December 16, 2001 -- The days may be running out for those of you who, like us at World of Beer, tend to put your Christmas shopping off until the last minute. Fortunately, however, there is still ample time to shop on-line for the gift that is certain to put a smile on any serious beer aficionado's face. We're referring, of course, to beer glasses.

Forget those brightly painted pilsner flutes you saw yesterday at the gourmet store, we're talking about serious glassware - Belgian chalices, German steins, elegant pint mugs. This is the type of glassware no beer drinker can do without. And ordering them is just a click or two away.

In the United States, try www.beerglasshopper.com, where they are still able to FedEx your order to you in time for Christmas. Elsewhere, contact www.beertemple.com, the on-line site of the terrific Brussels-based beer shop, and see if there is still time to get your order in. (In the EC, you can combine your glassware order with a shipment of Belgian beer, but site manager Dimitry Ramaut cautions that customers should email to info@beertemple.com first to make certain that it is still possible to ship the package in time for Christmas.)

To complete your gift, print out and attach the following directions:

The Care and Feeding of a Beer Glass

1. Please never, ever put your beer glasses into the dishwasher.

2. Avoid using detergent to clean your beer glasses. Hot water will normally suffice.

3. If you do need to wash your glasses with soap, follow it with a scrubbing with ordinary table salt and a thorough rinse. This will remove the nasty soap residue.

4. Buy a bottle brush for getting to the bottom of those deep, thin glasses.

5. Let your beer glasses air dry, or use a lint-free towel.

6. Store your beer glasses in a closed cabinet to spare them from airborne dust.

7. Give your glasses a quick rinse in cool - not cold - water prior to use.

8. Use often.

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