Why is it called a "pot" of beer

[wereprawn]

I can't say I know much about where the term "pot" comes from, but I do know the different beer glass terminology in QLD v NSW can be potentially dangerous.

25 odd years ago I walked into the Halekulani Bowls Club and asked how much it was for a pot. The young "man mountain" behind the bar leans across, puts his face to mine and quietly growls " What the **** did you just say to me? Get out or I'm gonna come over there, drag you out and belt **** out of ya." Needless to say I was shocked at the big fella's poor attitude but luckily realized where the confusion lay. As soon as i said I was from QLD the tension went from his face. By the time I went on to tell him I only wanted a glass of beer and not a bag of weed he was all laughs and smiles.

He shouted me a couple of SCHOONERS and was the perfect host for the rest of the afternoon. Phew.

 

[Rocker1986]

N/A to pints in QLD? Must be old, they're everywhere at least in Brisbane.

 

[manticle]

Under Joh, anything over a teaspoon consumed after 3pm or before 1 in the afternoon incurred a $500 fine, disposession of your house and kids and a phone book spine across the upper teeth.

 

[Brewnicorn]

Under Joh, anything over a teaspoon consumed after 3pm or before 1 in the afternoon incurred a $500 fine, disposession of your house and kids and a phone book spine across the upper teeth.

And if you did it in company the riot squad would have you.

 

[Cerveja]

Reminds me of about 30 years ago working the clubs in Tweed. Every QLDer that came in would simply ask for a pot. We gave up asking for a pot of what (usually at least 6 beers on tap) and would just pour our fancy. Even saw a pot of water go across the bar once.

 

[Cerveja]

And then on Saturday was on day release at the local RSL and sauntered to the bar and asked for a schooner of Stella. Barman said I can only do a pot or pint. I said I want a schooner though. He told me there's hardly any difference between a schooner and a pint. I thought my first beer must've been laced with something as I simply didn't get what he was saying. He then proceeded to the fridge and pulled out 2 fancy Stella glasses and asked again pot or pint? I laughed and went for the pint. He poured it then whipped out a Stella branded knife to knock the creamy head off. Then told me he'd only charge me for a schooner. I didn't have the heart to tell him it's BUL so gave him another laugh and disappeared into the masses.

 

[Pnutapper]

He poured it then whipped out a Stella branded knife to knock the creamy head off. Then told me he'd only charge me for a schooner. I didn't have the heart to tell him it's BUL so gave him another laugh and disappeared into the masses.

This whole theater thing with the water sprayed into the glass and the spatula cutting the head off with Stella really sh!ts me.

First part of the process waters down the beer (Admittedly, not much - but still...) and the second is a waste of beer. I refuse to install driptray water sprayers when the brewery specifies them. /rant over

In Victoria a few years ago, there was a push for the Schmiddy (330mL I think.) As if the corner publican does not already have enough glassware to try to find space for. Needless to say - that concept was a flash in the pan that didn't last long.

A few venues around the country are now offering DIY pouring. The beer is metered and charged out by the mL on consumption. Venue staff need to reactivate the system after a predetermined amount has been poured for RSA purposes. Customers can pour as much or as little as they want into their glass each time.

 

[Phoney]

A few venues around the country are now offering DIY pouring. Customers can pour as much or as little as they want into their glass each time.n.

But can they do laybacks?

 

[Pnutapper]

But can they do laybacks?

I believe so... As long as nobody sees it.

 

[Schikitar]

Down here in Tas we often call a "pot" either just that OR more commonly a "ten ounce" - as that's truer to its origins than whatever you Canadians call it. Other than that we have pints but oddly we don't call those a "twenty ounce" (logic fail). Things got weird when craft pubs started popping up, my local, for example, refers to them as "small" (pot/10oz) or a "large" (schooner) - no pints, I'm sure they make a better margin (and I don't get as drunk)! Nearly all other places only do tens and pints though. There are names for our six and eight ounce beers but I can't recall because, lets be honest, who would waste their time with them!

 

[Lionman]

The craft beer bar in Perth sells three sizes small, medium and large, 150, 300, and 450ml respectively.

I like this in a craft beer place with a lot of beers on tap. You can sample some of the more obscure beer styles without committing to a larger glass.

 

[bradsbrew]

Under Joh, anything over a teaspoon consumed after 3pm or before 1 in the afternoon incurred a $500 fine, disposession of your house and kids and a phone book spine across the upper teeth.

And then the Dean Bros would come in and demolish the heritage listed building you consumed in.

 

[earle]

And then the Dean Bros would come in and demolish the heritage listed building you consumed in.

Don't you worry about that!

 

[Bribie G]

I'm sure there are/were 7oz beers in Qld. I did a bit of bar work in the late 80's and IIRC 7's were available. Pots were the preferred size 99% of the time though.

In the 1970s Brisbane had 8 ounce beers and the country areas had 7 ounce beers. When I lived in Bundy and Mbro in the 70s and early 80s they were just called sevens and tens.

The name "Pots" came in around the late 80s IIRC.

 

[Danscraftbeer]

A few venues around the country are now offering DIY pouring. The beer is metered and charged out by the mL on consumption. Venue staff need to reactivate the system after a predetermined amount has been poured for RSA purposes. Customers can pour as much or as little as they want into their glass each time.

That would be interesting, or messy considering most people cant pour a glass of beer!
"owww why do I always get a glass of froth?" then blame the beer and refuse to pay for it etc.

 

[Lyrebird_Cycles]

Back to the original question: I wonder if calling a medium sized glass of beer a pot is a back formation from tosspot meaning drunkard, which has been around since the 16th century at least.

 

[Danscraftbeer]

Piss Pot. There it is. Makes sense.

 

[good4whatAlesU]

Bit of a long shot, but is it possible that very early on - glazed clay pots (cups) were used to serve beer in addition to glasses? .

A drunkard who tosses back lots of 'pots'

 

[Feldon]

Pot has been in use as word for a drink and food vessel in England probably since the 5th or 6th century, probably brought over by the Saxons who arrived from continental Europe about this time.

"Word origin of 'pot'
Late Old English pott, from Medieval Latin pottus (unattested), perhaps from Latin pōtus a drink; compare Middle Low German pot, Old Norse pottr"
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pot

As for differing sizes of pint glasses etc in various states, there's this story out today on the ABC website (from a South Australian perspective)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-08/curious-adelaide-south-australia-beer-glass-sizes/8874960