Remember last week I wrote about how the shape of a beer glass is often designed to somehow enhance the taste of the beer that it holds? Funneling aromas & whatnot? Of course, you do. You read all of my work. Well, the Nonic Pint glass does not do that. This chubby looking bastard is far more utilitarian. And versatile.
With the intention to “provide an improved drinking glass,” a fella named Hugo Pick patented the “nonic glass” in 1913. Ads proclaimed that because of the bulge, no nick would appear around the rim as the bulge prevented chipping & nicking if the glass were to be tipped over.
While the iconic design of the Nonic glass is ubiquitous in the English pub scene being used to serve pints of warm lager & stouts, its original design was targeted at the purveyors of soda fountains. The popularity of soda fountains was on the rise during the late teens, occupying space in drug stores & even department stores. And once prohibition took hold, soda fountains found their way into the unoccupied space of bars. It may be here when barkeeps noticed the benefits of the nonic.
As refrigeration became more prevalent in the 1920’s the ability to serve beer cold, rather than at cellaring temps, became more commonplace. The only problem? Condensation. You know condensation. It’s the natural process in which droplets of water collect on cold surfaces when exposed to warmer air. Naturally, condensation caused pint glasses to become slick. No big deal, right? Not exactly. This new phenomenon was probably foreign to drunk patrons & they simply couldn’t keep hold of the beer glasses as well.
This was the nonic’s time to shine. That patented bulge made it easier to grip & hold even when glasses became slick with condensation or beer. The bulge also prevented the glasses from sticking together when stacked for storage. Another plus because shaker glasses are notorious for their ability to stick together tighter than Buzz & Woody.
The beauty of this glass is that it works with pretty much any beer. Malty beers like amber ales or lagers, hoppy IPAs & especially porters.
Cheers!
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