and-sized glass. But, three days later, it had become the beer that tuned my palate into a whole new world and the first beer glass I ever bought.

Since that day in 2005, most Belgian beers I've drank at home have been in this glass. Nothing, though, is ever quite the same as that Straffe 6; indeed, the beer in it tonight is Straffe 9. It's a rather sticky tripel, dried cut grass clashes with tired bubblegum. Just the merest smear of warm glue.

I'm hoping the photos will improve - if anyone has hints and tips on glassware pics, please let me know. As for the beer - maybe it's like caching up with your first love only to find she's now heavier-set, stronger in character but slightly bittersweet.



Thanks to beermerchants for the bottle. >

Your favourite pub or bar may or may not use them. They're not mandatory.

The price of beer poured into them may or may not be proportionate compared to a pint. That already happens with the pint/half differential (and with thirds at many CAMRA festivals).

It may prove useful for decanting 330ml bottles into. Mine certainly is (and was, about thirty seconds after the above photo was taken).

It may prove attractive to licensees and punters alike who fancy serving and drinking higher-ABV beers in smaller measures. Even at a price premium.

It's been on the cards for ages - I've lost count about how many times I've pulled a blog post about this in and out of draft. It's been waiting its turn on the legislative merry-go-round.

It's a two-thirds-pint glass. It's not a revolution, it's not the downfall of the pint, it's not a Brewdog coup.

Put some beer in one and carry on. Or don't. It's only a glass. >