Which of the following glasses would be most appropriate for serving a Best Bitter with 3.8% alcohol by volume?

The most appropriate glass for serving a Best Bitter, which typically has a moderate alcohol content around 3.8% by volume, is indeed the 20 oz (590 ml) Imperial pint. This choice aligns with traditional serving practices for British ales, particularly for styles like Best Bitter, which are often served in larger pint glasses to encourage social drinking and provide ample surface area for the beer to release its aromas.

The Imperial pint is specifically designed to accommodate a full pint of beer, allowing room for the beer’s natural carbonation and promoting the uptake of aromas. This enhances the overall drinking experience by enabling the drinker to fully appreciate the beer’s nuances in flavor and aroma.

In contrast, other glass options such as a snifter or a tulip glass are designed for stronger or more complex beers that benefit from being served in smaller volumes to concentrate aromas, which wouldn’t be fitting for a Best Bitter. Likewise, the nonic pint, while also suitable for pints, generally holds a bit less volume than the full Imperial pint size and may not be as ideal specifically for a Best Bitter in a traditional context.

Therefore, using the Imperial pint for a Best Bitter is not only traditional but also enhances the overall enjoyment by providing the right amount of volume