Are Beer Glasses Dishwasher Safe? [And How To Wash Them]

There are a handful of kitchen essentials that will leave you wondering if they are dishwasher safe or not, and one of them is beer glasses. If you have ever wondered whether your beer glasses can go in the dishwasher, you're in the right place. We did all the research and created this guide to save you time and get you the answer you need.

No, you should not put beer glasses in the dishwasher unless the glass has a dishwasher safe symbol on it. The majority of quality beer glasses should be hand washed in an appropriate cleaning solution. 

If you can't put beer glasses in the dishwasher, what is the best way to clean them properly? Are there certain brands of quality glasses that you can put in the dishwasher? Keep reading to learn everything you will need to know about maintaining beer glasses properly and effectively.

Assorted Beers in a Flight. Are Beer Glasses Dishwasher Safe [And How To Wash Them]

How To Wash A Beer Glass Correctly

What you will need:

  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Filtered water
  • Small rubber spatula
  • Bottle brush

beer in a glass close up photo

Step 1: Mix Cleaning Solution

Mix together two teaspoons of baking soda, a half teaspoon of salt, and four teaspoons of filtered water per beer glass. It's important to use filtered or distilled water; the sediment found in unfiltered water can leave water spots and a film on the glass. The film may not be visible, but it can still affect the foaming and taste of your beer. Mix these ingredients until you have a nice spreadable paste.

Diversey Beer Clean

If you want to skip the step of making your own solution, try these pre-mixed packets of beer glass cleaning solution. Click here to see them on Amazon. 

Step 2: Apply Solution

Spread the paste you made evenly over the entire beer glass, inside and outside. Use a rubber spatula to get hard-to-reach areas of the glass. The paste should be the consistency of toothpaste; if made properly, it will stick well to the glass. To thicken it up, add more baking soda. To thin it out, add more water.

Step 3: Scrub the Glass

After you cover the glass with paste, use a bottle brush to scrub the entire glass. The salt in your mixture will work with the brush's bristles to scrub away any dirt or grime on the glass. Any bottle brush will work, but it is recommended to have a fresh bottle brush to avoid introducing leftover grease from washing dishes. Find a brush that works well for your beer glasses and reserve it for beer glasses only.

FEENM Bottle Cleaning Brush

This bottle brush is great for beer glasses and saves you some scrubbing time. Click here to see it on Amazon.

Step 4: Rinse and Repeat

Use cool water to rinse the glass well. It's very important that you also rinse the glasses with filtered water. If you have been washing your beer glasses in regular dish soap or in unfiltered water up until now, it might be a good idea to repeat the cleaning process one or two more times to eliminate any residue buildup that may have occurred.

Step 5: Dry

Allow the glass to air dry in a warm area with decent air circulation. Don't towel dry your glass; the towel will leave behind fibers that will end up in your beer. Place the glasses upside down on a clean drying rack until completely dry.

How Do You Sanitize Beer Glasses?

Sanitizing beer glasses is fairly easy but not considered necessary for home use. It's good to sanitize glasses before and after use if you have company over and your guests use them. To sanitize your glasses, you will require a sanitizing solution designed for beer glasses or very, very hot water. Sanitizing solution is recommended to avoid any potential injury or accidents involved with handling hot water.

Sanitizing Solution Method

Follow the directions on the sanitizing solution you purchased for best practices. Most sanitizing solution is dissolved in a sink of hot or warm water. The glasses are left to sit in the solution for a few minutes to ensure any bacteria is killed. Sanitizing should be performed immediately after the glass is cleaned. After sanitizing, the glasses should be rinsed and left to air dry completely.

Diversey Beer Clean Sanitizing Solution

This sanitizing solution is designed specifically for beer glasses. Click here to check it out on Amazon.

Hot Water Method

To sanitize in hot water, you will need a thermometer to read the temperature of the water and heat-resistant gloves to protect yourself. Make sure the water is at least 180°F but no greater than 200°F. The glass should be left submerged until it reaches a temperature of at least 170°F and holds that temperature for at least 30 seconds.

Lanon Heat Resistant Gloves

These gloves are waterproof and heat resistant up to 400°F. Click here to look at them on Amazon.

Are Stella Glasses Dishwasher Safe?

Some Stella Artois glasses are dishwasher safe; others are not. It's important to check the packaging when you purchase your glasses to know for sure if they are dishwasher safe. Even if the glass is dishwasher safe, running it through the machine will expose it to contaminants that will negatively affect the taste of your beer.

Stella Artois Beer Chalice

These authentic Stella chalices are elegant and dishwasher safe. Click here to see them on Amazon.

Are Guinness Glasses Dishwasher Safe?

Some Guinness beer glasses are dishwasher safe, and others are not. Check the glass and its packaging to be sure. Putting a beer glass in the dishwasher that isn't dishwasher safe can cause the glass to break. For the best quality beer experience, your glass should be washed using the methods described in this post.

Guinness Gravity Pint Glass

These official Guinness glasses are dishwasher safe. Click here to check them out on Amazon.

How Can You Tell If A Beer Glass Is Dirty?

There are a few ways to tell if your beer glass is dirty:

Water

Submerge the glass in water, then remove it and watch how the water drips. On a clean glass, the water will coat the entire glass evenly. On a dirty glass, you will see water droplets clinging to the glass. This test can be performed during the rinsing portion of the cleaning process; then, you will know if the glass needs another good scrub.

Salt

When salt is sprinkled on a wet glass, it will divulge all of the glass's greasy secrets. Salt will cling to the clean parts of the glass but will slide off any grimy parts. If the glass is clean and ready to go, you can just rinse the salt out with filtered water and pour yourself a cold one.

Beer Foam

Fill the glass with beer and watch the foam while you drink. If the foam sticks to the sides of the glass in parallel rings, the glass is clean. If foam adheres randomly or doesn't adhere at all, then your glass is dirty.

Beer Carbonation

Fill the glass with beer and watch the carbonation bubbles. If there are bubbles clinging to the side of the glass, then your glass is dirty. If the carbonation rises straight to the top and doesn't stick to the sides, your glass is clean.

Does A Wet Glass Make Beer Flat?

Beer should be poured into a dry glass for the best results. Water won't necessarily make your beer go flat immediately, but it will help speed along the process of de-carbonation. Having water in your glass will also affect the flavor and head of your beer.

Time To Taste

Now that you have learned how to clean and sanitize your beer glasses, you're ready to taste the difference. You will notice an immediate difference in the taste of your beer, and so will your friends. Now go enjoy the best-tasting beer you've ever had.

If you are trying to outfit your home bar perfectly, you'll love this article: "How Many Wine And Cocktail Glass Should You Have?"

If you are preparing yourself to make drinks for your next party, this article will help you perfect your recipes "How Big Are Cocktail Glasses?"

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *