Yard of ale

This article is about the measurement of beer known as the yard. For other definitions, see Yard (disambiguation).

A yard of ale

A yard of ale or yard glass is a very tall beer glass used for drinking around 2+1⁄2 imperial pints (1.4 L) of beer, depending upon the diameter.

The glass is approximately 1 yard (91.4 cm) long, shaped with a bulb at the bottom, and a widening shaft, which constitutes most of the height.[1]

The glass most likely originated in 17th-century England, where the glass was known also as a "long glass", a "Cambridge yard (glass)" and an "ell glass". It is associated by legend with stagecoach drivers, though was mainly used for drinking feats and special toasts.[2][3]

Drinking a yard glass full of beer as quickly as possible is a traditional pub game; as with the toe of a beer boot, the bulb at the bottom of the glass makes it likely that the contestant will be splashed with a sudden rush of beer towards the end of the feat.[citation needed] The fastest drinking of a yard of ale in the Guinness Book of Records is 5 seconds.[4]

  1. ^ Rabin, Dan; Carl Forge (1998). The Dictionary of Beer and Brewing. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 9781579580780. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  2. ^ "Yard-of-ale glass (drinking glass) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". britannica.com. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  3. ^ "The Yard of Ale : Our History". theyardofale.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  4. ^ The Guinness book of records 1999. Guinness. 1998. p. 60. ISBN 9780851120706. Retrieved 28 June 2011.