The Angler's Pint

Are Angler's Pints Dishwasher Safe? Yes! While your Angler's Pint is indeed a piece of artwork, it's what artist Karen Talbot calls functional art. Karen fully intends for you to use your new pint glass a lot! When it comes to whether or not decorated glassware like your Angler's Pint is considered "dishwasher safe," there are two things to think about: 1) the glass itself, and 2) the artwork on the glass. When it comes to Angler's Pints, both the glass and the artwork are considered "dishwasher safe" by today's industry standards. Having said that, it should be noted that over time--and depending on the quality of your dishwasher, the detergents you use and how much direct abrasion occurs (e.g., glasses clanking together, direct scratches to the artwork, etc.)--the artwork will eventually degrade (everything does after all!). How long until that happens? It depends. The inks used on Angler's Pints meet International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for glass coatings and are rated to at least 300 washings. If you think your Angler's Pint artwork has degraded prematurely, please see the next question.

The artwork on my Angler's Pint has degraded. What's up with that? While Angler's Pints are "dishwasher safe" (see above) and individually quality controlled before shipping, the process is not perfect. The artwork is permanantly affixed to the glass through a process of curing and/or firing, and it is possible that a few glasses in a run were not properly cured/fired due to their location in the run, an equipment malfunction or some other issue. It's hard to catch this defect during quality control, but we will happily replace any defective glass at no charge to you. Simply snap a picture and send it in an email to AnglersPint@KarenTalbotArt.com with a brief note saying when you bought the glass, where you bought it and what the defect is (e.g., "the fish has faded").

Why does my glass have a "Proposition 65" warning label, and what does that mean? California's Proposition 65 was enacted in 1986 and is intended to help Californians make informed decisions about protecting themselves from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Angler's Pints produced before March 2017 used a very common screenprinting process that employed up to 10 screens per design. Each screen may be made up of several dyes, and a handful of these dyes contain chemicals known in the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harms. As the warning label states, these materials in question are only on the exterior of the glass, and the glass complies with FDA regulations keeping the ink well below the rim of the glass. While the risk is minimal and the use of these inks is common on decorated glassware and ceramics, Karen, working closely with the folks who put the art on the glass, decided in 2017 to use a new printing process that does not utilize these chemicals and, thus, does not require a Proposition 65 warning.

I know it's dishwasher safe, but should I put it in the dishwasher? This is largely a personal decision. For so-called "beer clean" Angler's Pints, Karen recommends hand-washing (or at the very least using a dishwasher dedicated to just glassware). Food particles on plates and utensils in the same dishwasher as glassware can affect the quality of your pint in terms of aroma, head retention and, of course, taste. If you want to avoid any contamination of your beer, Karen recommends using a dedicated glass brush and glass sanitizer product that won't leave any film or residue to affect the taste or appearance of that amazing brew you just poured. Alternatively, you can use an unscented dish soap (avoid fat- or oil-based soaps) and rinse aggressively with cold water. Karen says it is also always best to air dry your Angler's Pint.

How should I store my Angler's Pints? The preferred method for storing your Angler's Pint is in the company of other Angler's Pints! Karen Talbot is always expanding the line to include more fishes. Do you have a fish you'd like to see on an Angler's Pint? If so, post to the Angler's Pint Facebook page or reach out on Instagram or Twitter. Maybe your fish will be the next Angler's Pint! After prolonged storage, give your Angler's Pint a quick rinse before using. Alternatively, use a microfiber cloth to wipe any dust or other particles away.

What's up with #FirstPour? Karen loves to see your first pour pictures on social media. If you are so inclined, snap a picture of that first pour and post in on social media with the hashtags #AnglersPint and #FirstPour.

Where should I buy my next Angler's Pint? Several of you awesome people have written to Karen and asked if it's better to buy your next Angler's Pint direct from wwww.KarenTalbotArtOnline.com or from The Orvis Company. While Karen very much appreciates that you may want to support an individiual artist over a large retailer, please rest assured that the relationship between Orvis and Karen Talbot Art is a fantastic one. The reality is that buying online through Orvis will likely cost you less in shipping and result in you getting your glass(es) faster because that's what Orvis does. Buying through Orvis also allows Karen to work on getting the next Angler's Pint design into production faster. If, however, you are also planning to purchase handpainted glasses, artwork or a customized Angler's Pint Presentation Box, you may want to visit www.KarenTalbotArtOnline.com or visit the Karen Talbot Art Gallery in Rockland, Maine.

I don't see the Angler's Pint I want on the Orvis website. What should I do? In addition to the Angler's Pints carried by Orvis, there are a few other designs that are either limited edition co-branded designs like the Chinook Salmon-Memory of Fish Angler's Pint or saltwater designs that Orvis does not carry at this time. Those glasses can be purchased direct from Karen either online, in the Karen Talbot Art Gallery in Rockland, Maine, or at another retailer that carries the Angler's Pints.

Can you make an Angler's Pint with my logo on the back for an event or fundraiser I am hosting? You bet! Karen actually does this quite a bit. Check out the Chinook Salmon-Memory of Fish Angler's Pint as an example. Whether it's a TU chapter fundraiser, a local angling club even or a big private party, a personalized Angler's Pint could be a big hit. Contact Karen directly for more information at Karen@KarenTalbotArt.com.

Do you sell seconds? Yes! Karen pulls glasses during quality control that don't meet her standards. Some of these glasses go straight to recycling, but others--ones which only have small flaws like a bubble in the glass, a smooth bump on the rim or a scratch (not to the artwork!)--get saved and sold as seconds. Seconds can be purchased either online at KarenTalbotArtOnline.com or in the Gallery in Rockland, Maine.