Beer glasses contain a British half liter of liquid.
Beer glasses are a type of glass that is generally used to hold ales, lagers, and lagers. They are so called because they usually contain a British liter of liquid. Beer glasses come in many shapes, textures and designs and are a staple of the modern pub or bar.
A British or Imperial liter is equal to 1/8 of a gallon or 568 ml of liquid. In the United States, one liter is equal to 16 ounces or approximately 473 ml. Most beer glasses follow the British one-litre measurement, although large glasses are also available, and in the United States, many pubs use glasses that hold an American liter, which is just over 80% of the liquid found in an imperial glass.
Some beer glasses have lids like traditional beer mugs.
In the UK, it is illegal to sell a pint of beer that is not actually a pint, and pint glasses play an important role in helping the customer determine this. The Crown issues certifications for beer glasses, which bear a Crown seal and certification number. Bar patrons can look at the beer glasses and quickly verify that they really are real beer. The use of beer glasses is so fundamental that it is illegal to use non-certified glasses without some other authorized way of measuring the beer, such as a calibrated pump.
Beer glasses are sized to pour a full liter of beer with free space at the top.
Since the foam that forms on beer necessarily takes up some space, and since many people want to retain it, large pint glasses are sold so that you can pour a full liter of liquid over your head. These glasses are also known as lined glasses because they usually have some type of marking on the pint line to let the pourer know when they have poured a pint of liquid into the glass.
Pint glasses come in a wide variety of shapes and designs, but two shapes are most common. Pint glasses in non-nonic form are found everywhere. Also called tapered glazing, they taper slightly at the bottom and then flare out closer to the top. Tulip glasses are also popular. They are similar in shape to non-nonnic glass, except they are more curved with a more exaggerated sparkle, almost like an hourglass, and often taper slightly at the top.
Beer mugs can also be found in a number of stylized shapes and designs. The most common of these is the shape of a boot, referring to some cultural practice of drinking from a wooden shoe. Some beer glasses also contain a metal lid that can be lifted, like a traditional beer mug. Etching, dimpled glass, and color are all variations that can also be found on pint glasses, although modern pint glasses tend to be quite spartan in appearance.