We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Beverages

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Pint Glasses?

By Brendan McGuigan
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 12,516
Share

Pint glasses are a type of glassware usually used to hold beers, ales, and lagers. They are so-named because they usually hold a British pint of liquid. Pint glasses come in many shapes, textures, and designs, and they are a staple of the modern pub or bar.

A British or Imperial pint is equal to 1/8 of a gallon, or 568 mL of liquid. In the United States, a pint is equivalent to 16 ounces, or roughly 473 mL. Most pint glasses follow the British measure of a pint, though oversized glasses are also available, and in the United States, many pubs use glasses that hold a US pint — which is just over 80% of the liquid found in an Imperial pint glass.

In the United Kingdom, it is against the law to sell a pint of beer that is not actually a pint, and pint glasses play a large role in helping a customer determine this. The Crown issues certifications for pint glasses, which bear a stamp of the Crown and a certification number. Customers at a bar can look at the pint glasses and quickly ascertain that they are in fact a true pint. This use of pint glasses is so fundamental that it is illegal to use non-certified glasses without some other authorized way of measuring out beer — such as a calibrated pump.

Since the head that forms on a beer necessarily takes up some space, and since many people wish to retain the head, oversized pint glasses are sold so that a full pint of liquid can be poured with a head. These glasses are also known as lined glasses, because they usually bear some sort of marking at the pint line to let the pourer know when he or she has poured a pint of liquid into the glass.

Pint glasses come in a wide array of shapes and designs, but two shapes are most common. Nonic-shaped pint glasses are found everywhere. Also referred to as conical glasses, they slightly taper out at the bottom, and then bulge more widely near the top. Tulip glasses are also popular. They have a similar shape to the nonic glass, except that they are curvier with a more exaggerated flare — almost like an hourglass — and often taper in slightly at the very top.

Pint glasses may also be found in a number of stylized shapes and designs. The most common of these is a boot shape — hearkening back to some cultural practices of drinking from a wooden shoe. Some pint glasses also contain a metal lid of some sort that can be flipped up, like a traditional beer stein. Etchings, dimpled glass, and coloration are all variations that may also be found on pint glasses, though modern pint glasses tend to be fairly Spartan in their appearance.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-are-pint-glasses.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.