Question 1

Why is a British pint bigger than an American one?

Accepted Answer

The imperial pint holds 568 ml, the US pint only 473 ml. Britain redefined its gallon in 1824 around the weight of ten pounds of water, while the United States kept the older Queen Anne wine gallon of 1707. Both pints are 1/8 of their own gallon, so the difference carried straight through.

Question 2

How many millilitres are in a pint?

Accepted Answer

568.26 ml for an imperial pint. That is 20 imperial fluid ounces.

Question 3

How much beer is in a firkin?

Accepted Answer

Nine imperial gallons, or 40.91 litres, which is about 72 pints. It is a quarter of a barrel and remains the everyday cask size for real ale.

Question 4

Is a whisky hogshead the same as a traditional hogshead?

Accepted Answer

No. The traditional wine and beer hogshead is 54 imperial gallons, or 245 litres. A whisky hogshead is a modern cooperage vessel rebuilt from American bourbon barrels with extra staves, and holds roughly 250 litres.

Question 5

What is the difference between a dram and a fluid drachm?

Accepted Answer

The apothecary fluid drachm is 3.55 ml, one eighth of a fluid ounce. The Scottish whisky dram is a pub pour, typically 25 ml or 35 ml. They share a name and an origin but are ten times apart in size.

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