In partnership with renowned Austrian glassware manufacturer Spiegelau, we are extremely proud to announce the launch of the American Wheat-Witbier Glass.
Designed to elevate the experience of drinking Bell’s Oberon Ale, Winter White and Oarsman Ale, the glass is poised to become the new standard for enjoying all wheat beers.
The Bell’s Wheat Glass is now available to purchase online at online as well as at the Bell’s General Store located adjacent to the Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., in downtown Kalamazoo.
After previously collaborating with Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada for an IPA-specific glass and Left Hand Brewing and Rogue Ales for a stout-specific glass, Spiegelau recognized the need to develop better drinking vessels for one the world’s most popular beer varieties – wheat –and began talking with Bell’s about a possible collaboration.
This new glass was developed over a series of design workshops and tasting panels led by Riedel Owner Georg Riedel and Spiegelau Vice President Matthew Rutkowski.
Bell’s Vice President Laura Bell, Director of Operations John Mallet and additional brewery experts, tested a selection of Bell’s wheat beers against 50 glasses pulled from Spiegelau’s glassware archive. The selection was then narrowed down to 12 and finally to one. The ultimate challenge was to find a glass shape that had the most profound effect on the aromas and flavor profiles of both American and German style wheat beers.
“As with previous workshops, we challenged conventional thinking and presumption of what a wheat beer glass should look like. … The new glass works to bring faint aromas into sharp focus,” Rutkowski said.
“The chance to work with Spiegelau was an exciting opportunity for us,” Bell said.
“John and I met with Georg and Matt in Portland to taste wheat beers from a variety of different glasses, discussing pros and cons of each. To be involved in a project that enhances our three core wheat beers - Oberon, Winter White and Oarsman - was a tremendous experience. This glass will allow craft beer enthusiasts to enjoy well crafted, very drinkable, but also complex beers on another level,” she said.
