Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-09-30 Thread Billy Abbott

Steve Mynott wrote:


BTW I read a report that beer in 2/3 pint measures was to be allowed
in the UK.  It also claimed that currently 1/3 pint measures were
available and legal in the UK.  I wondered if anyone had ever seen
this?


I don't know about the 2/3rds (although it would follow naturally from
1/3rd pints) but I've seen 1/3rds in a couple of places - the Young's
brewery (before it moved) and the Great British Beer festival. I've got
some 1/3rd glasses now, thanks to the last few GBBFs, because I ran out
of space for pints.

I think they've been a legal measure for a while, but after 10 minutes 
of reading through publications.parliament.co.uk I've lost the will to 
research any further for now...


--billy

--
http://billyabbott.co.uk
You say tomato, I say EMACS


Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-09-30 Thread Nicholas Clark
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 09:53:35AM +0100, Steve Mynott wrote:
> On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 09:02:12AM -0700, Ovid typed:
> 
> > Gotta disagree on this one.  IPA in the states is *awful*.  I actually like
> > it over here.  Plus, US beers (even the quality ones) are often very fizzy.
> > A bit too much for my taste.  I know the microbreweries in Portland are
> > fantastic, but they generally don't ship over here.
> 
> I thought Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was *excellent*, although there
> was a tendancy for some to be over hopped.
> 
> BTW I read a report that beer in 2/3 pint measures was to be allowed
> in the UK.  It also claimed that currently 1/3 pint measures were
> available and legal in the UK.  I wondered if anyone had ever seen
> this?

As I understand it the law is that draft beer must be dispensed into crown
(or EU) stamped glasses, which are in (integer) multiples of 1/3, 1/2 or 1
pint.

So I infer that if you can get a stamped 2/3 glass, it's legal.

I have seen 1/3rd glasses - Greg, Kake and I went to a Wetherspoon's beer
festival where they were selling three thirds of different beers. I found
this *extremely* dangerous - I can neck (and enjoy) a third pint glass very
rapidly. And then there are 2 more. And then they are all gone.

IIRC, these 1/3rd glasses were EU stamped, but I don't have a picture of
this. I'm sure Napoleon must be spinning in his grave - 1/3rd of a pint is
189 1/3 ml, and it amuses me no end that the EU are officially sanctioning
a vulgar fraction.

Nicholas Clark


Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-09-30 Thread Bob Walker

On Wed, 30 Sep 2009, Steve Mynott wrote:



 It also claimed that currently 1/3 pint measures were
available and legal in the UK.  I wondered if anyone had ever seen
this?


they always have been legal. you certianly now see thirds at CAMRA beer 
festivals and I have seen it in some pubs. Normally as part of a try 4 
beers  as thirds pay for a pint offer.


http://www.emberinns.co.uk/offer/enjoyallyourfavouritecaskales/



--
bob walker

buses should be purple and bendy




Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-09-30 Thread Joel Bernstein
2009/9/30 Bob Walker :
> On Wed, 30 Sep 2009, Steve Mynott wrote:
>>  It also claimed that currently 1/3 pint measures were
>> available and legal in the UK.  I wondered if anyone had ever seen
>> this?
>
> they always have been legal. you certianly now see thirds at CAMRA beer
> festivals and I have seen it in some pubs. Normally as part of a try 4 beers
>  as thirds pay for a pint offer.

The (excellent) Bree Louise serves their (excellent) ales in 1/3 pint
glasses if you ask. I usually pick 3 likely sounding ales, order 1/3
of each. They come on a little wooden board. IIRC they charge based on
alcohol content, and ordering 3 random thirds tends not to get you
charged for a pint of the strongest. So it seems a reasonable thing to
do. Certainly doesn't cost more.

/joel



Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-09-30 Thread Abigail
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 10:11:30AM +0100, Nicholas Clark wrote:
> 
> As I understand it the law is that draft beer must be dispensed into crown
> (or EU) stamped glasses, which are in (integer) multiples of 1/3, 1/2 or 1
> pint.


That brings up an image of a civil servant stamping glasses. And once a
month, a moves for a week from Brussles to Strassbourgh.



Abigail


Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-09-30 Thread Dave Cross

On 09/30/2009 09:53 AM, Steve Mynott wrote:


BTW I read a report that beer in 2/3 pint measures was to be allowed
in the UK.  It also claimed that currently 1/3 pint measures were
available and legal in the UK.  I wondered if anyone had ever seen
this?


Completely coincidentally, I just came across this:

  Two-thirds of a pint measure to be introduced

  A two-thirds of a pint measure is to be introduced in pubs and clubs.
  Changes will also be made to measures of fortified wine and brandy.

  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_180884

Dave...


Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-09-30 Thread Andy Wardley

Abigail wrote:

That brings up an image of a civil servant stamping glasses. And once a
month, a moves for a week from Brussles to Strassbourgh.


20 or so years ago there was a UK Weight and Measures Authority near
where I lived in Kingston.  Although I never did it myself, a number of
my school mates had holiday jobs there checking and approving (or rejecting)
pint glasses.  It was all done by hand, one glass at a time.  I find it hard
to imagine that they would still doing it by hand, if indeed they are.  But
then again, I found it hard to believe that they were doing it by hand back
then and the UK civil service moves anything but fast.  So it wouldn't
surprise me.

A few years later the landlord of a local pub told me how much he had to
pay for officially stamped glasses (which, of course, you have to have).
I forget the figure, but it was more than a quid if memory serves, and that
was in olden days money where a pint cost about the same or even less.
Whatever the figure, it was ridiculously expensive all because they had to
pay someone to check and stamp every single glass by hand.

A shiny example of British inefficiency at its best.

A



Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-10-01 Thread David Cantrell
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 09:53:35AM +0100, Steve Mynott wrote:

> BTW I read a report that beer in 2/3 pint measures was to be allowed
> in the UK.  It also claimed that currently 1/3 pint measures were
> available and legal in the UK.  I wondered if anyone had ever seen
> this?

Not yet seen a 2/3 pt glass, but 1/3 pint is occasionally used in pubs
for barley wines, and quite often at beer festivals.

-- 
David Cantrell | Minister for Arbitrary Justice

" In My Egotistical Opinion, most people's ... programs should be
  indented six feet downward and covered with dirt. "
  --Blair P. Houghton


Re: Beer was Re: Anyone drinking at the moment?

2009-10-01 Thread Tony Kennick
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 10:11:30AM +0100,
the following was promulgated by Nicholas Clark:

> On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 09:53:35AM +0100, Steve Mynott wrote:
> > On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 09:02:12AM -0700, Ovid typed:
> > 
> > > Gotta disagree on this one.  IPA in the states is *awful*.  I actually 
> > > like
> > > it over here.  Plus, US beers (even the quality ones) are often very 
> > > fizzy.
> > > A bit too much for my taste.  I know the microbreweries in Portland are
> > > fantastic, but they generally don't ship over here.
> > 
> > I thought Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was *excellent*, although there
> > was a tendancy for some to be over hopped.
> > 
> > BTW I read a report that beer in 2/3 pint measures was to be allowed
> > in the UK.  It also claimed that currently 1/3 pint measures were
> > available and legal in the UK.  I wondered if anyone had ever seen
> > this?
> 
> As I understand it the law is that draft beer must be dispensed into crown
> (or EU) stamped glasses, which are in (integer) multiples of 1/3, 1/2 or 1
> pint.

It is 1/3 of a pint and integer multiples of 1/2 pints, so while one
point five pint glasses are fine two thirds glasses will need a change.

> So I infer that if you can get a stamped 2/3 glass, it's legal.

No, see above, but it has been through a formal consultation:
http://www.nmo.bis.gov.uk/fileuploads/Docs/Legislation/SFQ/Specified_Quantities_DIUS_Press_Release_Oct_08.pdf

> I have seen 1/3rd glasses - Greg, Kake and I went to a Wetherspoon's beer
> festival where they were selling three thirds of different beers. I found
> this *extremely* dangerous - I can neck (and enjoy) a third pint glass very
> rapidly. And then there are 2 more. And then they are all gone.

I love the fact that tasting palletes of 3 different thirds are becoming
popular to help you decide between guest beers.

-- 
Tony Kennick
Web: http://www.pint.org.uk/ Blog: http://blog.pint.org.uk/ 
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegreatgonzo/