The tulip glasses, like Duvel, encourage a large head as Duvel feel that their beer tastes better that way and who am I to argue?
By having narrowing sides, the glass helps to generate bubbles and so a good head is achieved. Whereas a Westmalle glass is goblet shaped, designed to create a small head and provide a flatter tasting beer.
The breweries use the glasses as a marketing tool but are mainly used to achieve the best possible taste from the beer. One of the most famous Belgian beer glass is the Kwak one as it looks like a small yard of ale!
Originally designed be an innkeeper who wanted a way of ensuring he sold as much beer as possible. The unique design enabled coach drivers to take a beer for the road, literally. The glass would hang from a bracket allowing the beer to remain upright even on rough terrain.
The Kwak beer is very popular in bars as the glass always attracts attention. However be warned when ordering Kwak as there is a chance the bar will want a deposit for the glass (or in some cases a shoe to stop you running away with it) as you're not the only person who likes the glass. Many glasses are taken as souvenirs, so understandably the bar owners do their best to discourage them. If the pub takes a shoe as deposit for the glass this can cause problems, as Kwak beer is 8% in strength. Drinking a couple of Kwaks with a shoe missing, does nothing for your balance at all!!!
Therefore, when you want to enjoy your beer to its maximum always ensure it comes in its proper glass, it just won't taste the same otherwise!
