Plastic Beer Mugs & Glasses

Plastic Beer Glasses: What You Need to Know

Plastic steins can provide a traditional feel to beverage service while eliminating liability for broken glass in resort areas or family-friendly locations where children may be present. We offer a selection of plastic beer glasses in a wide range of sizes and styles to fulfill any need. Useful for fast-paced locations, plastic options are more lightweight and break resistant than glass alternatives.

Even though they can't be stacked, plastic beer mugs with handles are preferred by some establishments because they provide a more authentic experience for consumers. At other locations, stackable plastic pint glasses without handles are used to conserve storage space and simplify transportation. With so many types of plastic beer glasses available, casual restaurants, upscale eateries, and nontraditional foodservice establishments can find a style that complements their dining ambience while eliminating the risk of breakage.

Common Questions About Plastic Beer Mugs

Do plastic beer mugs affect the beer's flavor?

Whether beer is stored in plastic or glass can definitely affect the beer's flavor and carbonation level, but when it comes to serving beer, especially from a draft beer system, it won't really matter. The type of plastic used to make plastic beer mugs and plastic pint glasses is much more durable than that used for soda bottles and other bottled beverages. Additionally, beer served in a restaurant doesn't stay in the plastic stein long enough to absorb any flavors or affect the stein itself. Plastic steins often are manufactured to look and feel like glass while resisting chips and shattering. Because of this, they prove dependable for locations that offer a mobile catering service, feature tile flooring, or have outdoor patio dining areas.

What are plastic beer mugs made of?

Plastic beer mugs can be made of several different types of plastic, each with its own benefits.

SAN (or styrene acrylonitrile) is a rigid plastic that's highly resistant to grease, food stains, and haze. The transparency and brilliance of SAN means plastic beer mugs made of this material closely resemble glass in appearance, making it a popular choice for many foodservice applications. It's compatible with most cleaning chemicals and resists signs of wear from repeated washing in a dishmachine better than other plastic options, although it can begin to take on a yellowish tint after repeated UV exposure. While it's more resistant to impact damage than glass, SAN plastic isn't as durable against breakage as polycarbonate if dropped or struck against other dishes during cleaning.

Polycarbonate is another form of clear, rigid plastic that can be manufactured to resemble glass and often is used to make plastic beer mugs. It's highly break resistant and doesn't easily chip or crack during day-to-day cleaning and use. Although polycarbonate plastic has a higher impact threshold than SAN, it's more susceptible to chemical wear, meaning it may start to get dull and hazy from repeated dishwasher cleaning. Polycarbonate also can pick up a yellowish tint during prolonged use, and it usually contains BPA, which some consumers don't like.

Tritan™ plastic was developed specifically for maximum clarity and durability, meaning it resembles glass most closely of all three plastic types covered here. It withstands repeated dishwashing just as well as SAN and resists chipping and breaking from impact better than polycarbonate, making it an excellent choice for plastic beer mugs that are used heavily in commercial environments. However, because Tritan is a premium plastic, it also commands premium prices – meaning a substantially higher upfront cost when stocking your bar or restaurant. It's also not as widely available as other types of plastic drinkware, so if you're looking for a specific size or style of glass, you may be out of luck when it comes to Tritan.

Do plastic beer glasses come in different styles?

Plastic beer glasses are manufactured in fewer styles than glass, but a plethora of different shapes and sizes are available to ensure operators can serve beer in a complementary glass.

• Mug/Stein: Plastic beer steins are available in a wide variety of sizes, most designed to resemble traditional drinkware from bygone eras. Plastic beer mugs and steins are distinctive due to their handle, which grants the user a firm grip when drinking out of the mug or carrying it around. This type of drinkware typically features a 10-sided design and a thick base that reduces condensation and insulates the beer from surrounding temperatures.
• Pint: One of the most ubiquitous beer-drinking containers, plastic pint glasses feature straight sides with a gently tapered design. This straight-sided shape is meant to create less foam when pouring drafts, and its simplicity makes it easy to stack and store. Because of its self-explanatory name, it's easy for customers to know exactly how much alcohol they're drinking from this glass.
• Pilsner: This type of plastic beer glass typically features curved sides and is tapered more sharply than a pint glass. Usually reserved for lighter beers, the pilsner glass is designed to amplify and enhance the delicate aromas of lagers, pilsners, and blonde ales. Pilsner glasses usually hold a bit less product than pint glasses, although they can vary in total capacity.
• Schooner: Designed with a large bowl and thick stem, plastic schooner glasses are extremely distinctive in appearance. They typically hold more liquid than a standard mug or pint glass, making them a good choice for large beer pours and specialty drinks. This type of glass can be held by the stem to keep the user's hands from warming up the beer, and its flared base adds stability.

What is the difference between a mug and a stein?

Traditionally, beer steins usually have lids and beer mugs do not, but the terms beer stein and beer mug often are used interchangeably by most manufacturers. Plastic steins manufactured for high-volume use don't have lids.