Matthew Cummings is a creative individual. With a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of fine arts, both in glass sculpture, he founded Pretentious Glass Co. in 2012 in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee.
That same year, he started homebrewing. “I was a broke artist,” said Cummings in a telephone interview. “But I was a big beer fan and I wanted Zombie Dust at High Life prices.” Zombie Dust is a pale ale made by Indiana’s 3 Floyds Brewing and one of the early beers that got Cummings interested in craft beverages.
A self-described bibliophile, Cummings says he read everything he could about brewing beer, honed his beermaking skills, and in 2016, opened a beer bar next door to Pretentious Glass, which would start brewing its own beer a year later, under the name Pretentious Beer Co.
“We are the only place in the world where people can drink beer made in-house, out of glasses made in-house and watch it all being made,” says Cummings.
Cummings says that most of the research into how glass shape enhances or detracts from the flavor of the beverage it serves relates to wine, so it was up to him to design glassware to enhance his beers. Taking inspiration from the glassware of Belgium, where every beer has its own glass, Cummings set about testing as many Belgian beer glasses as he could get his hands on, eventually designing glasses at Pretentious Glass as unique as the beers at Pretentious Beer, of which as many as 18 might be on tap at at any time.
“I had to see for my self what actually accentuates beer flavors,” says Cummings.
“Our taproom is in the brewery and our glass shop is next to the glass studio,” says Cummings. “You can come in, see beer being made, order a glass of beer, walk through our beer garden, then watch people blowing glass.” Pretentious Glass sells glasses in 30 flagship designs as well as hundreds of one-off glasses. Hand made decanters, Christmas ornaments and other items of décor are also available. Visitors can even book a class to make their own glass.
The Pretentious Foamy Boi glass is designed for lagers poured through a LUKR faucet, a Czech-style … [+]
For customers overwhelmed by the selection, Cummings advises, “My favorite glass to make is the Foamy Boi. The diamond texture is super satisfying, and getting to add the handle is exhilarating. It’s a cup that has to be executed just right for it to work. So it has the wonderful sense of drama while making it.”
The Pretentious Pilsner Glass features a subtle flare that enhances the beer’s foam cap.
For something more sleek and simple, “I am super proud and love the Pilsner Glass,” says Cummings. “It is an unusual choice because of all the crazy designs that I am known for and this one is relatively ‘normal’. But what makes it so special is that it is such a classic design—no tricks or techniques—but it is so damn interesting. It rides a sweet spot in my glassware lineup. Unique but approachable. And the long, subtle flare to the upper half of the cup holds a pillowy head like no other glass. The Pilsner Glass makes the most velvety fluffy head pour on a pils. That’s the glass I grab in the taproom if I want to make a huge, showstopper, whipped cream-esque, slow pour head. Honestly, one of my favorite things to do as a brewer who also makes his own glassware.”