Anchor Hocking is a powerhouse glassware manufacturer catering to both the commercial foodservice and residential markets. The brand was founded by the Hocking River in Lancaster, Ohio in 1905. At that time, they were known primarily for their manufacturing of glass lamp chimneys. Since then, they’ve grown into one of the largest glassware manufacturers and importers in the world, boasting a diversified assortment covering all facets of glassware.
Having cemented their place in the industry, and continuing to thrive with new glassware innovations, they’ve volunteered the four most frequent questions they hear about glassware, with in-depth answers and solid rule of thumbs to factor into your glassware purchasing decisions.
Courtesy of Frank Biller, National Sales Manager for Anchor Hocking Glass.
In This Article:
1. Should I use disposable paper/plastic, reusable hard plastic, or glass?
1. Should I use disposable paper/plastic, reusable hard plastic, or glass?
There are isolated situations where disposables or hard plastic are called for. Disposables work for large outdoor tailgate parties or large convention centers where it is impractical to collect and clean hundreds of glasses in a short period of time. Hard plastic manufacturers have come a long way from the old melamine “Prison-Ware” days. These clear cocktail, martini, and wine knockoffs are appropriate for use near pools or in large college bars or nightclubs where safety is a concern.
The clear choice for the enjoyment of drinks in a bar setting is always glass. Single malt scotch, a rich Manhattan or Old Fashioned, a great Martini, a nice glass of wine or a great craft beer will never taste the same from plastic.
Rule of Thumb:
Give your customers the best experience and value with glass.
2. How do I choose the right type and size of glassware for my operation from the thousands of choices out there?
The glasses must be functional for the drinks on your menu.
HINT: Choose heavy base stackable glasses like Anchor Clarisse bar glassware for great customer experience and durability.
There are 4 main functional groups you need to isolate and decide on:
A. Rocks Glasses
Anchor Hocking rocks glasses are best for whiskey and liquor drinks.
Rocks glasses are short/squat glasses with capacities ranging from 4-14 oz. The capacity you choose will help you control your liquor/mix costs and provide aesthetically pleasing beverage service for your customer. Your choice will be based on the size of your standard liquor pour (1, 1 ½ or 2 ounces), the size and shape of your ice cubes (Large/Small cubes or pellets) and your mixed drink recipes. If you are looking for new beverageware, contact your dealer and request samples so you can actually pour drinks and see what your drink menu will look like BEFORE you buy.
Generally, 4-6 oz rocks are used for “neat” service, liquor on the rocks or liquor “with a splash” drinks. 6-10 oz rocks are used for liquor and a single mix/water. 10-14 oz rocks are often called DOR (Double on Rocks) or DOF (Double Old Fashioned). As the name implies, they are used for double servings of liquor and a single mixer.
Rule of Thumb:
Choose one small, one medium, and one large rocks glass.
B. Hi-Ball, Collins, and Footed Cocktail Glasses
These Anchor cocktail glasses are best for an enhanced liquor cocktail serving presentation.
These tall/thin glasses and short stems were popular in the postwar era for mixed drinks and range in size from 8-12 oz. They are starting to make a comeback, fueled by the resurgent of interest in Retro/Classic Cocktails and Mid-Century Modern fashion.
Rule of Thumb:
Choose one or more of these if you feature Retro/Classic cocktails.
C. Beverage Glasses
Anchor Hocking Beverage Glasses are versatile, ideal for liquor and cocktail drinks, as well as soft drinks, beer, iced tea, and water service.
These glasses feature larger capacities (10-22 oz.). The smaller sizes (10-14 oz.) are used for mixed drinks with multiple ingredients. The most widely used member of this family is the 14 or 16 oz “Mixing Glass”. These are great all-purpose glasses for multi-ingredient drinks and most beers.
Rule of Thumb:
A 14 or 16 oz. beverage tumbler will cover a lot of service needs.
D. Specialty Glasses
Anchor Hocking Specialty Glasses include a wide range of glassware you should add based on the inclusion of certain types of drinks on your menu.
The martini glass is the most common and can be used for a variety of classic cocktails (Martini, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Cosmo, etc.). Choose a size from 6-10 oz based on your pour and responsible alcohol laws and customs in your market. A champagne flute is a must if you sell sparkling wines. Frozen drink glasses include the Margarita, Poco Loco and Hurricane or Squall glass. Anchor Hocking’s Weiss Goblet schooner glass is a great all-purpose choice.
Rule of Thumb:
Most establishments opt for a martini, flute, and an all-purpose frozen drink glass.
Rule of Thumb:
If you are selling most bottles of wine for less than $100, and wine by the glass for less than $15, stick with Standard Glass. Your purchase price will be less and your fleet will last longer.
B. Wine-by-the-Glass Service
It is optimal for fine wines to have a certain shape and size for service. If you sell wine by the glass for $15+, have a sommelier on staff and are using fine crystal, you may want to choose 2-3 sizes for white, medium body reds and full body reds.
Most establishments use one size and shape, often referred to as the All-Purpose Glass. The most common pours for wine by the glass are 4, 5 or 6 ounces. Again, get samples from your dealer and pour your portion size to make sure it will look generous to your customers.
HINT: Stemless wine glasses, such as the Anchor 95141AHG17 stemless wine glass, are great for wine-by-the-glass, and can double as elegant Rocks glasses in the Double-on-Rocks/Double-Old-Fashioned size range.
Rule of Thumb:
Most establishments chose a Cabernet/Bourdeaux shape glass in 12-24 oz., depending on the size of their wine-by-the-glass pour, to cover both wine-by-the-glass and bottle service.
C. Bottle Service
Follow the same thought process for Bottle Service. If you have a large cellar and you are selling a lot of $100+ bottles you should have 3 sizes with appropriate shapes for your offering.
Rule of Thumb:
Most establishments, use the same wine-by-the-glass glass for their wine-by-the-bottle service.
D. Carafes
Carafes can enhance any wine service. For red wine bottle service, a high-end program can choose elegant cut crystal pieces worth hundreds of dollars. Mid-range establishments can choose from options starting with the old fashioned “Spaghetti House” 1-liter style and more affordable common glass and crystal shapes. The single-serving decanter is a big hit for all varieties of wine across all venues.
Rule of Thumb:
A decanting carafe and single-serving carafe are recommended for all wine service.
View all Anchor Hocking wine glasses here.
See our complete Wine Glass Types Buying Guide and our Definitive Guide to Wine Service for more information.
4. What about beer glasses?
A. Pints, Mugs, Stems, Pilsners – what should I choose?
Pint glasses and mugs are traditional and appropriate for many establishments. However, the explosive growth of craft beers has created the demand for special glasses for different types of beers. This phenomenon is similar to the explosion of the wine category back in the 1970’ and 80’s.
C. Specialty Beer Glasses
The 2 most common are glasses for High ABV beers and taster glasses. We recommend the Anchor 3951M small snifter glass for High ABV beers. The use of tasters is the number one way to promote your high margin craft beer selection. You can sell flights or just give free samples. Either method promotes the purchase of high margin craft beer bottles or taps.
HINT: Most bottles are 12 oz. Anchor’s 93012 13 oz. Barbary Beer glass is perfect for all bottle service and can double as a 6-10oz Craft beer glass.
Rule of Thumb:
Responsible alcohol service dictates you use good judgment in your portion sizes. A good mix for tap beers would be:
- 4-6% ABV (most domestics) – choose a 14-16 oz Mixing Glass, Pub Glass or Mug
- 6-10% ABV (many craft beers) – choose a 12-14 oz Pilsner or Belgian style glass
- 10%+ ABV – choose a small snifter with no more than 5-6 oz pour. All establishments should choose a taster to drive craft beer sales.
View all Anchor Hocking beer glasses here.
Check out our commercial drinkware buying guide for even more information about glassware types and uses.
Connect with one of our product experts to request free samples of glassware to try it before committing to a bulk purchase.
Chase joined Central Restaurant Products in February 2016 as a Content Specialist, bringing to the role years of various foodservice experience, including front-of-house service (slingin’ chicken wings and libations with a smile on his face) and back-of-house food prep using heavy-duty commercial cooking equipment to prepare for peak dining hours at his university’s dining hall.
He puts this experience to use writing for Central’s Resource Center, website, and print catalog. ServSafe certified, he enjoys educating on food safety in the commercial setting, researching new dining room and tabletop trends, and sharing innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiencies. He also enjoys (in no specific order) long hikes with his dog, bingeing 90s sitcoms, red wine, and live music.
