English brewery cask units

Capacities of brewery casks were formerly measured and standardised according to a specific system of English units. The system was originally based on the ale gallon of 282 cubic inches. In United Kingdom and its colonies with the adoption of the imperial system in 1824, the units were redefined in terms of the slightly smaller imperial gallon. The older units continued in use in the United States.

Historically the terms beer and ale referred to distinct brews.^{[nb 1]} From the mid 15th century until 1803 in Britain "ale" casks and "beer" casks differed in the number of gallons they contained.

Units

Tun

The tun is a cask that is double the size of a butt and is equal to six barrels and has a capacity of 216 imperial gallons (982.0 l). Invented in Brentford, a tun was used in local breweries to measure large amounts alcohol.

Butt

The butt of beer was equal to half a tun, two hogsheads, three barrels or 108 imperial gallons (491.0 l).

Hogshead

The hogshead of beer and ale was equal to a quarter of a tun, half a butt, a barrel and a half or three kilderkins. This unit is close in size to the wine hogshead.

Ale hogshead

From the mid 15th century until 1824 the ale hogshead was defined as 48 ale or beer gallons (221.8 l). In 1688 the ale hogshead was redefined to be 51 ale or beer gallons (235.7 l). In 1803 ale hogshead was again redefined to be 54 ale or beer gallons (249.5 l), equivalent to the beer hogshead.

Beer hogshead

From the mid 15th century until 1824 the beer hogshead was defined as 54 ale or beer gallons.

Imperial ale or beer hogshead

In the United Kingdom and its colonies, with the 1824 adoption of the imperial system, the ale or beer hogshead was redefined to be 54 imperial gallons. The ale or beer hogshead is therefore exactly 245.48886 litres or approximately 8.669 cubic feet.^{[nb 2]}

Barrel

The barrel of beer or ale was equal to two kilderkins or  ²⁄₃ of a beer or ale hogshead. This is somewhat larger than the wine barrel.

Ale barrel

As with the hogshead the ale barrel underwent various redefintions. Initially 32 ale or beer gallons (147.9 l), it was redefined in 1688 as 34 ale or beer gallons (157.1 l) and again in 1803 as 36 ale or beer gallons (166.4 l).

Beer barrel

The beer barrel was defined as 36 ale or beer gallons until the adoption of the imperial system.

Imperial beer or ale barrel

The adoption of the imperial system saw the beer or ale barrel redefined to be 36 imperial gallons, which is exactly

9,987.09958 cubic inches or approximately 163.659 litres.^{[nb 2]}

Kilderkin

The kilderkin (from the Dutch for "small cask") is equal to half a barrel or two firkins.^[2]

Ale kilderkin

The ale kilderkin likewise underwent various redefintions. Initially 16 ale or beer gallons (73.94 l), it was redefined in 1688 as 17 ale or beer gallons (78.56 l) and again in 1803 as 18 ale or beer gallons (83.18 l)

Beer kilderkin

Until the adoption of the imperial system the beer kilderkin was defined as 18 ale or beer gallons.

Imperial kilderkin

With the adoption of the imperial system the kilderkin was redefined to be 18 imperial gallons, which is exactly 81.82962 litres^{[nb 2]} or approximately 2.890 cubic feet.

The kilderkin is still currently used. It is the unit of choice of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale CAMRA for calculating beer quantities for beer festivals in the UK. Ales are usually delivered in firkins, cider and other drinks are usually in boxes, bottles or other containers measured in gallons or litres, and all (except wine) are sold in pints or parts thereof. For CAMRA internal accounting, all are calculated in kilderkins. A kilderkin is 144 pints.

Firkin

The ale or beer firkin (from Middle Dutch vierdekijn meaning "fourth") is a quarter of an ale or beer barrel or half a kilderkin. This unit is much smaller than the wine firkin. Casks in this size (themselves called firkins) are the most common container for cask ale.

Ale firkin

From the mid 15th century until 1688 the ale firkin was defined as 8 ale or beer gallons (36.97 l). In 1688 the ale firkin was redefined to be  8 ¹⁄₂ ale or beer gallons (39.28 l). In 1803 ale firkin was again redefined to be 9 ale or beer gallons (41.59 l), equivalent to the beer firkin.

Beer firkin

From the mid 15th century until 1824 the beer firkin was defined as 9 ale or beer gallons.

Imperial beer or ale firkin

The beer or ale firkin was redefined to be 9 imperial gallons in 1824. It is therefore exactly 40.91481 litres^{[nb 2]} or approximately 1.445 cubic feet.

Most English beer is bought by pubs in this quantity. It is 72 pints.

Pin

A pin is equal to half a firkin (4.5 imp gal or 20 l). Plastic versions of these casks are known as "polypins" and are popular in homebrewing and the off-trade (deliveries for home consumption). They are also popular at beer festivals where they are trying to sell non-standard beers.

Gallon

Originally the 282-cubic-inch ale or beer gallon was used. With the adoption of the imperial system in the United Kingdom and its colonies the system was redefined in terms of the imperial gallon.

Chart

See also

• English wine cask units
• List of unusual units of measurement
• Units of measurement

References

Notes