Black Acre Brewing Co. | Indianapolis, IN

Glassware

Good beer deserves good glassware, plain and simple. The correct glassware doesn’t just enhance the image of a brewery, but is an integral part of maximizing one’s beer experience. We at Black Acre have always been advocates of proper glassware in our personal beer consumption, and will not settle for anything less in our professional endeavors. Below are the various vessels that will get Black Acre beers from our fermenters into your hands.

Willi Becher Glass

At first glance, this glass seems no difference than your traditional pint glass. Lacking the intricacy one associates with tulip glasses or traditional Belgian glasses, why would we bother moving beyond the “traditional” pint glass? Well, there are two reasons. First off, the Willi glass complements the attitude of Black Acre Brewing Co. The glass is both traditional and unique, a perfect complement to a brewery that respects tradition but isn’t bound to it.

Second, the Willi glass allows us to meet the honest pint requirements. Unlike England and Germany, the United States has no legal requirements on what constitutes a pint. Although a pint denotes 16 ounces, many bars do not provide this amount in their “pints,” instead pouring 12 or 14 ounces into 14 or 16 ounce shaker glasses. We believe that when customers order a pint, they should get a true 16 ounce pour.

Not only are you not getting a proper pint, but you are also not getting enough head on your beer! Despite what your college friends probably told you, head on a beer is not a bad thing. Brewers work hard to create the proper head retention which allows the beer to open up and share its most subtle aromas with the drinker. However, because of the small size of many establishments glasses, patrons associate head with being cheated on beer volume. By having an etch line at the 16 oz mark with some room at the top of the glass, every pint you get is not only an actual pint but ensures that you get a proper amount of head (about the width of two fingers). As an added bonus, the 21.5 ounce Willy, is perfectly engineered to keep beer cool until the last drop, featuring a large, solid mass of glass that acts a little like a non-melting ice-cube.

Snifter

Although we are strong proponents of the honest pint, we also believe establishment should offer small options, when appropriately marked. Snifters allow us to give you a decent serving of higher gravity beers, which should be enjoyed in moderation.

We will also offer half pints (8 oz pours) of all of our beers.  It is especially important in a place with a large and every changing tap selection to allow customers to try and enjoy beers without having them drink (and pay) for a pint of each one. And sometimes, for whatever reason, you just want a little more beer but you don’t want a full pint. That’s okay, we’re all friends, no judging!

Aside from these very practical considerations, snifter glasses are also superb glasses for experiencing your beer. Given that the bowl is not filled the whole way, a snifter is able to develop a strong head on it. The aroma created by the head are further magnified by the snifter’s structure, allowing the drinker to get a deep nosefull of aroma. The thinner glass of the snifter also allows higher gravity beers to warm to the appropriate level for maximum enjoyment.

Growler

Like most craft breweries, we will also be selling growlers. This eco-friendly 64 ounce reusable glass container has been a method of transporting beer to consumers’ homesteads since before bottling. While our growlers are clearly aesthetically different than your standard screw cap, they do have a practical purpose. The flip top gasket cap creates a proper seal, preventing carbonation from escaping and making your beer go flat. While these growlers cost a little more than their aluminum screw cap brethren, their quality and superior seal more than makes up for it. Besides, we figure most beer geeks already have tons of the standard amber growlers (which we will also gladly fill).