Frosted Beer Glass

How Do You Chill A Beer Glass? Different Methods, Do’s & Don’ts

Frosted Beer Glass

One way to kick things up a notch is to serve beer in a chilled or frosty beer mug to keep it cold for a longer time. You can do this by placing the glass inside the freezer for 30 to 60 minutes. Another way is to put ice cubes and water in the beer glass, then pop it for a few minutes in the freezer.

While “frosting'” a beer mug seems like an easy thing to do, not everyone can flawlessly execute such a delicate procedure. So, allow us to guide you through the right way of chilling your beer glasses.

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How to Frost Your Beer Mug

First of all, “frosted” is not the same as “frozen.” Frosted is the starting point of becoming frozen and may be referred to as “chilled.” You can see a pale white film or a thin layer of ice on the glass’s outer surface that can quickly fade away. Also, you can still see the color of the beer. 

On the other hand, frozen is the state of being hardened by ice. A thick layer of ice is very white, and it takes longer to melt than the frosted glass. 

The frozen beer glass is disapproved by beer experts because an icy glass filled with cold beer results in a numbing sensation that completely blocks all the noteworthy features, especially the beer’s taste. Even if the means of getting the beer glass frosted is the same as the frozen glass, we can adjust the process to achieve just the right point of getting frosted. 

  • Freezer

A person opening a freezer

Even if the name says “frozen,” you can still frost your beer glass in a freezer. You just have to consider the duration of its stay in the freezer so it will not get frozen. It may take some time to achieve a lovely frosted glass, but it’s effective. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Prepare your beer mug or glass. Make sure that it is clean.
  2. Bring the glass to room temperature. You can also wet the glass with cold water before putting it into the freezer, as this can help it frost faster. The water droplets on the outer surface help create the frosted look because they will condense and eventually turn to ice crystals. 
  3. Put the glass in the freezer and leave it there for about 30-60minutes. You can adjust the time depending on your freezer’s temperature.
  4. Take out the glass and pour it into the chosen beer.
  • Ice and Water

Pouring ice cubes in a glass

To achieve a frosted mug faster, you can incorporate ice and water directly into the container. It has already been pointed out that wetting the glass will help with the condensation. So, why not just put ice and water in the glass to make it frost faster? 

This process is similar to that of chilling cocktail glasses. The only difference is that you’ll still have to put it in the freezer. Here’s the correct way to do it. 

  1. Fill a beer mug or glass with ice cubes. Ensure that they touch the entire inner surface of the glass. You can also give it a quick shake for the ice cubes to position properly.  
  2. Add some cold water into the glass, making sure that it covers the inner surface.
  3. Place the glass in the freezer and leave it there for about 5-8 minutes.
  4. Once the glass is frosted, take it out. Then, discard the water and ice. Finally, pour the beer in and enjoy your drink! 
  • Wet Paper Towels 

A roll of paper towel

It may sound confusing, but this method is just as effective as the other ones. The paper towels alone can’t make the glass frosted, so the freezer would still have a role to play in this method.

Since paper towels are damp, it provides an air temperature buffer that helps fasten the evaporation and condensation processes. It is also very convenient because you can find them in everyone’s household.

  1. Get your beer mug or glass and wrap it with damp paper towels. It doesn’t have to be a thick layer of paper towels but enough to have the entire outer surface covered.
  2. Place the glass in the freezer and leave it there for 3-4 minutes. The water in the paper towels is the one that gives the beer glass the frost on the outside. 
  3. Take out the glass and remove the paper towels. Pour your beer. 
  • Vodka

Bottle of vodka coated in ice shavings

You’re not mixing the beer with vodka; instead, you’re coating the glass with vodka. Who would’ve thought that a prominent liquor can help make a glass frosty? This method may not be as convenient, though, because not everyone has vodka on hand. But, if you do have vodka, you can try this method. 

  1. Place the bottle of vodka in the freezer overnight.
  2. Get a clean beer mug or glass. Take out the vodka and pour it into the glass until it fills half or three-quarters full. Move the glass around so the vodka can coat the inner surface. Do this for about 1 minute, and you can already see the frost forming. 
  3. Pour the vodka back into the bottle or use it to make a delicious cocktail, like a martini. 
  4. Slightly wipe the inner surface with a lint-free towel and pour in the beer. 
  • Portable Glass Froster


This cool innovation lets you frost your glass in a matter of seconds by spraying liquid carbon dioxide directly into the glass. As opposed to the freezer method, this one is pretty convenient in terms of speed. However, since this method is quite costly, it is more suitable to be used in bars. 

  1. Place the glass beneath the lamp head and spray the liquid carbon dioxide. The process of turning the product on may vary depending on the brand. Although, most of them include a lever that you pull on top.
  2. Hold the glass in place for about 5 seconds or until the frost forms. Then, release the lever. You can also pull the lever in intervals to avoid getting the glass overdone. However, you should not spray for too long, or else the glass can get frozen.
  3. When done, pour in the beer. If you have noticed that it turned frozen, allow it to sit for a few seconds. Then, once it has dropped to a nice frost, you’re good to go. 

Do’s and Don'ts of Chilling a Beer Glass

Beer glass with do's and don'ts text

Here are a couple of pointers that you need to know and apply to make your chilling glass experience easier. 

Dos

  • Make sure that your beer glass or mug is adequately cleaned. If there are any soap residues or unwanted particles in the glass, they might get incorporated with the beer once poured, resulting in an unpleasant taste. 
  • When you opt for a room temperature glass, wipe it with a lint-free towel before using it so there won’t be any unwanted particles that will get mixed. 
  • When putting the glass in the freezer, check it from time to time. This process is necessary to avoid the beer glass from getting frozen. 
  • When you open and close the freezer door often, warm air can get inside to build a nice layer of ice crystals, resulting in a nice frosted look. 
  • Ensure that the beer glasses are placed in a vacant area where overcrowding is less likely to happen. This method is necessary so that the glasses will properly frost and the chilling process will not be interrupted. The beer glasses should have enough space so they won’t touch other things, so put them on a flat shelf, rack, or door shelf.
  • Use thick and sturdy glass such as beer mugs and pilsners so they won’t break or crack. 

Don’ts 

  • No matter what you do, do not allow your glasses to reach the freezing point. The frozen beer glass will cause a foaming issue due to the rapid release of carbon dioxide. It can also cause an interruption in your pouring because the beer might overflow. Moreover, there’s a chance that your beer glass will get stuck in the freezer and can break if you force to take it out.
  • Don’t just pour any kind of beer into a frosted glass. Some beers are best served at room temperature, so their flavors are more pronounced. However, some beers like ales, lagers, and pilsners are to be enjoyed cold.
  • Some beers are served in stemmed glasses. However, they can’t be placed in the freezer because the stems are not sturdy enough should they get stuck. They also have a risk of breaking because they are relatively thin. 
  • Don’t put the glass on the frozen surface of the freezer. The glass may get stuck, especially when a wet glass is placed on it. It will be challenging to get it out, and you may risk breaking it.
  • Never put a hot beer glass or mug in the freezer. The temperature difference can cause the glass to break. 

Conclusion 

For many years, people have ordered beers in frosted mugs at different bars. Despite the argument that other people point out, it boils down to the person’s preference. Some like frosted glasses because they prefer a cold and refreshing drink, while others like the most recommended way of preparing beer.  

You can invest in a freezer intended only for frosting beer glasses, but you can also do it in your home refrigerator. You never know; maybe you’ll like it so much that you’ll never want to go back to drinking beer any other way.

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