Beer serving sizes

I was going to add this to another thread because it applied there, but the thread seems to be derailing, so I started a new one.

Anyway, when ordering in a restaurant, should there be any expectation of serving size when ordering a beer (assuming none is listed)? My personal assumption is a 20* oz Imperial pint, but I usually dont get that.

Should I assume an American Pint? Because that is pretty rare too. The only thing worse than no size being listed, is when pint is listed and then you get served in a standard shaker "pint" glass, that holds 14 oz if lucky (or unlucky, because they hold a 12 oz bottle + head, so you are getting a headless pour if they fit 14 in there). The first is sort of buyer beware, but the latter is fraud.

*I realize that an imperial pint is 20 imperial ounces, which is only about 19.8 american ounces.

Depends...
bottles come in many sizes.
On tap I would expect (and i serve) a regular American pint glass.
This is America we don't use no stinking Imperial numbers.

Depends...
bottles come in many sizes.
On tap I would expect (and i serve) a regular American pint glass.
This is America we don't use no stinking Imperial numbers.

Does it actually hold a pint or is it one of those 14 oz "pint" glasses?

I was referring to on tap, if I buy a bottle, I would expect to be served a bottle (with a glass, babies drink from bottles - and I also expect the glass to show up without having to ask).

For some reason, I expect British style beers to be served in imperial pints, American styles in american pints (but not 14 oz shaker glasses), and German styles in .5 L glasses.

There was a report on NPR recently about this very topic.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95997199

I would prefer an imperial pint only because I would like to have a larger glass of beer.

Thank You for not posting this in the completely derailed thread. I had actually forgotten about the glass issue.

I would prefer an imperial pint only because I would like to have a larger glass of beer.

Exactly why I like the Grande Dos Equis Amber at a Mexican place- I think they are 22-30 ozs.
DEb

This is America we don't use no stinking Imperial numbers.

Now, now ... you're not flipping over to the Palin xenophobia team, are you?

We've always used Imperial pints as the default, with various exceptions depending on style and sometimes price.

The absolute worst of all was going into a certain Irish pub on Baxter some years back and having draft Guinness served in a shaker glass. Aargh. The explanation was that price point necessitated a smaller pour. That's just wrong. Since I've never gone back, I don't know if they still do it or not, but the only worst thing I can imagine is a plastic shaker of Guinness.

The absolute worst of all was going into a certain Irish pub on Baxter some years back and having draft Guinness served in a shaker glass. Aargh. The explanation was that price point necessitated a smaller pour. That's just wrong. Since I've never gone back, I don't know if they still do it or not, but the only worst thing I can imagine is a plastic shaker of Guinness.

That is the worst you can imagine? I doubt that. How about that same Irish Pub selling green Miller Lite on St. Paddy's Day?

That is the worst you can imagine? I doubt that. How about that same Irish Pub selling green Miller Lite on St. Paddy's Day?

Double aargh. Got me there, Richard ... but HOW DO YOU KNOW that?

That is the worst you can imagine? I doubt that. How about that same Irish Pub selling green Miller Lite on St. Paddy's Day?

Double aargh. Got me there, Richard ... but HOW DO YOU KNOW that?

I can see green beer from my house.....so there!

I would expect to be served a bottle (with a glass, babies drink from bottles - and I also expect the glass to show up without having to ask).

Rob,

An excellent point...I don't have many pet peeves but being served a "longneck" without a glass is one of them.

Where is David P from BBC. I figured he would have weighed in on this one.

I think the US version of a "pint" is the de facto serving size for draft beer. Typically that's the ubiquitous 14oz shaker glass. That said, I'm not at all displeased if I am served a smaller portion for a beer that is of higher than typical strength. Much to the point Roger was making regarding the Guinness, I wish more bar and restaurant owners would put as much emphasis on serving beer in appropriate glassware as they do with wine. While a beer can be enjoyed in almost any type of glass (and maybe even in plastic depending on the situation) I believe that the experience is vastly improved when a little consideration is given to vessel selection. It is interesting how much effort most fine dining restaurants put into all aspects of their service except for beer glasses.

And while I'm at it, please get rid of all those frozen glasses!

Went to Bearnos in the Highlands tonight and got a Sam Adams Lager in a plastic cup. They had 5 people in the place and the bartender said "I don't know were all my beer glasses are".

Nothing earth-shattering here, but some related reading material:

http://www.tsweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2601&Itemid=66

http://www.beverageworld.com/content/view/33124/154/

http://beervana.blogspot.com/2008/04/future-of-honest-pint-project-no-shaker.html