| After wine and tea, beer is the most commonly | | | | Beverage, the beer flavor experience is a |
| drunk beverage in the world. Produced from | | | | combination of oxidation (beer's interaction with |
| grains, wheat and sometimes even rice or corn, | | | | the environment it is in), the exposure to light (or |
| beer is a beverage that appeals to many types | | | | lack thereof) and temperature. |
| and tastes in a wide range flavors. | | | | The beer was developed to be enjoyed cold and |
| Many beer drinkers take great pride in developing | | | | hence a mug and material that is able to keep a |
| their own palette and choice of beers, and just | | | | temperature is the most ideal. |
| like wine drinkers have their favorite regions, | | | | The beer is often poured directly from a dark |
| brands or styles. The explosion of | | | | bottle that protects it from destructive sun rays |
| micro-breweries in North American and the | | | | and light rays, or directly from the tap - as a |
| broadened availability of items such as wheat | | | | result there is no need for a mug with colored |
| beer, stout, ale and pilsner have broadened | | | | glass, other than for fun. |
| Americans' knowledge and appreciation for beer | | | | The oxidation process begins immediately when a |
| that is not mainstream. | | | | beer is poured into the beer mug which is why it |
| The modern, educated beer drinkers will argue | | | | is important to enjoy a beer within 30 minutes of |
| that beer shall be enjoyed from a beer mug and | | | | pouring to appreciate the flavor that was intended |
| not directly from the bottle, which is often | | | | at point of brewing and bottling. |
| otherwise in the case in American culture. The | | | | The design of the sturdy, thick-glassed beer mug |
| American Beer Mug, which is a classic dating back | | | | was not just accidental, but was optimized to |
| to the Wild West, is broadly considered to bring | | | | maintain all the qualities from brewing and bottling. |
| out the beer's qualities and taking it to its full | | | | Elaborate tests conducted by Mr. Haglaund |
| capacity. Generally, a thick beer mug will also keep | | | | showed a more rapid decline of the beer's flavor |
| the temperature of the beer down - which is an | | | | when poured into a regular glass. The test further |
| important attribute since American beer-drinkers | | | | concluded that the thick bottom allowed the |
| traditionally prefer their beers cold. | | | | carbon dioxide that causes the bubbles in the beer |
| So just what does the beer mug add to the | | | | to prevail by up 20% longer than in a traditional |
| beer? | | | | glass. According to the test, a thinner, regular |
| According to John Haglaund, a research scientist | | | | glass will eliminate carbon dioxide by its more rapid |
| with the Carolina Institute of Food & | | | | loss of temperature. |