Masters Tournament Dealing With Unusual Beer Cup Issue

Organizers switch to clear plastic cups for certain beers due to foaming problems with traditional green cups.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented scene of a Masters Tournament beer concession stand, with overlapping planes of emerald green, amber gold, and deep blue colors representing the various cup types and beer offerings.The Masters' unusual beer cup issue exposes the complexities of maintaining a flawless patron experience at a prestigious sporting event.Augusta Today

The 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club is experiencing an unusual issue with the beer cups being used at concession stands. According to an anonymous Masters employee, the green souvenir cups traditionally used for beer have been causing excessive foaming, leading organizers to switch to clear plastic cups for certain beer offerings while keeping the green cups for non-alcoholic beverages and the tournament's house beer.

Why it matters

The Masters is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, and the experience for patrons is a major focus for the event's organizers. Any disruption to the typical food and beverage service can be noteworthy, as it speaks to the attention to detail the Masters is known for maintaining.

The details

The employee reported that non-alcoholic beverages like tea, soda, and sports drinks are now being served in the green Masters cups, while the domestic light beer (Miller) and import beer (Stella) are being poured into clear plastic cups with the Masters logo and 2026 branding. The Crow's Nest wheat ale, which is the tournament's house beer, is still being served in the traditional green cups.

  • The cup change was implemented during the 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur tournament, which took place the weekend before the Masters.

The players

Anonymous Masters Employee

A source who has provided detailed reports from inside Augusta National Golf Club in previous years.

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What they’re saying

“We've been having some foaming issues with the green Masters cups. So, we switched to serving tea, soda and sports drink products out of those and the Domestic Lite beer (Miller) and the Import (Stella) are now being served in the clear plastic cups with Masters logo and 2026 on them.”

— Anonymous Masters Employee

“Update from the grounds: Non-alcoholic beverages are now being served in green Masters cups, while import and domestic beer are in the clear cups. Cashier shrugged when I asked why.”

— Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal writer

“Truly had everyone confused Tuesday morning! Even the security working the gate as we were leaving made a comment she hoped my green cup was not beer.”

— Masters Patron

“Yep they made the switch during ANWA. Makes you wonder what the hell is in those green cups.”

— Masters Patron

What’s next

It remains unclear if the cup change is due to a specific 'nucleation' issue with the green plastic cups causing excessive beer foaming. The reason for keeping the Crow's Nest wheat ale in the traditional green cups is also uncertain.

The takeaway

The Masters Tournament is known for its meticulous attention to detail, so any changes to the typical food and beverage service are noteworthy. This unusual cup issue highlights the challenges of maintaining a seamless experience for patrons at a high-profile sporting event.