Beer Boot Buying Guide
We are the leading beer glass and beer boot retailer in the USA, so we are get
a lot of questions about beer boots. These include questions about the sizes of beer boots and how the beer
boots are made. We put this guide
together to help provide additional information about beer boots and to help
our customers decide which beer boot is right for them.
History of Beer Boots
Beer boots are generally thought to be of German origin. Germany
had Europe’s best glassmakers ever since glass
became a popular drinking vessel. One
theory on the origin of the beer boot is that a German general in the late 1800’s
made a bet with his troops that if they won an important battle, he would drink
beer from his boot. After winning the
battle, he did just that. Glass boots
were then made and became part of the military culture in Germany.
Another theory holds that English Royalty commissioned German glassblowers to
create a glass riding boot for a hunting party. This is the most likely origin of the glass beer boot as it can be
documented. A book on the history of
drinking vessels from the early 1800’s includes an illustration of the beer
boot.
How Beer Boots Are Made
Beer boots are made from glass. They can
either be mouth blown or machine pressed.
Mouth Blown Beer Boots
Mouth blown beer boots are made by blowing air into molten glass that is placed
in the mould. The glass is then formed
into a shape of a beer boot. Small beer
boots can be blown without the aid of a mould but once the size is greater than
one liter or 33 oz, a mould is required due to the volume and weight of the glass.
Mouth blown beer boots are more delicate than machine pressed boots. They are made by hand and the glass thickness
may vary at different parts of the boot. The top of a mouth blown beer boot is cut rather than molded as you
would find in a machine pressed boot. Swirls and tiny air bubbles in the glass are part of the natural process
of making mouth blown glassware by hand and can be expected.
Machine Pressed Beer Boots
Machine pressed beer boots are made by pouring molten glass into a mould and pressing
the mould together with high pressure to achieve the desired form. Mouth blown boots are more consistent than
mouth blown boot and typically more durable.
Beer Boot Sizes
Beer boots range from 1.5 ounces all the way up to 4 liters or 132 ounces. Common beer boot sizes are as follows:
1.5 ounce Shot Glass
.5 Liter or 16.5 ounces and can hold a liter over one 12 ounce beer.
1 Liter or 33 ounces and can hold almost three 12 ounce beers.
2 Liter or 66 ounces and can hold five and half 12 ounce beers.
3 liter or 99 ounces and can hold a little over eight 12
ounce beers.
4 liter or 132 ounces and can hold eleven 12 ounce beers.
Here are beer boots along side a typically 12 ounce beer bottle.
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