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what size are beers in america?

#44
jazzciggarette said:
the problem with american beer is not the size. it is the % of alcohol in it. American beer has notoriously low alcohol %.
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Maybe the colossal macro breweries which use rice, corn, and other adjuncts to make their yellow fizzy piss water. Most American styles are actually higher alcohol than their English counterparts. American ESB, Pale, IPA, Porter, Stouts are all almost invariably higher alcohol than the British styles. In fact, many traditional Germans and Brit brewers think we brew with too much malt, hops, and yield too much alcohol, hence the new "American" versions of traditional styles which are even judged as separate styles/categories. You can get countless Belgian styles, imperial stouts, barley wines, IPAs, and doppelbocks from America that are 8, 9, 12+ percent by volume!!
 
#46
Yes, the standard size of a beer sold in a bottle or can in the US is 12 ounces, but 40 years or so ago, many major brands began selling beer in 10 ounce cans. The difference was not that obvious, and many unscrupulous store owners and bars tried to sell them for the same price as 12 oz brews. The Great State of Texas, however, made the sale of 10 ounce beers illegal within its borders.

One thing that still is pervasive in bars, though, even in Texas, is the short pint. It's a glass that looks and hefts like a proper pint but only holds about 12 ounces.

Another factoid about Texas and beer is when the Dixie Brewing Company (in New Orleans) started making its Blackened Voodoo beer, the Texas legislature banned its sale throughout the state because of the "voodoo" in the name and some sort of subliminal occult imagery that was supposedly hidden in the picture on the label. In prompt retaliation, the Louisiana legislature looked at the Lone Star Beer label, declared the star on the label to be a pentagram, and banned the sale of Lone Star for its occult references. The Texas legislature relented, and then so did Louisiana.
 
#47
ggunn said:
One thing that still is pervasive in bars, though, even in Texas, is the short pint. It's a glass that looks and hefts like a proper pint but only holds about 12 ounces.
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Great advice. Look for a pint glass with a punt (poont), or a kick-up. It's a indentation, or dimple, in the bottom of the pint glass. Most patrons don't notice it, but it's a way that unscrupulous bars get away with giving you less beer for the standard price of a pint.

By the by, I'd be curious for people around the states. Post how much a pint costs in your area, at a typical bar. (Don't include happy hours, or expensive restaurants, etc.).

Here in San Francisco:

  • Crappy mainstream America beers (Coors, Buds, Miller, etc.) - I don't really know because I never order them, but I think about $4 a pint.
  • Micro-Brew (Sam Adams, New Belgian, Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada, etc.) - $5/pint
  • Chimay White (on tap, 14 oz.) - $7/pint
  • Pliney the Elder - $6/pint
  • Leffe, Spaten, Trumer, etc. - $5/pint (in proper glass)
 
#49
jazzbo said:
Here in San Francisco:

  • Crappy mainstream America beers (Coors, Buds, Miller, etc.) - I don't really know because I never order them, but I think about $4 a pint.
  • Micro-Brew (Sam Adams, New Belgian, Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada, etc.) - $5/pint
  • Chimay White (on tap, 14 oz.) - $7/pint
  • Pliney the Elder - $6/pint
  • Leffe, Spaten, Trumer, etc. - $5/pint (in proper glass)
Click to expand...

Anchor Porter.... uuunnnngh <gurgle> <drool>... Nectar of the gods! There's a couple of AP's in my very near future!
 
#55
For you foreingers....
It's not the size of the beer glass in the States, it's the alcohol content of the beer here that's weak. :spit:
US beers are 5 to 5.5% alcohol content. When I go to Canada, the beers there are 7.5% content and more! Yeah, it's fun to party up north.
 
#56
Greetings friends from across the pond. As you can see we Americans are not too clear on our beer. A lot of us drink imports for good reason. The mainstream stuff is awful but there are now LOTS of great micro brews. But to the point - first, we have "Bars", not Pubs. Second, we don't really have a uniform standard. You can get all kinds of sizes. On a visit to England friends drove me a long distance to get a beer. (the pub carried all kinds) I ordered a Newcastle. The friends laughed and said we drove you all this way so you could get an American brew, and you order a Newcastle. I said, why would I come all this way for a silly American beer? Cheers and good will.
 

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