Sticking to Tradition

• The yard glass first appeared in England in the 17th century, where it was used to drink toasts on festive occasions. If you want to be traditional, serve English ale in the yard glass. These ales are rich and full-bodied, with strong malty flavors and not much hop bitterness. It may prove difficult to savor the beer while drinking approximately two and a half pints of it at once, however.

Experimenting

• If you don't want to drink a yard of English ale (or watch someone else do it, which may be more enjoyable), experiment with a variety of beers. For instance, a lighter American lager might go down more quickly and smoothly than the full-bodied English ale. Watch out for highly carbonated lagers, however; they can make filling the tall glass messier than it already is.

Accepting the Facts

• Different types of beer glasses are best suited for different beers, depending on their flavors and aromas. However, with a yard glass different concerns are at play. If you're drinking beer to savor its distinctive flavor and aroma, a yard glass is not the correct choice for any beer. This point is reinforced by the fact that yards of ale are often downed very quickly -- former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke was notorious for allegedly having completed one in 12 seconds. As a result, you don't have to worry that the yard glass isn't the correct glass for the beer you want to serve in it; it isn't really the correct type of glass for any beer.

Laundry Concerns

• One factor you may want to consider is the appearance of the beer you're serving in a yard glass. The bulb at the end of the glass means that the drinker often gets a flood of beer in the face when finishing the yard. If you're drinking indoors or wearing clothes you care about, make sure that the beer you're drinking is one you know you can get out of clothing or carpets.